Why Ellie Severed Ties with Joel: Unpacking the Complex Relationship in The Last of Us
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Ellie’s decision to cut ties with Joel in The Last of Us Part II stems from a profound betrayal of trust and the denial of her agency in a world desperately seeking salvation. Joel’s lie about the Fireflies, the potential cure, and Ellie’s intended sacrifice was the catalyst. While Joel acted out of love and a desperate need to protect her, his actions stripped Ellie of the chance to make her own choice, a choice she believed could have saved humanity. This fundamental breach, compounded by survivor’s guilt and a growing resentment towards Joel, ultimately fractured their bond beyond repair, leading to a painful and protracted estrangement.
The Weight of the Lie: Trust Betrayed
The Firefly Incident and Its Aftermath
The climax of The Last of Us sees Joel storming the Firefly hospital to rescue Ellie, who is unconscious and about to undergo surgery to extract a potential cure from her brain. In doing so, he kills numerous Fireflies, including the surgeon who could have performed the procedure. When Ellie awakens, Joel lies to her, claiming that the Fireflies had found other immune individuals and that a cure was no longer possible. This lie is not a simple white lie; it’s a monumental deception with devastating consequences.
Ellie, having lived her entire life with the burden of being immune, felt a sense of purpose and responsibility to use her immunity to create a vaccine and save others. Joel’s lie effectively nullified this purpose. Ellie questions the Fireflies’ intentions, leading her to press Joel to tell the truth. He eventually confesses. That realization fuels Ellie’s anger and grief.
The Erosion of Trust
Trust is the bedrock of any relationship, particularly one forged in the crucible of a post-apocalyptic world. For Ellie, Joel was more than just a protector; he was a father figure, the closest thing she had to family. Joel’s lie shattered this foundation. Ellie no longer knew who he was or what he was capable of. Doubts and suspicions festered, poisoning their once-strong bond.
Loss of Agency: A Choice Denied
Ellie’s Sacrifice and Joel’s Interference
Ellie’s willingness to sacrifice herself for the greater good highlights her courage and selflessness. She saw her immunity as a responsibility, a chance to make a difference in a world ravaged by the Cordyceps infection. Joel’s decision to prevent her sacrifice, while understandable from a paternal perspective, robbed her of this opportunity. It implied that Joel didn’t believe in her agency or her ability to make her own decisions, even if those decisions were potentially life-threatening.
The Right to Choose
The core of Ellie’s anger lies in the fact that Joel took away her right to choose. In a world where so much is dictated by circumstance and survival, the ability to make a meaningful choice, especially one with such profound implications, was incredibly important to Ellie. By denying her this choice, Joel undermined her autonomy and treated her like a child incapable of understanding the gravity of the situation.
Survivor’s Guilt: The Unspoken Burden
Why Did I Survive?
Ellie grapples with intense survivor’s guilt throughout The Last of Us. She feels responsible for the deaths of those she cared about, including Riley, her best friend, and Tess, who sacrificed herself to buy them time. Ellie’s immunity intensifies this guilt. She wonders why she was spared while others perished. The possibility of a cure offered a way to redeem her survival, to make her immunity meaningful.
The Amplification of Guilt
Joel’s lie amplified Ellie’s survivor’s guilt. The possibility of a cure and Ellie’s ability to contribute to the betterment of humankind was taken away. The chance to redeem the loss and death and to create a world free from the virus was over. Ellie’s guilt spirals when she can’t cope with how people died for her and she wasn’t able to help bring about the cure.
The Unforgiven: Lasting Resentment
A Relationship Beyond Repair?
The events at the Firefly hospital irrevocably damaged Ellie and Joel’s relationship. While they continued to live together in Jackson, their bond was strained and fraught with tension. Ellie struggled to forgive Joel, and the weight of the lie cast a long shadow over their interactions. It’s worth noting the nuances of video games can be used to discuss pressing issues in today’s world, something the Games Learning Society often explores at GamesLearningSociety.org.
