I'm just imagining how the boss would be feeling in this situation like-
You're just a nice dude, in a nice city living nice when suddenly a circus comes in town and steals not ONE, but TWO of your employees and then the next people you employ you're warning them like
“do NOT go to the circus, I don't know about the killing part but they keep kidnapping my baristas for some reason”
Okay guys, how is no one crazily talking about this yet?!! (I haven’t seen so far at least)
These 2 basically confirm that their healing skills not only close the wounds, but even fades scars all together!!! (F for all the artist scar lovers that always drew them covered is scars. They always look soooo good!!), anyways… It made me wonder just truly how far does their healing goes.
- Could they regenerate a whole member if they were to ever lose it?
- Do they heal faster or slower depending on how well fed they are? After all, we all saw how Pierrot was like on the moonless night
- What truly is those dark shadows we see on Quin’s chin and Pie’s back of the neck? Cause they surely are NOT scars.
Aaaaa I’m just so curious!! I love this game so much. I can’t wait to see what other questions the other members will answer is this everyone included AMA. It is being a really fun experience <3
These pictures were took from the game’s official blog @freakcircusofhorrors
Thank you to @moymoss for helping throw ideas around and dealing with my paragraphs of words. I've touched on the mirror scenes in several theories, but now, it gets its own!
Three different scenes are happening. The cages, the outside(black screen), and the aftermath (black screen), while in cages.
The Outside
The first scene begins specifically with Columbina being targeted by the humans. There are two humans having a conversation about Columbina with her right there.
"She's pretty, even though she's one of them."
"You're right."
"And if..."
Pierrot then steps in to protect her, and those behind him appear as Harlequin, Jester, Ticklet Taker, and the Doctor. The order is important.
Pierrot is labeled a problem. The two humans discuss what to do about it.
Their solution?
(A bold speech... a powerful figure... That Man, perhaps? Maybe it was the man and his second in command.)
Pierrot is heavily injured due to the order given and then put into the cage. We see it in the scene of him alone in the cage with his blood pooling outside the cage. The cages are the second scene.
Returning back outside (Black Screen)
This leaves Columbina, Harlequin, Jester, Ticket Taker, and Doctor left outside(black screen).
Jester is speaking to Harlequin about Pierrot in the next part.
Maybe he'll be the first to fall.
And then one by one we'll wither away in this pit, *** (green text for Harlequin's former name)
I will, feed him.
The comma in 'I will, feed him' is important since it represents a minor pause. This could be meant for Jester's decision of feeding Pierrot and/or gathering enough strength from being so weak from starvation.
Another point, Jester's conversation with Harlequin could be a sign of nudging, but also a reality check for Harlequin. (The game is over.)
... Wait.
The reality of the situation was beginning to sink in, and whatever Jester was going to do - he got caught. Harlequin's warning was too late.
Switch to the Second scene - Cages.
Jester was caught and placed in a cage, chained up so he couldn't do anything. We hear the sound of the chains moving about. He was also a problem. It had not been that long since Pierrot's blood pool was still there.
One more problem.
Scene Switch: Back Outside -
Now, Columbina, Harlequin, Ticket Taker, and Doctor are outside.
Columbina begins to speak to someone (perhaps Harlequin?)
I'm scared. If they try to touch me again... Will you save me?
Save...?
If she were speaking to Halrequin, why the pause? Simple, she understands his intentions. The chance of him 'saving' her... was slim, perhaps even none; so she knows this is the likely outcome, but has to try. Harlequin is already in overdrive; his anxiety is hitting record highs. Why? Pierrot is injured. Pierrot might die. Pierrot is more important to him than Columbina. He will always choose Pierrot. Always. But could he save someone? He was not the type to save someone, right? ... Right?
(After all, Harlequin was made for Pierrot. Neko created Harlequin for Pierrot to have a rival.)
The next portion of the outside scene involves the two humans having a conversation about their next plans. (It might be after they just put Jester away or a little later, but their conversation is heard by the group.)
Tomorrow, we'll relocate her. The others, we'll let them starve. They're too dangerous to keep.
You're right, we won't risk it. She'll be useful for something.
They plan to let the group starve and relocate Columbina. She will be useful. The situation has now worsened, and so has Harlequin's anxiety. (Pierrot is going to starve. He is going to starve. They both are going to die.)
