The Subtle Portrayal of Parental Abuse in Breath of the Wild

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 พ.ย. 2024

ความคิดเห็น • 65

  • @Delphae111
    @Delphae111 ปีที่แล้ว +26

    My theory is that all the pressure caused her to develop a block on her powers, not to mention how he kept insisting on "training" by praying and not actually learning how other people use their powers.

    • @Drakenwild
      @Drakenwild  ปีที่แล้ว +14

      That's my theory as well. Pressure and the harsh treatment caused depression which in turn reflected by blocking the power. It is very clear from the story that her access to it is interlinked with her emotional and spiritual state.

  • @generaltechnomage306
    @generaltechnomage306 ปีที่แล้ว +34

    You forgot to mention the fact that Rhoam's spirit passed on to the afterlife before making peace with Zelda; that does not seem to help his case any further.

  • @cupkelpie4656
    @cupkelpie4656 ปีที่แล้ว +18

    Absolutely agree with everything!
    It always worries me to see Botw theroists take Rhoams diary at face value without questioning any of it.
    As you said: A small child not showing any kind of grief is NOT something to celebrate or be proud of. The first time I read that me brain just went "Oh no..." so yeah

    • @Drakenwild
      @Drakenwild  ปีที่แล้ว +8

      To be honest with you, it bothers me a lot when I see people in the community claiming that Rhoam didn't have a choice and then use the last entry of his diary as a proof that he is a good person, just because he thought that maybe he should apologize after royally screwing up for 10+ years. That is very much missing the message of his story (not to mention that this same entry directly rebuts the idea he didn't have a choice but that's beside the point).

    • @cupkelpie4656
      @cupkelpie4656 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@Drakenwild 100%.
      It seems to be a recurring theme that royal kings royally f*ck up directly leading to some calamity or the other.
      One could easily argue that Rhoams actions prevented Zelda from unlocking her powers in the first place and therefor by his actions he caused the fate he tried to prevent (like a greek tragedy)
      Similarily there is the creation of the Yiga, the tragedy of Zelda I and the g*nocide of the Gerudo (heavily implied in TP). I also doubt the royal family had no hand in the Hyrulian Cicil War breaking out.

    • @Drakenwild
      @Drakenwild  ปีที่แล้ว +7

      @@cupkelpie4656 All across the series there's a lot of more and less subtle hints that Hyrule's monarchy isn't this good, pure and benevolent force, even though it would like to seem like it is. Though it is still genuinely a better option than succumbing to forces of evil.
      I recently saw a long essay by Moon Channel, detailing religious and political history of Japan and how it influences their culture and stories of their games. And honestly, while the tropes he spoke about aren't as pronounced in Zelda as in, say, Persona 5, I can still see their presence in Zelda stories.

    • @cupkelpie4656
      @cupkelpie4656 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@Drakenwild I'll definitely go check that out later, thanks^^

  • @meisteryogurt1460
    @meisteryogurt1460 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    In German the memory where the King confronts Zelda is even slightly more extreme: he makes up two mock-names for her that the others are apparently using, that roughly translate to "Little Failure" and "Princess Useless", and it is incredible to me that she has to stand there and take this from her own father.

    • @Drakenwild
      @Drakenwild  ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Wow. Yeah, the localisation team knew what's up and turned up the cruelty.

    • @Hausbau.
      @Hausbau. 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

      The game in german is more darker mipha says after you free her divine beast that she was a bad daughter

  • @nehpets216
    @nehpets216 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    For years I've hated him without being able to articulate why. Thank you for putting it into words.

    • @Drakenwild
      @Drakenwild  ปีที่แล้ว

      You are most welcome! :D

  • @kylecuthbert7943
    @kylecuthbert7943 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    While I do think putting the needs of the kingdom before Zelda’s needs is what a king must do, a lot of what he did was needlessly cruel. He definitely could have been more emotionally supportive. I understand the need for Zelda to appear strong in front of her people but as you said he could have comforted her in private.
    As for her training I don’t fault him for putting it above Zelda’s intrests but he could have Zelda give more input in to what was and wasn’t working.

