Post by maeleene on Sept 23, 2009 11:44:21 GMT -5
... Is a Half-Life. There. I said it. I'm sure you all are pointing a finger at me and going, "Wha...? Crazy!" Well, let me explain... This is long-winded, so try to bear with me.
I don't think Keats is a Half-Life. (I don't think Belgae is one, either.)
Here's my reasoning. Aside from the obvious division between Belgae and the rest of the Half-Lives (Even at the beginning, Belgae never went into the bar to mix and mingle. Keats was told his guide was waiting outside), Belgae was not a creation of Livane's subconscious or imagination. Half-Lives are created from a person's inner desires, as shown through Scarecrow and Ellen, and Charlotte and Gam and Gee. They are born to fulfill a certain wish and die once it is completed or the wish is no longer wanted. It also states explicitly at the end that Belgae sacrificed himself for Livane's life. After Livane dies, Belgae continues ... half-living. (I never got the chance to play the Livane/Belgae side-story my roommate and I downloaded. So that's about as much of their history I know of for sure.)
Now, when Ellen was a child, she prayed to the Faeries to extend Herve's life. What she saw under the Henge, before Scarecrow, was Livane. In my mind, I feel Livane saw Ellen's potential as a Messenger and a bit of herself in little Cecilia, which is why she came to her beneath the Henge. She was commanded to give her blood, which you could take to mean, "Sacrifice yourself for him." Which Cecilia did, with Livane's spear. Herve saw Cecilia on the brink of death, knew he wouldn't make it to adulthood anyway, and in turn sacrificed himself for her.
Since I can't say for sure how Livane nearly died and Belgae forfeited his life in favour of hers (Was it in the same Rite? Was it on the battlefield? I really have no clue), I can't say whether or not it was Cecilia initiating some ritual first through her prayer or not. Hrm. In any case, Cecilia was promised Herve's life would be extended substantially. It didn't specify how.
Anyway, I recall the game specifically calling Belgae Livane's Guardian. And at the beginning of the game (though it misleads you to believe Keats is chosen through proximity), Keats is made Ellen's Guardian. Perhaps it takes a circumstance of "Netherwordly" danger to 'awaken' a Guardian and, as it seems most will agree it was Ellen's subconscious that called Keats, he was brought to Doolin to aid and protect her. (I recall several instances of Keats being asked why he's doing what he is, or why he cares so much about helping Ellen, and while he shrugs it off with an air of mystery and nonchalance I had the feeling he didn't quite understand himself.)
The biggest factor behind this theory is the fact that a Half-Life couldn't live without it's creator living. If a person has died, his wish or desire obviously has, too. And yet, after Livane passes on, Belgae is 'alive' and well. His existence is not dependent on Livane's. She was in it for 5,000 years. Belgae, too, I presume. You could say his life has been extended quite a bit, and continues on even after Livane dies. (I mean, yeah, he died once, but he's not dead dead.) If Keats/Herve is the same, you could say Cecilia's prayer for the elongation of his life has been effectively answered.
That begs the question: When Ellen dies, will Keats still live? My guess is yes.
In summary, what I'm trying to express through unnecessary lengthy chatter is this--I don't think Keats is a Half-Life. He's a Guardian. And Guardians do not hold to the same rules as Half-Lives. Something like that, anyway.
As for his appearance... I agree it's largely up to Ellen's perception of his adult self that shaped him. Belgae was obviously not an invisible man in life; Livane likely thought him up that way. So Ellen 'created' Keats' appearance.
.... I can't remember if I was going to say anything else on the matter or not. I've yet to have my morning cup of coffee, so my brain's a little fuzzy. ^^;
I don't think Keats is a Half-Life. (I don't think Belgae is one, either.)
Here's my reasoning. Aside from the obvious division between Belgae and the rest of the Half-Lives (Even at the beginning, Belgae never went into the bar to mix and mingle. Keats was told his guide was waiting outside), Belgae was not a creation of Livane's subconscious or imagination. Half-Lives are created from a person's inner desires, as shown through Scarecrow and Ellen, and Charlotte and Gam and Gee. They are born to fulfill a certain wish and die once it is completed or the wish is no longer wanted. It also states explicitly at the end that Belgae sacrificed himself for Livane's life. After Livane dies, Belgae continues ... half-living. (I never got the chance to play the Livane/Belgae side-story my roommate and I downloaded. So that's about as much of their history I know of for sure.)
Now, when Ellen was a child, she prayed to the Faeries to extend Herve's life. What she saw under the Henge, before Scarecrow, was Livane. In my mind, I feel Livane saw Ellen's potential as a Messenger and a bit of herself in little Cecilia, which is why she came to her beneath the Henge. She was commanded to give her blood, which you could take to mean, "Sacrifice yourself for him." Which Cecilia did, with Livane's spear. Herve saw Cecilia on the brink of death, knew he wouldn't make it to adulthood anyway, and in turn sacrificed himself for her.
Since I can't say for sure how Livane nearly died and Belgae forfeited his life in favour of hers (Was it in the same Rite? Was it on the battlefield? I really have no clue), I can't say whether or not it was Cecilia initiating some ritual first through her prayer or not. Hrm. In any case, Cecilia was promised Herve's life would be extended substantially. It didn't specify how.
Anyway, I recall the game specifically calling Belgae Livane's Guardian. And at the beginning of the game (though it misleads you to believe Keats is chosen through proximity), Keats is made Ellen's Guardian. Perhaps it takes a circumstance of "Netherwordly" danger to 'awaken' a Guardian and, as it seems most will agree it was Ellen's subconscious that called Keats, he was brought to Doolin to aid and protect her. (I recall several instances of Keats being asked why he's doing what he is, or why he cares so much about helping Ellen, and while he shrugs it off with an air of mystery and nonchalance I had the feeling he didn't quite understand himself.)
The biggest factor behind this theory is the fact that a Half-Life couldn't live without it's creator living. If a person has died, his wish or desire obviously has, too. And yet, after Livane passes on, Belgae is 'alive' and well. His existence is not dependent on Livane's. She was in it for 5,000 years. Belgae, too, I presume. You could say his life has been extended quite a bit, and continues on even after Livane dies. (I mean, yeah, he died once, but he's not dead dead.) If Keats/Herve is the same, you could say Cecilia's prayer for the elongation of his life has been effectively answered.
That begs the question: When Ellen dies, will Keats still live? My guess is yes.
In summary, what I'm trying to express through unnecessary lengthy chatter is this--I don't think Keats is a Half-Life. He's a Guardian. And Guardians do not hold to the same rules as Half-Lives. Something like that, anyway.
As for his appearance... I agree it's largely up to Ellen's perception of his adult self that shaped him. Belgae was obviously not an invisible man in life; Livane likely thought him up that way. So Ellen 'created' Keats' appearance.
.... I can't remember if I was going to say anything else on the matter or not. I've yet to have my morning cup of coffee, so my brain's a little fuzzy. ^^;