(Also, the fact relocate is said here in italics is important since it mirrors one of the fates those in the pink tent can receive.)
Scene Switch - Cages - Moonless Night
(Moonless Night, Starless Night: The last night. A dark night. No one but they is a witness to the end...) (@moymoss for the line because I took it.)
The whole crew is now in cages, minus Columbina, who is chained down for easier access to be relocated tomorrow. It had been a while since the pool of Pierrot's blood was gone. These next parts all occur without a black screen, so they are happening in the same area - the cages.
A new conversation happens now; for the first time, Doctor and Ticket Taker speak (more to each other than anyone else, too),
Maybe this will be our last one. I'm so hungry.
Me too... how long has it been... since we last ate?
They are both speaking of eating. They are hungry. They are starving. They are being starved, again. (Were they ever fed? Did that man even keep up his end of the deal?)
Doctor can complete his sentences without pause, whereas Ticket Taker has to pause for a long time before finishing his sentences. We can assume Ticket Taker is very weak in this scene, especially compared to Doctor. It is these two who would have the least knowledge of what is going on between Jester, Pierrot, Harlequin, and Columbina if they weren't in earshot of the prior conversations.
Jester is the next to speak.
I can't move. *** is alive...? (same as before with Harlequin's former name)
.....
The ellipses of Jester's dialogue show either a low hope or a genuine surprise that Pierrot was still alive. Jester could not check as he could not move due to the chains keeping him down from his earlier stunts. He and Pierrot were problems. Pierrot did not reply.
The whole time, Harlequin was quiet. The conversation between Ticket Taker and Doctor was not helping with his deteriorating mental state. He was spiraling and deciding. Jester's comment and Pierrot's lack of reply were the final nails in the coffin. He broke out. Harlequin broke out with the help of his tendrils/vines coming out of his back. You can see them on the sides of his silhouette. He is the only one who had the strength to break out (Jester was chained, Pierrot was suffering from the injuries, Doctor and Ticket Taker were both too weak from starvation).
I'm scared.
You're the weakest one.
Thank you.
A simple conversation. Columbina is scared. Harlequin is free. She thanked him. Thanked him for what? Did she think he was going to save her? (Poor Fool.) Harlequin finally spoke, calling Columbina weak, which is true. She is called a monster with no claws and barely any fangs. She was not seen as a threat even by humans. (which is probably connected to his trauma, especially if he was abandoned, like I think he was. If he was the weakest of his family, they left him because of it. He had to be stronger to survive, and she was too weak to survive, and he needed someone else to survive more.)
Next event is - The Bite (of '87)
This scene is from a different POV. It is circular as if seen through an eye. Columbina is standing up, so she was released. Harlequin must have taken off the chains. (Did she hug Harlequin in thanks? She is facing him still since we can't see her face.)
Harlequin already knew what he was going to do when he broke out. He was already breaking. His mind was shattered. He bit her to save Pierrot (maybe even a way to save her, but he wasn't sorry for it, so perhaps on some level even blamed her for the current events). Harlequin knew this would hurt Pierrot, but he did not care. Pierrot needed to survive. Harlequin needed Pierrot to survive. His reasoning was that she was the weakest, so she could go. (If Jester and Harlequin are somewhat similar monsters and personalities, then it makes sense they might have a similar mindset of the survival of the fittest.)
Then it fades to a black screen.
It is a new time, but still in the cages. Harlequin did his damage, and the others are now reacting to his actions (except... Doctor's).
Why... did you do that?
There's no turning back now.
No... no... no...
Ticket Taker's dialogue was shaking, signalling he was truly surprised and possibly downright disturbed by the actions.
Jester is not surprised since his dialogue was solid. He understands there is no turning back from the irreversible action.
Pierrot is losing his damn mind because of the betrayal by Harlequin. He never expected Harlequin to do that. With each 'no', the more the dialogue shook in response to his distress.
Why don't we see Doctor's reaction? Did he say anything? He is more than likely already devouring her.
Back from the first bite image, it shows no bars in that POV. Harlequin let everyone out (mostly) since the scene is different. If Doctor has a twist with blood or something similar, then all the blood from Columbina made him lose himself, and he began devouring her after Harlequin dropped her.
The next image we see is from another POV, but this time with bars.