    • @Drakenwild
      @Drakenwild  ปีที่แล้ว +6

      I'm definitely not advocating for him to ignore the impending doom in order to spoil his daughter, just that a lot of what he did was completely unnecessary, pointless and counterproductive. He absolutely should have given Zelda more input and at least tried to look for alternate ways of awaking the power, rather than assume fault on her part every time and get angry over it.

  • @aenor190
    @aenor190 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Seeing a carefully crafted video confirm my feelings about the relationship between Zelda and her father makes me feel less crazy. I can't stand people saying "he was doing it for the kingdom" or any other excuses. There's no excuses to a parent abusing or neglecting their child, no matter the form of abuse. And it doesn't make the child stronger.
    What made Zelda stronger was her love for Link, her friendship with the champions, that helped her feel even a tad bit accepted and loved back for who she is and not for who people thinks she should be.
    Every time I would see the cut scenes I felt torn inside, as I had an emotionally abusive step-dad and emotionally neglectful mother. I'm 27 and still working on healing the scars it left in my mind and heart.
    Abuse is never okay. It does not make a child stronger. And brushing such things of as not so serious is deplorable and will just make victims of abuse doubt their pain and struggles.

    • @Drakenwild
      @Drakenwild  ปีที่แล้ว

      The awareness of things like psychological abuse and trauma is still very low unfortunately. People tend to associate abuse strictly with the physical variant and while it is awful, it's not the only kind.
      This story specifically is good for showing that because it does not sugar coat nor pass judgement. The portrayal of the king is completely neutral and yet only very few people pick up on what his and Zelda's relationship is like even after reading all of the journals.

  • @myleswelnetz6700
    @myleswelnetz6700 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

    And he hasn’t always been like that. The parental abuse actually started with that mysterious monk who foretold the return of Calamity Ganon.

  • @bowserfierykoopaking4235
    @bowserfierykoopaking4235 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Age of Calamity literally proves that psychotic trauma made by Rhoam supressed all powers of Zelda.
    Zelda was extremely happy when she was herself. She was making own experiments with Sheikah technology, becoming young genius expert matching Purah and Robbie in brainset. She built the Terrako who is a powerful robot who can even defeat mutated ganon on it's own. She SUBCONCIOUSLY TRANSFERED TO HIM HER POWERS OF TIME AND LIGHT. Robot who is the reason where events in that alt timeline where made in her favour. Technology of her saved life of champions and her ungrateful dad. Sure Rhaom was forced to admit her technology was reason they won. At least Rhoam admitted he was wrong (what doesn't change the fact of his awfulness) unlike Revali who is still a jerk even after being rescued by Link (either Botw or AoC).
    It is really sad, because Rhoam example of being awful parent isn't real only in games but in real life too. Parents destroy psychic of their own child and then later they are wondering why their kid is asocial, has behaviour problems, is very different to others, has lot of traumas, has lack of self-value and try to commit suicide.
    Compare Rhoam to Urbosa, Rauru and Sonja. THese 3 were better parental figures to Zelda than Rhaom ever was. Even Link's Grandma from Wind Waker despite falling into depression after Aryll's kidnapping she was very caring and good parental figure but at least depression for old defenseless person is justifiable (+ she still was very nice to grandchildren).

    • @Drakenwild
      @Drakenwild  11 หลายเดือนก่อน

      The fact that Rhoam's pattern of behaviour matches real life so closely, it makes it all the scarier that so many people genuinely don't see the issue and cry "tough love".

  • @myleswelnetz6700
    @myleswelnetz6700 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

    And Zelda started turning to Link for comfort, because he was the only other person that she knew she could trust.