A Need for Closure
Ellie’s deep-seated anger towards Joel leads her to Seattle in The Last of Us Part II, to pursue the WLF soldiers responsible for his murder. This quest for revenge isn’t solely about avenging Joel’s death; it’s also about confronting the unresolved issues and the lingering resentment that festered between them. It’s an attempt to find closure, even if that closure comes through violence and retribution.
Ultimately, Ellie’s decision to cut ties with Joel was a complex and multifaceted one. It was born out of a profound sense of betrayal, a denial of her agency, the burden of survivor’s guilt, and a desperate need to reconcile with her past. While Joel’s actions were motivated by love and a desire to protect her, they had unintended and devastating consequences that ultimately fractured their relationship beyond repair.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Did Ellie ever forgive Joel?
As far as we know at the time of Joel’s death, Ellie never fully forgave Joel for his actions at the Firefly hospital. While they lived together in Jackson, their relationship remained strained, and the lie continued to haunt them both.
2. How did Joel betray Ellie?
Joel betrayed Ellie by lying to her about the Fireflies, the potential cure, and her intended sacrifice. He also stripped her of the chance to make her own choice, undermining her agency and eroding her trust.
3. Why was Ellie so angry with Joel?
Ellie was angry with Joel because he lied to her, denied her agency, and amplified her survivor’s guilt. She felt that he had robbed her of the chance to make a difference in the world and redeem her immunity.
4. What can’t Ellie forgive Joel for?
Ellie cannot forgive Joel for preventing her from sacrificing herself for the greater good and lying to her about the events at the Firefly hospital. This choice and decision were hers and it was taken from her without her knowledge.
5. Did Joel fall in love with Ellie?
Yes, it is evident that Joel developed a deep and profound love for Ellie, viewing her as a daughter figure. This love drove his decision to rescue her from the Fireflies, even at the cost of humanity’s potential cure.
6. Who takes care of Ellie after Joel dies?
After Joel’s death, Ellie is supported by Dina and Jesse, who bring Tommy to her. He brings her food some time later, but Ellie lives in her home on her own.
7. What did Joel whisper before he died?
According to some sources, one version of the script had Joel say “Sarah” before he died, his daughter’s name, until Baker, the actor who plays Joel, said to have him remain silent.
8. Did Joel treat Ellie as a daughter?
Yes, over time, Joel began to treat Ellie as his daughter. He became protective of her and displayed affection, mirroring the relationship he had with his deceased daughter, Sarah.
9. Does Abby regret killing Joel?
While Abby may not initially regret killing Joel, it becomes clear that his death had a negative impact on her life. She doesn’t regret killing him, but knows that it distances her from her friends.
10. What does Ellie do after Joel dies?
After Joel dies, Ellie is stricken with grief and struggles to cope with her loss. She embarks on a vengeful journey to confront Abby and the WLF soldiers responsible for his murder.
11. Was Joel lying to Ellie at the end of The Last of Us?
Yes, Joel lied to Ellie at the end of The Last of Us to prevent her from going back to the hospital and sacrificing herself for the potential cure.
12. Does Joel love Ellie more than Sarah?
While Joel will never forget Sarah, it is clear that he loves Ellie deeply and cares for her well-being. By the end of the first game, his actions demonstrate that he cares more about Ellie because she is still alive.
13. Was Joel in love with Tess?
The nature of Joel and Tess’ relationship is intentionally ambiguous. While they cared for each other and formed a close partnership, it is unclear whether they were romantically involved.
14. How long does Ellie stay mad at Joel?
Ellie carries her anger and resentment towards Joel for four years, from the time of the Firefly incident until his death.
15. What was the point of killing Joel?
Joel’s death served as a catalyst for the events of The Last of Us Part II, driving Ellie’s quest for revenge and forcing players to confront the complex moral ambiguities of the story. It also highlights the cyclical nature of violence and the devastating consequences of revenge.