Just my opinion on the whole Cecil and light and dark topic!

by Dragonsoul 

For those of you who don't know me (or don't want to:) I'll be named Dragonsoul. Fair enough? I suppose you all are wondering who the heck I am and what I'm doing commenting on this dead dog topic. How many times has this been responded to, anyway?

I'll make my point clear: this is an opinion of a girl who has written Cecil fanfics and has approached the subject of 'light and dark'. Did Cecil overcome his dark? Did the journey to Mt. Ordeals negate his evil? How can he forgive the brother he's never known that has obliterated his friends?

Good question. I'm glad someone brought it up÷actually several someones.

Ahem. For those you out there, there exists, if but very few, people who are capable of forgiveness and being good-souled human beings. Now, don't get me wrong. I love the vile enemy characters (I've also written Magus/Chrono Trigger fanfics!) but something is lacking in today's society (God, I sound like my father!) and that is integrity. Yes, boys and girls, I mean being thoughtful and considerate and sacrificing oneself. I donât know how many emails Iâm going to receive as a result of this but I welcome each and every one. Itâs just my opinion.

Why do we need integrity?

Another good question.

What if Aeris was a horrific person? Would you have mourned her death? What if Cloud stayed the rude brat he was? Would you have rejoiced his slaying Sephiroth? Hardly. What Iâm trying to say is that a good game needs balance: for every demonic character there must be an equally-heroic character. If we neglect one the other loses its charm. How so, you ask? Simple. If you ate chocolate for everyday of your life would it hold that special meaning anymore? Not likely because for something to Îhold special meaningâ it must be rare. And thus, the cool, cruel characters need to be balanced with loving, benevolent personalities.

How the heck does this relate to Cecil?

Ah, the main point!

Cecil, as youâve noticed, is dubbed to be both dark and light. As far as I can figure that assessment is correct. So, why does he forgive Golbez? Because, Cecil himself learns forgiveness from others and that he is a man of integrity. I love the combination of good (Cecil) and evil (Golbez) and that they are brothers. It slams home the fact that while dark and light exist they do not exist individually but jointly. Yes, the paladin is balanced with the sorcerer (or whatever the heck Golbez is)...

Good and evil. Get the point?

One cannot exist without the other. If you take out the good characters then the slightest kind deed committed by a mass murderer seems angelic. If you remove the villain then the character with the smallest unkind intentions are perceived as wicked. So, we simply NEED both.

So I guess that means Cecilâs good and Golbez evil, right?

No... not at all.

Cecil committed atrocious acts (burning Mist Village, stealing Crystals, etc.) but also redeemed himself by confronting Zemus. No, Ordeals did not purify him. It awoke his knowledge of good and evil. Golbez just required the mind control to be destroyed in order for him to get in touch with his benevolent soul. He also did horrific things (kidnapping Rosa, attacking cities, etc) but he found the light path through the hand of his brother. That is exemplified by the simple word Îbrotherâ.

Simply put, the crystalâs themselves, being light and dark, show that evil cannot exist without good and vice versa. Extreme good leads to intolerance. Extreme evil leads to anarchy. Only a balance can preserve this world·or any other.

Comments, feedback, whatever welcomed!

Original Editorial : Light and Dark: Cecil's Struggle For Balance