  • @Amey_Wolff
    @Amey_Wolff ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I know I am VERY late. You probably won’t see this. But perhaps if Zelda was allowed to continue researching maybe she would have found a flaw in the technology that it can get possessed. Also it was probably impossible to predict. Also I really love your videos ❤

    • @Drakenwild
      @Drakenwild  ปีที่แล้ว +2

      As long as channel is small and I'm not drowning in comments, I see EVERYTHING xD
      And yep, you are 100% on point. It is a what if scenario with the benefit of hindsight so we can't exactly hold it against the king but the problem very well could have been compounded in that manner. And thank you, glad you're enjoying yourself! ^^

    • @Amey_Wolff
      @Amey_Wolff ปีที่แล้ว

      @@Drakenwild I’m a small channel too! Small channel to small channel, eh? 😂

    • @Drakenwild
      @Drakenwild  ปีที่แล้ว

      @@Amey_Wolff yep! 😁

  • @Watcher_-uk1cj
    @Watcher_-uk1cj ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Cool video, discussing all of your points and it's very convincing. I kinda relate to Zelda in a way.
    Yes, King Rhoam did love his daughter but that doesn't excuse his actions. I know how it feels when a parent dismissed your interests, and the fact that King Rhoam scolded the poor girl publicly (seeing Link was there and some guards). No, wonders she's scared on how others view her (especially Link). Yes, scolding your child is a way to keep in check, but parents should be reminded that the way of their scolding impacts a child very much.
    That's why it irked me on how some people are really forgiving with King Rhoam just because of his diary. In reality, it would take a lot of time for the two to mend their relationship. Also, the king is the one who should apologize properly (which he didn't) while Zelda is the one who has the choice to forgive him or not.

    • @Drakenwild
      @Drakenwild  ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Yes, exactly. It is bothersome that people use king's diary to prove that he isn't so bad when in reality, it just makes him look worse. He does love Zelda and is not aware how much harm he's causing but that doesn't excuse him. He still is the one in the wrong.

    • @Watcher_-uk1cj
      @Watcher_-uk1cj ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@Drakenwild You're right, his diary entry painted him in a bad light even more. People just don't see that, which kinda interest me because sometimes it's hard to tell if a person see their action as toxic or abusive because of their own ideals etc. Earlier in my comment, I stated that I relate with Zelda in some kind of way and seeing some people saying that Rhoam is not a bad father, I would quietly say to visit a council or a therapist. Maybe some of those people who don't believe in things like this are in denial. Zelda might also be in denial and conflicted judging by her actions. I too, also am in denial and conflicted with my parents because despite the problems we have, I still love them but the fact that I can't freely speak to them and is close off says otherwise.

    • @Drakenwild
      @Drakenwild  ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@Watcher_-uk1cj these situations are extremely difficult because of the types of relationships these are, yeah. Sometimes somethings may seem normal and not wrong at all because we don't know any better.

  • @azureblooet5053
    @azureblooet5053 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I'm so convinced that if Zelda had been allowed to persue science she would've had invented explosive firearms by the time gannon showed up. Like the fact that Mipha a literal magic user stating what her mindset was while casting, LITERALLY just "here is what I do when i use magic" was something completely unaccounted for. The fact that nobody entertained that the "power vanquish evil" was linked to her being actually happy or feeling love for her people for an entire decade speaks VOLUMES to the conditions she was working in. Dude there better not be an afterlife post spirits moving on cause once the Hylian people hear about this shit they're gonna tear the underworld APART to personally kick his ass.

  • @stevejones2925
    @stevejones2925 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    BOTW is a tragedy story and this is one of the many sad parts of it.

    • @Drakenwild
      @Drakenwild  ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Yea, it really is. BotW has a very chill vibe which makes a lot of people forget that ultimately, it is a game about dealing with trauma.

  • @Zenith8896
    @Zenith8896 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I'm only 12 minutes in and I can already tell that this "king" is a clown. king rhoam put up such a "nice guy" act towards Link as a dead spirit in Breath of the Wild when in reality, he is actually a scumbag. Okay, I'm going to watch the rest of the video. Thanks for listening to my Ted Talk.

    • @Drakenwild
      @Drakenwild  ปีที่แล้ว +2

      That is often the case with people who have issues with narcissism and control. They seem nice enough when you're outside their influence but turn out awful once you get close.
      To be entirely fair though, I've also heard the interpretation that he understood his failing and tried to be to Link a father figure he should have been to Zelda. Which wouldn't redeem him exactly but such turn of events is not impossible. The guy had a lot of time to think about just what he did.

