Unraveling the Shadowlands: Who is the Real Villain in Elden Ring?
The question of who the real villain is in Elden Ring isn’t as simple as pointing a finger at Queen Marika, a seemingly oppressive ruler, or even the overtly malicious Dung Eater. In true FromSoftware fashion, the game masterfully crafts a narrative where villainy exists on a spectrum, intertwined with morally gray characters and ambiguous motivations. Ultimately, the real villain in Elden Ring is the cycle of control and ambition perpetuated by the Greater Will and its agents, trapping the Lands Between in an endless loop of conflict and shattered hopes. This cycle fuels the desires of demigods and Tarnished alike, leading to devastating consequences and a world perpetually on the brink of destruction.
Deconstructing Villainy in the Lands Between
Elden Ring doesn’t present a clear-cut antagonist. Instead, it offers a cast of characters each driven by their own desires and ideologies, often leading them to acts that could be construed as villainous from certain perspectives. Let’s examine some key contenders:
Queen Marika the Eternal: A Broken God?
While the provided text calls Queen Marika the main antagonist, that’s an oversimplification. Marika, the vessel of the Elden Ring and the ruler of the Lands Between, shattered the Elden Ring after the Night of the Black Knives. This act plunged the world into chaos and spurred the Shattering War. Her motivations are complex and open to interpretation. Was she acting out of grief for Godwyn’s death, or was this a calculated act of rebellion against the Greater Will? The answer likely lies somewhere in between. Marika may have initially served as a divine figure, but her later actions suggest a desire to break free from the influence of the Outer Gods, even if it meant unleashing devastation. Her perceived villainy stems from the consequences of her actions, not necessarily from inherent malice.
Ranni the Witch: Architect of a New Order
Ranni’s actions are equally ambiguous. She orchestrated the Night of the Black Knives, a pivotal event that led to Godwyn’s “death” and the shattering of the Elden Ring. This act was driven by her desire to escape the Greater Will’s influence and forge her own destiny, a destiny where the Lands Between are freed from the control of the Outer Gods. While some consider her ending the “best possible outcome,” it still involves considerable upheaval and the ushering in of a new, potentially equally restrictive, order. Is her pursuit of freedom justified, even at the cost of countless lives? Is she truly freeing the world, or simply replacing one form of cosmic control with another? She is a morally gray character.
The Tarnished: Pawns of Ambition
The Tarnished, including the player character, are driven by the “Flame of Ambition” to become Elden Lord. However, their journey is fraught with moral compromises. They slay demigods, usurp Great Runes, and potentially defile the world to achieve their goal. The game’s endings demonstrate the Tarnished’s capacity for both great good and terrible evil. They can choose to restore the Elden Ring and maintain the status quo, usher in an age of order or chaos, or even embrace nihilism and defile the Erdtree. Every Elden Ring Ending Still Makes The Tarnished A Villain due to the cost of their choices. In this sense, the Tarnished are both victims and perpetrators of the cycle of control and ambition. Their actions are often dictated by the desires of others or their own insatiable hunger for power.
The Greater Will: Cosmic Puppet Master
Perhaps the most insidious villain is the Greater Will, an Outer God that exerts its influence over the Lands Between through the Elden Ring. It dictates the laws of reality and imposes its will on its vassals. The Greater Will’s influence is subtle but pervasive, shaping the ambitions of individuals and dictating the course of history. By imposing its will on the Lands Between, the Greater Will essentially strips the inhabitants of their autonomy, forcing them into a predetermined cycle of conflict and rebirth. The constant struggle for power and the shattering of the Elden Ring are ultimately consequences of the Greater Will’s control.
The Dung Eater: Embodiment of Pure Evil
While many characters operate in shades of gray, the Dung Eater stands out as a figure of pure, unadulterated evil. His desire to defile the world and curse future generations is unmatched in its depravity. He represents the darkest aspects of human nature and the potential for unspeakable cruelty. The Dung Eater’s actions are not driven by any higher purpose or ideology. He simply delights in inflicting suffering and spreading corruption. While he may not be the primary antagonist, his presence serves as a stark reminder of the inherent evil that exists within the world.
The True Villain: A Systemic Problem
Ultimately, the real villain in Elden Ring is not any single character but rather the system of control and ambition that pervades the Lands Between. This system, perpetuated by the Greater Will and its agents, traps individuals in a cycle of violence and despair. The characters, driven by their own desires for power or freedom, become pawns in this cosmic game. Even those who seek to disrupt the cycle, like Ranni, may inadvertently perpetuate it by imposing their own form of control. The tragedy of Elden Ring lies in the fact that there may be no true escape from this cycle, only a temporary reprieve before the next shattering occurs.