Harlequin has dropped Columbina. He already bit her. The reality of the situation and his actions hit him all at once. He is staring upwards, staring at nothing. His pupil is visible in this image. He is not looking at anyone because he is beginning to dissociate, but understood one thing.
EAT!
He needed to eat. Pierrot needed to eat.
This POV is from Pierrot. He is still behind bars as Harlequin did not let him out. None of them did because Harlequin knew(they all knew) he wouldn't react well. Pierrot was still in shock from his next line and what he was seeing.
Why... are you smiling?
Then more dialogue from (an assuming) dying Columbina.
No.
Directly after that, Harlequin starts to laugh. The weight of it all has come down. He has completely lost it. He starts hysterically laughing because... what else can he do? Apologise? No.
Sorry... ***
Jester is apologizing to Harlequin. Why? Because Harlequin was forced to make a decision, one that Jester nudged him to do.
He wasn't...
because he's not.
There is a break within the dialogue that can go two ways or both ways. It may imply that Jester was not sorry for nudging Harlequin, or that Harlequin was not actually smiling. From the laughter, it reiterates that he had lost his mind after making the decision he believed was necessary. This interpretation suggests that Harlequin’s "smile" was not glee, but a broken look during his mental break.
In Harlequin's version of the moonless night, he puts the blame on Jester and Ticket Taker. It would make sense that he blames Jester since Jester nudged him.
But then, why Ticket Taker? Was it something he did, or what he didn't do? His reaction toward Harlequin's actions is questionable. Ticket Taker is the oldest, so he might be a parental figure to the younger ones (minus Doctor), so he failed to protect them. Maybe it was from his loyalty toward Jester (which I don't think has happened just yet). But we don't know for sure, but I do think it was from something he didn't do or really couldn't do.
Harlequin thought of it as a game until it wasn't one anymore, and he had to make a choice. He did not expect the weight of the consequences.
While this is Ticket Taker's rendition of the events using Columbina's image, Harlequin is the main focus. Whether under influence or not, it was still their choice and their consequences.
Power and Control in The Freak Circus + Columbina Theorization
This post is personal analysis of the overarching theme of power/control within the story of TFC (sorry, y'all, I had Columbina brainworms and needed to get this typed out since a lot of it has to do with my queen... I apologize if it's a little all over the place), as well as some slight theorization regarding the history of the characters and Columbina's death.
TW: Discussion and mention of SA, human trafficking, discrimination, objectification, dehumanization, and femicide. Please do not read if these topics upset you!
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So, we see from the very first day of the game that the monsters had their autonomy stripped from them by humans, specifically the human man (whom I will refer to as "ring leader"), who takes advantage of their poor circumstances and offers them a place at his circus in exchange for food. The ring leader knew he had some innate power over the monsters, and he used this power to potentially coerce the monsters into working for him, resulting in the control he had over the cast.
At the circus, the monsters are treated incredibly poorly. They were kept in cages, and their food rations – which were the only thing the ring leader had promised them when he asked them to join his circus – were made smaller and smaller, resulting in them growing too weak to fight back. They were promised they would receive something as payment for their service (i.e., food), and then that was taken away from them (in real life, human trafficking is defined by the use of force, fraud, and/or coercion; in this case, what the ring leader did to the monsters would be fraud, and it would eventually become force).
Since we now have three different versions of Columbina's death, as of December 2025, I will be analyzing each scene one by one to piece together what we already have regarding lore, starting with Harlequin's puppet show.
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Harlequin's Tent:
We are shown by Harlequin during his performance on Day 1 that the monsters were not able to flee from or leave the circus because they were all physically too weak and malnourished to do so (they were trapped, and because of that, they no longer had control over their own lives/wellbeing/fate). However, they eventually regain their freedom by killing, and most likely eating, the ring leader who had been responsible for their imprisonment and unjust treatment.
However, to achieve this in the first place, they had to violate the autonomy of one of their own – Columbina, who I must note was also the only woman-identifying member of the group (Brazil, the country in which the characters originate, also has high femicide rates). Columbina additionally had the identity of "angel" thrust upon her by Harlequin in his story, presumably against her will, just to make her death seem like a sacrifice rather than what it truly was – betrayal and murder.
