Talk:Corvo Attano/@comment-72.171.24.186-20130627050403/@comment-223.255.230.228-20140824094619

I am not throughly in the same boat for some points but for point two: YES!!

Although it would be us questioning how much "noble" the Royal Protector job is, it is said in journal that it is more than 'order-able' bodyguard because he gets to make decisions much more freely. And the title Lord would imply he has some social class.

But look at this article: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/columns/criticalintel/10133-Corvo-Is-Not-An-Honorable-Man.2 especially the last two paragraph reveals he may isn't much of a 'lord' as the narratives of 'Royal Protector' would put it, no matter what you choose in dishonored, Corvo is not well respected by loyalist, even by commoners like Piero and Samuel, even Sokolov doesn't seem to respect him anymore after knowing (most likely) that he didn't get expensive king's whiskey for himself, rather it was piero (which is why the two being close friend at the end--remember that the reason Sokolov accepted the 'bribe' is not because his addiction of it took him over--but because he sees Corvo is 'A Man of Taste' for having one (he presumed it was for himself). My point is, to be considered honorable man by others, you must love yourself first (in positive and healthy meaning).

See, being honoured in english gentlemen term is putting your honor ahead of your life, that you won't be subjugated by any other man--which is corvo is anything but. He doesn't have 'honor' to begin with, even before the game started! Because he is, by your point, TraineD to be subjugated. Also as the object of an exchange, be it diplomatic or whatever, is not making a man having 'honour". Overly prioritizing others life before your own (be it, 'sweet' in modern perspective), is not what honorable man would place himself in.

So there it is, Corvo is just a servant, a man that can be bossed around, and yes, I agree with your point that I, too, didn't feel reasonable to kill Lady Boyle, but can you argue in dishonored? No (as you had pointed out).

The game might be so sweet with modern perspective of "oh heart-wrecked about your loved ones" "The Butler-princess relationship of many anime plot" "Saving your own daughter (if you take it as Corvo is the father)", but as it actually, throughly and completely, be a story of mere dishonorable man: Subjugated by 'letting himself' kept in dirty prison for 6 months, subjugated by 'letting himself' ordered around by the loyalist, and, heck, even subjugated by letting himself given the poorest room in hound pits, called by first name, all while not even getting paid by loyalist (really, why should I pay piero for all Conspiracy's importance?)

But I had that view after finishing the game, during my first (undoubtedly most memorable and heartily) playthrough, I see Corvo as "a loyal bodyguard who seeks to restore his kingdom/city by taking out corrupt illegible government and putting in the rightful one, because you have trust that Empress and Emily are good people that would want good for their country, which--as I later realized in flooded district--Corvo's country too". I never once intended that Corvo would lead royal life after what's happened, I originally imagined that after finishing last move chapter Corvo would just spend his rest of days in hound pits bar, working as whatever job available there, while watching from afar Emily being leader with loyalist' on his side. But of course... that turned out different.

I didn't see the loyalist betrayal as his potential breaking point--but rather, a turn-around point. It makes me (by that I mean as Corvo) realized that being subjugated by others isn't a solution--He couldn't have dirtyhand and expect others to just clean it for him. He must be the one who decide things. Not any other. That's what he does  in flooded district--he decides whether to rot in filmsy cage or not, he decides whether to eliminate target or not (actions toward daud being merely optional), he decides whether weepers are worth as zombie or human being (if you play low chaos, a plauge-infected nobleman will let you listen to him comforting a dying commoner--which is really eye-opening of the weeper status--and in turn the guards' status because "I don't get it... They [government's people/guards] should protect its people..." said the dying man, he answered "They did, from the people like us"). I couldn't hate the loyalist for poisoning Corvo, (that's why I went even less chaos than it already was in flooded district and didn't kill anyone in the last two missions) while I didn't see the poisoning coming, I somewhat wasn't surprised that happened. Yeah, I was actually picked up those giant red flags but ignores them because I think it is Corvo personality that ignores them (because players isn't allowed to argue).

In all, it is a sweet perspective you got there, but I didn't play by this perspective, I didn't get attached to Emily, I actually prefer her to be more attached to Callista because it's just not right for male bodyguard to be left alone too much with his guarded female princess without others' watch. I prefer to think Dunwall as a whole than a little fragment of Corvo-Emily world. I prefer to hang out more with Samual and other hound pits bar friends (although in rl I am woman and doesn't drink, I still think this is the best way to describe Corvo--a man, not throughly a feminist)

Of course, I throughly and deeply appriciate your writing about Corvo, which encourages me to write as long. Thank you, it is very fun.