The Twisted Obsession: Why Ulysses Hates the Courier
Ulysses’s obsession with the Courier stems from a deeply personal and tragic event: the unintentional destruction of the Divide, a place he considered home, by the Courier. He believes the Courier is directly responsible for obliterating his haven and the community he sought to build there. This is not a simple case of blaming the messenger; it’s a profound sense of betrayal, loss, and the shattering of a potential future, all attributed to the Courier’s actions. Ulysses’s obsession is not just about revenge; it’s a complicated blend of anger, grief, and a warped sense of destiny, all focusing on the person he sees as the catalyst for his misfortune. He sees the Courier as a symbol of the chaos and destruction that plague the wasteland and believes their encounter was a turning point in his life, setting him on a path of bitter resentment.
The Genesis of Hatred: The Divide’s Destruction
The Courier’s Unwitting Role
The core of Ulysses’s hatred revolves around a specific incident in 2274. The Courier, while working for a trade route between the NCR and the Mojave, unknowingly transported a package to the Divide. That package, whether it contained a nuclear detonator or was another device that triggered existing warheads, caused the catastrophic detonation of hidden nuclear weapons buried within the Divide. This event wiped out the Divide, a region Ulysses had come to view as his personal sanctuary, and its surrounding area. The Courier, despite being unaware of the package’s true nature, is seen by Ulysses as the direct agent of destruction. This isn’t simply a matter of guilt by association; Ulysses holds the Courier personally accountable for the tragedy.
Ulysses’s Personal Investment in the Divide
Before the cataclysm, Ulysses had found a sense of belonging in the Divide. He’d invested in this community and region, believing it to be a place where he could shape a new beginning. The Divide represented hope, a fresh start away from the brutality he’d witnessed in the Legion and the harsh realities of the wasteland. When the nukes detonated, this vision was not only shattered but eradicated, leaving him scarred, both physically and emotionally. This immense loss fueled his obsession with the Courier, making them the focal point of all his pain and resentment.
The Courier as a Symbol
The Unintended Agent of Chaos
Ulysses sees the Courier not just as the person who delivered the detonator, but as a symbol of the chaotic and unpredictable nature of the wasteland. He believes the Courier embodies the senseless violence and upheaval that have ravaged the world. In his mind, the Courier is an instrument of destruction, a conduit through which tragedy inevitably flows. This view is further reinforced by the fact that the Courier was also involved in the second destruction of the Divide after the events in the main game in the Lonesome Road DLC.
The Courier’s Lack of Awareness
What adds another layer of complexity to Ulysses’s obsession is the Courier’s lack of awareness about the incident. The Courier subconsciously blocked out memories of their time in the Divide, a defense mechanism against the trauma. This lack of recognition further fuels Ulysses’s rage, as the Courier, in his eyes, casually walks through life oblivious to the magnitude of the destruction they caused. Ulysses feels not only a loss but also a sense of injustice that the person responsible doesn’t even remember their crime. This ignorance feeds into his desire to make the Courier understand the depth of their transgression.
More Than Just Revenge
A Twisted Sense of Destiny
Ulysses believes that his path and the Courier’s were destined to intertwine. He sees their meeting as more than a mere coincidence; he views it as a crucial moment that defines both of their lives. He believes the Courier is the reason for his suffering, and he is determined to make them understand and pay for the role they played. This isn’t simply revenge; it’s about trying to make sense of his own tragedy, to find a purpose in the chaos. He wants the Courier to acknowledge their actions and the profound impact they had on Ulysses’s life.
A Personal Vendetta
Ulysses’s obsession is also a highly personal vendetta. It’s not about the NCR or the Legion or any broader conflict. It’s solely about the Courier and their role in the destruction of his home. His need for vengeance is not fueled by any grand political objective; it’s a deeply personal need to settle a score and try to regain some semblance of control after having his world turned upside down. He needs the Courier to acknowledge their role so he can validate his own pain and anger.
In conclusion, Ulysses’s obsession with the Courier is a complex tapestry woven from loss, betrayal, and a deep-seated need for justice. He blames the Courier for the destruction of the Divide, a tragedy that profoundly altered his life. It is this personal connection, coupled with the belief that the Courier embodies a destructive force, that fuels his unwavering hatred and determination for vengeance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why does Ulysses call the Courier ‘Six’?
Ulysses refers to the Courier as ‘Six’ because the Courier is commonly referred to as Courier Six due to their designation in the courier network. It is a neutral and detached way for Ulysses to address them, emphasizing their role as a tool of fate rather than a person.
2. What was Ulysses’s connection to the Legion before the Divide?
Ulysses was once a member of Caesar’s Legion. He was a scout and a valued member before leaving. His time in the Legion gave him insight into their nature and what he considers its inherent weaknesses.
3. Why did Ulysses refuse to deliver the Platinum Chip to Mr. House?
Ulysses refused to deliver the Platinum Chip to Mr. House because he recognized the Courier’s name on the delivery manifest and realized that the Courier was still alive. He saw this as an opportunity to encounter the Courier and enact his plans.
4. What exactly was the package the Courier delivered to the Divide?
The exact contents of the package are never specified, leading to some ambiguity and speculation. It was likely a device that either directly triggered hidden nuclear warheads or acted as a detonator.
5. Is the Courier a Synth?
No, the Courier is not a synth. They are a human who has undergone modifications, particularly during their time in the Big MT research facility in the Old World Blues DLC, making them a Cyborg.
6. Did the Courier lose their memory?
The Courier did not lose their memory in a traditional sense. Instead, they subconsciously blocked out the traumatic events of the Divide, a natural coping mechanism to deal with the horror they experienced.
7. Does Ulysses hate the NCR or the Legion more?
Ulysses dislikes both the NCR and the Legion. He sees the NCR as “diseased and clinging to life” and the Legion as doomed to internal conflict. However, his personal hatred is focused on the Courier, not any faction.
8. What is the Courier’s Miles?
The Courier’s Miles is a region of the Divide that was obliterated for a second time by the Courier, when they accidentally launched a nuclear warhead from the Ashton Missile Silo. It is a testament to the destruction that they unwittingly cause.
9. Why is the book Ulysses controversial?
James Joyce’s novel Ulysses is controversial due to its explicit language, sexual content, and its sometimes irreverent treatment of religious and societal norms, leading to censorship and bans in several countries.
10. How did the Courier survive the attack at the beginning of Fallout: New Vegas?
The Courier survived the initial attack in Fallout: New Vegas because they were rescued by a Securitron robot named Victor. Victor took the Courier to Doc Mitchell in Goodsprings for medical attention.
11. Where was the Courier born?
Unlike most player characters in the Fallout series, the Courier was not born in a vault. They were a wastelander who had lived and worked in the Big Circle trade route of California before coming to the Mojave.
12. Why did Joyce name his book Ulysses?
James Joyce named his book Ulysses as a reference to the Latin version of the name Odysseus from Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey. The book’s episodes are loosely based on the events of The Odyssey.
13. What happened to Ulysses after the events in the Lonesome Road DLC?
The ending of the Lonesome Road DLC is open-ended. Ulysses can either be defeated or spared, but regardless of what is decided the player usually doesn’t encounter him again, leaving his fate ambiguous.
14. Was the courier lobotomized?
The Courier becomes a unique lobotomite after being operated on by the Think Tank in the Old World Blues DLC. This isn’t a conventional lobotomy but a unique experience that changes the Courier’s brain.
15. Does the Courier have a canonical ending?
There is no canonical ending for the Courier, the outcome is decided on player choices in the game, including siding with the NCR, the Legion, an independent New Vegas, or even a modified Mr. House outcome.