  • @estrielmoo8885
    @estrielmoo8885 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    YOOO NEW DRAKENWILD VIDEO
    time to listen as i draw >:)
    Edit: wait this video is 9 months old?
    ...

    • @Drakenwild
      @Drakenwild  2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Yep, it's one of the early ones xD

  • @Cosmosis-86
    @Cosmosis-86 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Maybe he really wanted Link as his son 😜

  • @kratal122
    @kratal122 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    So…. Basically a royal parent in a feudal society?

    • @Drakenwild
      @Drakenwild  ปีที่แล้ว

      Pretty much, yep. But we as players interpret these stories in context of our lived, modern experience and worldview, not the medieval one.

    • @kratal122
      @kratal122 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Aye, of course! I just couldn’t help but joke about it. Unfortunately, the sarcastic tone I wanted doesn’t translate well into text.

    • @Drakenwild
      @Drakenwild  11 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@kratal122 yeah, that's the one issue with text based communication xD

  • @coryfreake9070
    @coryfreake9070 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    He _was_ emotionally abusive, but I still like him. He definitely shows INTENSE guilt for how he treated his daughter and had to live with that for 100 years. That's enough of a punishment for me. Him helping Link learn how to survive in the wild was cool too. He seems like a competent King who just made a really, really stupid choice on what he had to do for the kingdom. I understand why he felt the need to push his daughter super hard, but he definitely didn't need to push her away or act so cold to her. He's not a bad person, he's just flawed like a lot of the other characters.
    Zelda took all of her anger out on Link and to this day emotionally neglects him. Link took his duty so seriously that he ended up pushing away everybody he cared about and hurting others. Revali took the desire to initiate a rivalry too far and relentlessly bullied Link. Urbosa doesn't really have anything bad that she's done but her violent outbursts in AoC are concerning. Mipha was obsessive to the point she ended up making serious desicions and and preparing an engagement for her friend. Creating a Champion even said that they needed to make her a more shy individual to balance it out. Daruk is so wholesome, I can't say anything bad about him. Purah and Robbie seem to be oblivious. Purah acts incredibly insensitive and nonchalant towards Link (this flaw is fixed in TotK) and Robbie doesn't seem to notice how he's hurting his wife. Impa is serious and seems to hold Paya at such a high regard that she overworks her. This gets to the point where Paya thinks staying up till the late hours of the night praying is fine.
    All of the characters in BotW do bad things but only Rhoam and Revali ever get focused on and I find it pretty unfair.

    • @Drakenwild
      @Drakenwild  ปีที่แล้ว +3

      All valid points, vast majority of them are flawed to various degrees, which is really good character work! Just personally I find Rhoam to be a standout in just how much harm he's caused by being abusive and neglectful. I don't think him helping Link redeems that - to even begin to fix it, he'd have to talk to Zelda but that didn't happen. I also don't find the community to be hard on him at all, most people I talk with find his behaviour totally excusable and not abusive, which is a bit problematic. But I agree with you on Revali, he isn't nearly as bad as people tend to make him out to be.
      Also there is nothing wrong in liking a character that is doing bad things!

    • @coryfreake9070
      @coryfreake9070 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@Drakenwild Yeah, I just feel that the knowledge of the impact of what his actions are doing is what sets him apart. He knows that he's hurting somebody else and still continues to do it. The other flawed characters don't seem to realize it (even if they REALLY should). That's probably why he's a standout, not because his actions caused the most harm, but because he consciously chose to hurt others.
      I also wasn't saying that him teaching Link how to survive excuses anything, far from it, that's just why I liked him.
      (Also, Link thankfully wasn't Zelda's only support system. It's not show in BotW but in Age of Calamity shows how supportive Impa was of her and how concerned she was.)
      I totally agree that it's fine to like characters that do bad things though, and Rhoam definitely fits the category.

    • @Drakenwild
      @Drakenwild  ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@coryfreake9070 I tend to not include AoC in videos like this because of its questionable canonicity. It is an alternate universe after all and we have no way of knowing if the presence of Terrako truly is the only thing that's been different at the point the game begins.

