The influence of Camille & Caroline on Klaus
Over a decade later, I caved. I watched The Originals. And I have thoughts, okay? A lot of them.
Over the years, I have heard and read so much about the similarities between Caroline and Camille. After finally watching, I have to say aside from the fact that they are both blonde women, have a first name that begins with 'C' and have an attraction to Klaus, I don't see a lot of resemblance between them. I really don't. I find even less similarities between Klaroline and Klamille.
Caroline challenged Klaus constantly. She didn't tolerate his bs, and she pushed him to be a better version of himself. She was almost a mirror of what Klaus could aspire to (light, strength, beauty). And the characters said it themselves. "We're the same, Caroline." (Klaus, TVD 4X14). Klaus saw a version of himself in Caroline. She had qualities that he admired but also possessed (they were a little buried, I'll concede that). "I reminded you of a part of yourself that you lost and wished that you could get back." (Caroline, TO 5x06) Caroline saw the resemblance too. She was just more reluctant to admit it.
In contrast, Camille was more of a moral anchor for Klaus in my opinion. She was always rationalizing his behavior, trying to understand why he did what he did. That's what she gave Klaus: understanding. Caroline understood him too. She knew where his darkest nature came from, she understood the pain and trauma he carried. But unlike Camille, she didn't tell him that, she didn't allow him to use his past as an excuse to justify his terrible deeds. Camille provided comfort and acceptance. Caroline created friction and pressure. One made him feel understood and emotionally safe. The other demanded growth from him, stretching him beyond the easy and comfortable parts of himself, in order to earn a place by her side.
Camille met Klaus where he was. She listened to him, explained him, helped him articulate his pain, reframed his behavior through trauma, always trying to provide a logical and acceptable explanation for why he did what he did to the point of almost enabling him. She was literally his therapist, his conscience, a moral buffer. Caroline, however, never met Klaus where he was at. Ever. While Camille met Klaus where he was, Caroline defined where he wanted to go. He had to bend for Caroline, adapt, transform, deny his darkest instincts. He held her to such a high standard he had no choice but to rise to that standard to be worthy of her.
The bottom line is those two women served different purposes in his life, and it's okay to acknowledge that. I will always be a Klaroline shipper, but I acknowledge that Klaus needed Camille at a certain point in his life in order to become who he did. Caroline was able to unlock his vulnerability, but Camille is the one who sustained it. Camille is the one who held space for him, who welcomed his emotional moments, who let him sit and linger in his feelings, who allowed him to process his trauma.
Having said that though, there is no denying that Klaus longed for Caroline "Dearest Caroline... Yours, Klaus", "however long it takes". She never stopped holding his heart. He remembered her and held onto her across time and distance. He continued to make her a priority even when he was involved with Camille. He saved her boyfriend's life as a favor she didn't even have to ask for even though he was romantically entangled with Camille at the time. What's that, if not enduring devotion and unshakable love?
Very simply put, this is how I see it: Caroline was the love that elevated Klaus, Camille was the love that grounded Klaus. Now, I believe Klaus Mikaelson was a man who didn't settle. I believe he wanted a love that felt transcendent, a love that forced him to work every day to deserve it. So if we remove all narrative obstacles and just focus on who Klaus Mikaelson was at his core, there is no doubt in my mind that if given the possibility to be with one of them, both being willing to have him, he would have let Camille go and chosen Caroline.
If you understand his character differently, you may have a different opinion, and that is alright.