Harlequin also frames Columbina in this scene as a willing sacrifice, wanting them to eat her so they could become human and build a home for all of them. However, the text right after this narration is Columbina pleading with them as she says, "Please, no!", followed by the text below:
Jester: "We have no choice." – The purple text seems to be almost dejected, like this wasn't something any of them wanted to do, but instead just something they had to do. The way it's worded almost takes away any accountability from them and the actions they had to take as a result of their circumstances.
Harlequin: "She is the weakest of us." – The green text highlights the clear power difference/imbalance between Columbina and the rest of the monsters, her physical weakness making her a prime target for what they have to do because she will not be able to fight back.
Ticket Taker: "You will give us the strength to go on." – The white text comes off, to me at least, as trying to comfort Columbina so she knows her death will not be in vain, and that she will be helping them all with her "sacrifice."
Columbina: "PLEASE HELP ME, I DON'T WANT TO DIE." – The pink text highlights that she did not want to die, and that her death was not something she wanted to happen, nor something she consented to. She was killed, and we do not know who she was calling out to in her final moments for aid.
I find it interesting, too, how in Harlequin's play, only he, Jester, and the Ticket Taker comment on the murder and consumption of Columbina, especially since these are the three characters who have been confirmed not to be virgins by the creator. As someone who works with survivors of SA/stalking/human trafficking and as a survivor myself, I just find this particular scene (and Columbina's story as a whole) so chilling because, statistically, most harm-doers are people you know/are close with. Sometimes, they're even people who experienced violence themselves and no longer want to feel powerless, going so far as to violate the autonomy of another.
Now, in no way am I saying that this scene is directly related to or implying SA, but I just found it interesting to take note of, especially considering that Pierrot and The Doctor have no lines of dialogue during this entire scene. They were simply bystanders from Harlequin's perspective, despite them being the two largest members of the circus, and Pierrot being the strongest in terms of physical strength.
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Ticket Taker's Tent:
TT's tent is incredibly interesting as its main theme is to "not trust what you see", and yet, we see a very different tale compared to both Harlequin's and Jester's retellings presented in the mirror at the end of the hall, which TT states is "his favorite." Placing your trust in someone inherently gives them a lot of power over a situation, especially since, if they break your trust, you're in a worse situation than they are. TT puts the MC in a position where they're inherently at a disadvantage (they're in his tent at the circus he helps run), and to make it through his tent, they have to trust what he tells them during their interactions.
Now, in TT's tent, we get to see mirrors for each of the different circus members, with their reflections either interacting directly with or speaking directly to the MC. At the pink mirror, we see who we can presume is Columbina, given the pink eyes and the subsequent scene if you choose to stay and listen to her tale.
In this retelling, we learn that Columbina didn't look as "monstrous" as her companions, and because of this, she was frequently leered at by the humans who found her to be pretty despite "being one of them (a monster)." However, Pierrot was always around to protect her, and presumably the other circus members, due to his large size and immense strength. Because Pierrot acted as a barrier – as something that prevented them from getting what they wanted (i.e., "a problem") – the humans somehow managed to harm him, leaving him physically unable to protect the others (i.e., taking away his power).
We then cut to a scene of everyone trapped inside different cages – everyone except Columbina, who is sitting on the ground in the middle; we can assume this was because the humans did not view her as any kind of a threat, so they felt no need to restrict her the same way they felt the need to do so with the others. She says she is scared of them (the humans) trying to touch her again, and she asks Harlequin if he will "save" her, which he seems confused by.
After this, we overhear the humans talking about their plans; they'll leave the others to starve, and they'll find a use for Columbina. The humans were planning on isolating her completely from her support system (the other monsters), which is a tactic used by abusers against their victims, so the victim feels as though they can only rely on the person abusing them.
This, to me, can also be representative of how some individuals in real life tend to fetishize other groups of people, which is another way of dehumanizing them (the humans don't respect the monsters, but they find themselves viewing Columbina as an exception to their biases/prejudices, potentially knowing that she is the weakest and targeting her specifically to "tame"). I feel like they were planning on trafficking Columbina, as well, and we can presume what kind of trafficking they were planning on doing based on how they talked about her and the fact that Columbina mentioned they had tried to touch her before ("she'll be useful for something"). We also know Brazil has experienced a rise in human trafficking cases, particularly regarding women [1].
