Writing Tip - The Power of Subtext
As we all know, a big part of writing is learning how to show rather than tell. A major part of that experience is understanding how small details can add depth to a scene. Body language, props, camera direction, and much more can tell an entirely different story beneath the surface.
To demonstrate this, let's look at a cutscene from God of War Ragnarök.
For starters, as Odin approaches, he admires the spear Kratos is holding and appears to be about to touch it. Kratos suddenly yanks it away.
There are two ways you can interpret this scene. One possibility is that Odin can use magic to enchant objects. For all we know, he may have been about to cast a spell on the spear. Another possibility is that Kratos was once a Spartan soldier. In Spartan culture, touching another warrior's weapon is considered deeply dishonourable.
Odin then points out how talented Brok is with the spear. This serves as another hint that Odin is secretly TĂœr, as he was present when the idea to forge the spear was first discussed.
As Odin talks, you may notice that Kratos keeps his back to him. We have seen several instances throughout the previous games where people circle Kratos while trying to intimidate or persuade him, yet Kratos continues to keep his back turned towards them.
This could be attributed to his confidence and skill in battle. It also suggests that he does not consider them to be a threat he cannot overcome.
However, Mimir is attached to Kratos's hip, near his lower back. You could interpret this as another subtle indication of how much Kratos trusts Mimir to watch over him.
When Odin says that he wants peace, the camera pans towards the spears behind him. This may imply that, despite his claims of peace, Odin is someone who would be willing to stab Kratos in the back â hinting at his true intentions.
Then, when Mimir states that Odin is lying and Kratos agrees with him, Odin picks up a pair of blacksmith's tongs and appears to move towards Mimir.
Before Kratos removed Mimir's head, Mimir had been bound and tortured by Odin every day for 109 years. The moment can therefore be interpreted as Odin becoming angry with Mimir and appearing ready to fall back into his old habits and torture him once again.
Kratos finally snaps when Odin mentions that Atreus is the key.
This immediately brings to mind Pandora from God of War III. Pandora was also described as a key to victory and was ultimately expected to sacrifice herself. Kratos cared for Pandora like she was his own child, so Odin's words may have reminded him of the pain and guilt associated with her death.
Odin then asks Kratos whether they had no concept of metaphor in his homeland.
The irony is that âmetaphorâ is a Greek word, and Kratos's homeland invented the concept of metaphor. There are two ways to interpret this exchange.
The first is that Odin genuinely does not know this, showing that he may be more ignorant than he initially appears. The second is that he knows the Greeks invented the concept and is essentially mocking Kratos for failing to understand something created by his own people.
Odin then asks Kratos whether anyone has ever prayed to him.
Kratos's fellow Spartans worshipped him when he was the God of War.
By the end of the conversation, you can see Odin beginning to lose his patience because none of his usual mind games are working.
For perhaps the first time, Odin cannot intimidate, charm, or manipulate the person standing in front of him. He cannot even physically bully Kratos in the same way he does Thor, because Kratos has no fear of him and has already faced â and defeated â opponents far larger and more powerful.
The scene is a great example of how subtext can add layers to a conversation. On the surface, Odin and Kratos are simply having a conversation. But through body language, camera direction, props, dialogue, and references to Kratos's past, the scene is constantly communicating additional information to the audience.
That is the power of subtext.
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