  • @joel-uw2lg
    @joel-uw2lg ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Wait but roahm is one of my age of calamity main
    Uh oh
    After watching yeah roahm is a prick

  • @myleswelnetz6700
    @myleswelnetz6700 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Not subtle enough.

  • @ZayaMillis
    @ZayaMillis ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Wow, he was a real monster. It makes you wonder how he treated other people.

    • @Drakenwild
      @Drakenwild  ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Probably highly depends on his relationship to them. I wouldn't expect he'd be any less strict on his direct underlings and subjects. But on equal grounds, he probably read as a nice guy and a concerned parent. Narcissism and abuse tend to hide in relations with people outside the family circle.

  • @happysmilesworldandgames8755
    @happysmilesworldandgames8755 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Also zelda could finally use her powers by showing emotion

  • @problemchild8531
    @problemchild8531 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    11:15 I think that’s actually self harm, or it at least started that way, then it was encouraged by her father and she probably did if a lot more.
    Sooo basically, Zelda put herself through self harm at SEVEN YEARS of age, and no one did anything to stop it except Urbosa and he father encouraged it. That time she passed out might as well have been a really bad suicide attempt.
    And let’s not talk about what she did in tears of the kingdom.
    Spoiler alert!!
    Giving up yourself in such a horrible way as to turn yourself into a mindless immortal dragon, to transport this one tool that could help a little bit at saving her kingdom is a crazy sacrifice.
    I mean in the end it was worth it, but it was such a slim chance that it would work it makes it sound crazy. And I don’t think anyone who is not suicidal af would do that even if they knew it would work.
    That’s absolutely a sort of suicide attempt. I mean It’s hard to classify it as one but it definitely did the job of escaping the pain and suffering she was constantly put through.
    So yea Zelda definitely needs therapy. And a lot of it to

    • @Drakenwild
      @Drakenwild  11 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      The whole situation is horrifying and I am surprised most of the community is totally chill with it.

    • @problemchild8531
      @problemchild8531 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      @@DrakenwildI haven’t been in the Zelda fandom for so long. And from my experience it’s not a very problematic fandom (I mean it’s about a small man whit a green hat and a cutesy princess how problematic can it be?)
      But yea not every fandom is extremely clean and I think I this situation counts as some kind of filth

    • @Drakenwild
      @Drakenwild  11 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@problemchild8531 I don't think it's a problem with the fandom. I think it's issue with awareness in general. Physical abuse makes headlines, psychological doesn't.

    • @PerpetuallyTired171
      @PerpetuallyTired171 21 วันที่ผ่านมา

      While I do think it is a case of self harm, I wouldn't make the claim that she is suicidal. Don't get me wrong, she needs therapy and self harm is never a healthy coping mechanism. But, while suicidal people often self harm, not everyone who self harms is suicidal (i.e., correlation does not mean causation).

  • @Hausbau.
    @Hausbau. 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I never liked botw zelda because she was always mean to link same goes for revali but he secretly liked him and respected him.Zelda on the other hand disliked him because him because he fullfill hid duty but she never was able to.I also think link doesn’t really care about her in botw and that he likes the champions more the only reason that they interact with each other is because links mission is to protect her

    • @Drakenwild
      @Drakenwild  11 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      That's not how I see her and Link's relationship but to each their own!

  • @generaltechnomage306
    @generaltechnomage306 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    After rewatching this video, I started to notice something. King Rhoam's parenting seems to share some similarities with how a feminist would raise their children; specifically that Rhoam wants his daughter Zelda to be a strong fighter and great leader like a feminist would want.
    Now I know I might be opening a can of worms with this comment, but it seems worth mentioning.

    • @Drakenwild
      @Drakenwild  ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Trying to build up child's confidence isn't wrong in itself, the method Rhoam decided to use to get there is. Anyone who is so ruthless with their kid, regardless of views, is an abusive parent figure, too.

  • @moblinvariable246
    @moblinvariable246 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Really? Abuse? This is a lot of reaching just to make a flawed character look worse than he is.

    • @Drakenwild
      @Drakenwild  ปีที่แล้ว +8

      If you think so. I stand by what I said.