Jester then seems to be surprised that Pierrot is alive and hasn't succumbed to his injuries right before Harlequin breaks out of his cage, and he mentions the fact that Columbina is the weakest among them once more. However, instead of crying or begging for her life, she simply tells Harlequin, "Thank you." Pierrot directly talks in this scene, as well, saying "No... no... no...". Harlequin then laughs with tears in his eyes before telling everyone to eat after biting into Columbina's neck.
Jester: "Sorry, [Harlequin]." – Why was Jester apologizing to Harlequin? Was what happened something Jester had mentioned at some point? Was Columbina's death not done in a spur-of-the-moment situation, but rather, planned, or at least talked about beforehand?
Columbina: "No, he wasn't..." – Columbina states that Jester wasn't sorry, but what wasn't he sorry for, exactly? This line brings up a lot of questions.
Now, the story told by the Columbina in TT's Tent shows Harlequin's actions, while most likely not intentionally by him, as merciful – that by killing and eating her, she would not have to endure further abuse by the humans. After this, Columbina thanks the MC for listening, and you leave the tent after not having blinked or moved for quite some time.
This story is completely different from what we have seen from the other characters, and since it's confirmed that everyone remembers what happened differently to cope with her death, I find it so interesting how TT's depiction of the event shows Columbina's death as almost peaceful. I'm a huge sucker for the theory that TT had a paternal relationship with Columbina (based on the screenshot of him kissing her forehead while she was dying/being eaten, his symbol being a teardrop, him being in charge of the pink tent, and the fact he is the oldest among the group; if you're interested in this theory, check out @hexserath's blog under the tag #grievingfathertheory), so it would make sense for his character to view her death not as violent, but as something better for her than the potential abuse she would have had to endure while the rest of them were left to rot.
However, while the Columbina in the mirror could have potentially been her spirit talking with the MC, and while I do enjoy this concept, I do not think that is the case. The reason I say this is because of the easter egg and other flashes of dialogue from her character. In the easter egg, if the MC chooses to name themselves "Columbina", it shows scenes of her violent death, with her text reading, "We are not the same, you and I. I didn't want to, but our fate was cursed. I should have listened to him. It was my fault." (Keep this last line in mind for later.)
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Pink Tent Intermission:
Before we get to Jester's tent, I wanted to talk about the "fools" of the circus. So, we know that the characters cared deeply for Columbina, with all of them being depicted crying in one scene or another over her death. However, I do find it strange that pink – the color that represents Columbina herself (even if we see two different shades of pink for her used throughout the game; one that is more saturated, and one that is more pastel, which we see in Jester's performance) – was chosen for the purpose it was eventually given at the circus. We know that pink tickets are given to people who will either be used as dolls for performances or advertising (i.e., Carol, the unpleasant woman from the café, other "fools") or as a source of food for the circus members (as shown in the bad end on Day 1 regarding the MC's fate).
While them wanting to have Columbina and her memory remain a crucial part of the circus makes sense, especially since her death resulted in them being able to become human and create the circus as their new home, I do find it almost cruel that the pink tickets are given to people who are "sacrifces" that are used for their bodies in one way or another (either as meat for the circus members to consume, or as mindless dolls to be used in the different performances or tents).
Given that we can assume that Columbina was frequently a target of unwanted advances, both from humans and her own kin alike (i.e., Harlequin), and was a victim of abuse just as much as the rest of the cast was, it feels almost... distateful to me that her violent death is memorialized in such a way by the circus. Though, perhaps the monsters simply grieve and mourn differently than humans, which wouldn't be a stretch considering Jester's comments about how love is perceived in the valley where they once lived.
It's also strange to me that those dressed in pink are called "fools", which Harlequin talks about in Day 2, especially considering that fool is something demeaning you would call another person who you would consider to be unintelligent or naive. I find Columbina saying "it was my fault" in her scene in the naming easter egg to be something to note, and it makes me wonder if Columbina was the one who first made contact with the humans and, because of her naivety, was coerced or tricked into making a deal with the ring leader that resulted in the poor conditions she and her companions then were forced to endure. This would make sense why those who wear pink at the circus are deemed "fools" to mirror Columbina's own naive actions.
