I have to admit, when I first played Odin Sphere back in 2007 or whenever, Gwendolyn wasn’t really a character who resonated with me. I didn’t dislike her--I never have--but I wasn’t drawn to her the way I was the others (except Oswald, that ridiculously extra emo fuck. I don’t hate him either). I don’t consider myself obedient or dutiful or decisive or any of those things.
That was ten years ago. After everything I’ve gone through in the last few years though, I can’t help but be struck how hardcore she is. The scene where she finally tells Odin to sit on it and he’s not getting his way this time is powerful in ways I never really got before. I know what that feels like now. I know how terrifying that is. And she does it right to his face, and also he’s fucking ginormous. Like he could literally step on her. His fist is the size of her whole body. Meanwhile I did it from a thousand miles away over the phone and it was still one of the scariest, hardest things I’ve ever done. I can’t express how difficult and terrible and upsetting that whole day was. And she’s not emotional. She doesn’t flinch. She stands up straight and looks him in the eye and says “no.”
So while I did always get that it was important and impressive, exactly how much never hit me until now. You don’t want to let go. Cutting toxic people, family in particular, out of your life is never as easy as you wish it would be, especially when they still have the power to hurt you. It’s why domestic violence victims are at greatest risk when they make the decision to leave. But you have to do it. She had to do it, I had to it.
What I’m saying is that people who disparage Gwendolyn and call her weak are one or more of the following: 1, never experienced any kind of abuse, 2, completely lacking in empathy, 3, misogynistic. Because holy shit that is a seriously dangerous thing to do even in the real world where your dad isn’t ten times your size and a king who knows a bunch of killer magic spells and shit.
We do not deserve her.