The game encourages critical thinking about power structures and the ethical implications of choices made in pursuit of ambition. For those interested in further exploring the educational dimensions of gaming, resources like the Games Learning Society (GamesLearningSociety.org) offer valuable insights into how games can promote learning and critical engagement.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to provide more detailed information about the characters and themes explored in the article.
1. What exactly is the Greater Will?
The Greater Will is an Outer God that exerts influence over the Lands Between through the Elden Ring. It’s a cosmic entity that represents a specific order or law, and its influence shapes the world and dictates the fates of its inhabitants.
2. Why did Queen Marika shatter the Elden Ring?
Marika’s motivations are complex and open to interpretation. Some believe she shattered the Elden Ring out of grief for Godwyn’s death, while others think it was a calculated act of rebellion against the Greater Will. The truth likely lies somewhere in between. It seems the reason Marika made him the first Tarnished was because he knew she planned to betray the Greater Will.
3. What was the Night of the Black Knives?
The Night of the Black Knives was a pivotal event in Elden Ring’s lore. Ranni orchestrated the assassination of Godwyn the Golden by the Black Knife assassins, which led to the shattering of the Elden Ring.
4. Is Ranni truly a good character?
Ranni is a morally gray character. While she seeks to free the Lands Between from the influence of the Outer Gods, her methods are often ruthless, and her ultimate goal may simply be to replace one form of control with another.
5. What is the significance of the Tarnished?
The Tarnished are individuals who were once exiled from the Lands Between but are now called back to claim the Elden Ring and become Elden Lord. They are driven by the “Flame of Ambition” and represent both the potential for great good and terrible evil. Essentially, all of the Tarnished in the Lands Between originally became exiled because they’d fallen from grace in one way or another.
6. What are the different endings in Elden Ring?
Elden Ring features multiple endings, each with its own implications for the future of the Lands Between. These endings range from restoring the Elden Ring and maintaining the status quo to ushering in an age of order or chaos. They can choose to defile the world, or burn it all down. They can choose to break the curse of immortality, causing more death than they already have.
7. Who is Godfrey, the First Elden Lord?
Godfrey was the first Elden Lord and Queen Marika’s consort. He led the Golden Order’s armies to victory but was eventually exiled from the Lands Between, becoming the first Tarnished.
8. What is the role of the Two Fingers and Three Fingers?
The Two Fingers serve the Greater Will, guiding the Tarnished towards becoming Elden Lord. The Three Fingers, in contrast, represent a chaotic force that seeks to burn the Erdtree and embrace a frenzied flame.
9. What is the Scarlet Rot and its origin?
The scarlet rot in Caelid is the indirect result of the battle between Malenia the Severed and Starscourge Radahn. After The Shattering event, Malenia would go to war with her half-brother, Radahn.
10. Is Melina related to Queen Marika or Ranni?
Melina is heavily implied to be related to Queen Marika. Some believe that Melina and Ranni are the same person.
11. What makes the Dung Eater so evil?
The Dung Eater is considered evil due to his desire to defile corpses and curse future generations. His actions are driven by a sadistic pleasure in inflicting suffering.
12. Who killed Godwyn the Golden?
While the Black Knife assassins physically killed Godwyn, Ranni orchestrated the event as part of her plan to sever her connection to the Greater Will. Ranni had the Assassins kill Godwyn, and Marika was so stricken with grief that she destroyed the Elden Ring.
13. What is the Erdtree, and why is it important?
The Erdtree is a massive, luminous tree that symbolizes the power of the Elden Ring and the Golden Order. It serves as a source of grace and life for the Lands Between.
14. What is the Age of Stars ending?
The Age of Stars is achieved through Ranni’s questline and is generally seen as a “good” ending. It involves Ranni replacing the Greater Will’s influence with her own, ushering in an age of freedom and cosmic order. The Age of Stars achieved through Ranni’s questline is generally seen as the best ending by most players.
15. Is there any hope for the Lands Between?
Whether there is true hope for the Lands Between is a matter of perspective and interpretation. The game’s endings offer different visions of the future, but none guarantee a permanent escape from the cycle of control and ambition. The Tarnished can choose to defile the world, or burn it all down. They can choose to break the curse of immortality, causing more death than they already have. The possibility of hope depends on breaking free from the established power structures and forging a new path.
The search for the “real villain” in Elden Ring ultimately leads to a deeper understanding of the game’s themes of power, ambition, and the cyclical nature of history. It’s a narrative that challenges players to question their own motivations and consider the consequences of their choices in a world where there are no easy answers.