Harlequin mentions in his play that the man who asked the monsters to work for him would give them food in return for their services. Perhaps the monsters were experiencing famine in the valley, and Columbina believed the human man would be able to help them. This is just a theory for right now, though, at least until more information is revealed throughout the story.
To tie this little rant back to power and control, I desperately want to know how the circus chooses those who receive pink tickets. Since we know Carol is currently at the circus as a fool, it makes me wonder how she ended up there – was she kidnapped, or was she invited to the circus much like the MC was? We know from the brief interaction between the MC and Boss that Carol has a turbulent home life, so did this make her a target for the circus? In real life, most predators tend to find victims who don't have many people to rely on or other traits that make someone an "easy" target, so it's not too far of a stretch. This also makes me wonder why the MC was given a pink ticket, too. Did TT know the MC lives alone, or was there something inherently apparent about the MC that made them seem like a prime target (i.e., naivety)? Here's an interesting post/theory regarding the fools, particularly in reference to TT!
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Jester's Tent:
In Jester's play on Day 2, we get to see the events Harlequin depicted in his puppet show as something almost completely different. For one, Jester uses the human fools as actors, resulting in the death of the one woman actor, who was assigned to play Columbina, at the hands of the actor meant to represent Harlequin. So far, we have seen Jester and Pierrot directly killing people in their performances, which I think is another important thing to note for the future; I don't have much more to say about this at the current moment, but I do find it quite interesting that this is the case (Harlequin uses puppets, The Doctor doesn't kill anyone on-screen during his tent sequence, and Ticket Taker has no one else in the tent while we're there).
Jester's story focuses on Columbina and Pierrot's relationship ("forbidden love") rather than their prior interactions with humans/the history of the circus. In his play, he highlights how Columbina was "delicate, with no claws, almost no fangs," and how Pierrot would be incredibly gentle, going so far as to hide his claws (the monstrous aspects of himself), so as not to accidentally harm her. However, Harlequin, who is described as The Poison by Jester, shows great envy towards the two and their relationship. He seems to wish that Columbina would look at him in the same way she does Pierrot, and that he would become angry whenever she "slipped away from his attempts at seduction."
Jester notes that Columbina's heart "beat differently" for Harlequin (which could have been from fear of him, since she states that "something inside of you scares me" when talking with him). However, in this moment of rejection and heartbreak, Harlequin kills Columbina, which Pierrot ends up stumbling upon. Her final words are "Please... Please don't [Harlequin]." This is followed by the following lines of dialogue:
Ticket Taker: "Why... did you do that?" – Blue text (not white, which is interesting given that TT seems to switch between white and blue text, with the white text being used for him on Day 1 during Harlequin's performance). This is the same dialogue we have seen in previous moments from him that expresses a feeling of shock because of Harlequin's actions.
Harlequin: "Someone had to do it, obviously." – Green text; new dialogue that was not shown in any other scene regarding this moment. Harlequin states that someone had to do it (murder), and that Columbina's death was an obvious choice; he comes off as almost callous and cruel.
Pierrot: "No... no... no..." – Yellow text with the same dialogue we have seen in a similar scene from TT's Tent. Once again shows how much emotional turmoil this caused Pierrot, especially since he didn't have the power to protect Columbina in this moment.
Jester finishes his performance by stating, "Because in the valley of monsters, love is just another way to devour each other." This is something that could certainly be a cultural difference between their species and humans, though it could have just been the culture of monsters living within the valley, since they had been forgotten and left to starve, making food and hunger something important to them. After this, we get the text, "We have no choice.", in purple, with Jester once again reiterating they didn't have a choice regarding the actions they took toward Columbina. Were they forced to do it, or did they simply believe there were no other routes they could take, given their physical weakness/loss of power?
Now, Jester's story is interesting because Harlequin's murder of Columbina is painted to be done because of jealousy, not out of mercy (as depicted by TT) or as something that needed to be done so they could be free (as depicted by Harlequin, who also called Columbina an "angel" for her sacrifice). I really enjoy Harlequin's character, but it's clear that he is depicted in Jester's retelling of the events as being selfish, greedy, and envious, resulting in him killing someone he cared for in a fit of anger (or to purposefully harm Pierrot, similar to the idea "if I can't have her, no one can"). This particular retelling is a bit unnerving compared to the others, showing Harlequin's seeming entitlement to Columbina, her love, and her affections, despite her not wanting to have that kind of relationship with him. This is very frequently a reason behind a lot of harm done to women by men who feel wronged or slighted by the woman not reciprocating the feelings they believe they deserve.
After his show, Jester's final words to the MC are that, if they try to run, they will be found; he wants the MC to know how powerless they are in the current situation, and he seems to have no problem making them aware of it. We know that Jester is the only member of the cast who fully hates humans, and that he is the appointed leader of the circus (we do not know the full details behind why at this point in time, but being a leader is a very high position of power).
The fact that he can control another person's mind, turning them into "dolls", is quite concerning. Calling someone a "doll" is clear objectification and dehumanization in this case, and since Jester's ability leaves people unable to move or act of their own free will, it takes away from them all of their autonomy and choice. Pierrot even tells the MC to not speak or move after putting a mask over their face and telling them to simply act like a doll, which indicates to me that this is how humans under Jester's influence act when not being given direct orders (which, later in the mentioned scene with Pierrot, results in Harlequin coming in and immediately taking advantage of the situation, saying "I must be really lucky today!" when he sees the MC chained to the bed).
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...So, yeah. This was my big, long braindump because I'm very interested in the truth behind my beloved Columbina's death (and I'm very passionate about discussing the inappropriate amount of violence that women face across the world). Let me know your thoughts on my nonsense haha! I tried to compile/analyze all of the retellings of this particular event from the characters so far. It's really interesting to me that we haven't seen what happened from Pierrot's or The Doctor's POVs yet, and I'm very curious to see if we will.
On that note... surprise!!!
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Bonus Pierrot Analysis:
Pierrot calls the player "my sweet angel" (the same mioniker/theme that is tied to Columbina) at the end of Day 1 if you eat the circus food or his cake, likening you to his deceased lover (who we know he felt drawn to because she was kind and gentle with him, as told by Jester). He then says, while you're passed out, "Don't make me devour you, too."
The next day, when the MC wakes up, Pierrot tells them that there were other eyes "trying to devour" them (that specific word is used again by Pierrot, and it's the same word used by Jester during his performance), and that you "looked like prey" while passed out – highlighting his desire to keep you safe and under his watch, but also noting that he does view you, to some degree, as prey/helpless/weak (he seems to be aware that he is a predator/much stronger than you). He then mentions that you were breathing slowly and you weren't moving, saying, "it was like... like you were going to disappear forever, like..." (like Columbina?) before quickly stating he would never hurt you "like that" (murder? assault?).
We know that Pierrot's main color is yellow (his eyes, his text), and yet, he's forced to wear red. Red symbolizes love and passion, but it is also a color closely associated with anger. We also know that Pierrot was assigned this color by Jester as a punishment (red also being the color used for the humans who harmed the cast). Now, this brings up the question – did Pierrot hurt Columbina in some way, or was he more involved in her death than he remembers? Sometimes people black out in moments of intense anger, so could that be a potential reason? In the Commedia dell'arte, the character Columbina cheats on her husband Pierrot with Harlequin, so do the characters' inspirations/historical origins play a major role in TFC?
For right now, though, there are not enough clues pointing to Pierrot potentially being the one who killed Columbina when compared to Harlequin, who is depicted in all the stories as being the one behind her death. All we have is Pierrot mentioning not wanting to devour the MC "too", but this could simply be because he was fed part of Columbina by the other members of the circus to get his strength up after being attacked/injured. Though, in Jester's play, Pierrot says, "I'll find a way to be together forever..." before it cuts to a shot of an open mouth with sharp teeth moving towards the camera after Columbina is killed, implying that Pierrot ate her remains willingly so the two could be together even after her death.
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...Man, I really do love lore analysis. If anyone is interested, I could do an analysis of the mirrors in the Ticket Taker's tent (because his tent was so, so cool).
Doctor & Ticket Taker: Two Sides of the Same Coin (Doctor’s Gluttony & Jester’s Manipulation)
I also talk about the significance of colors in the troupe. These theories tie into Grieving Father Theory and a Jester discussion post I made. I recommend reading these analyses before moving further with this one. This is a long read.
I’ve made several posts in the past highlighting how often Ticket Taker and Doctor appear side by side whenever the full troupe is shown. This is going to be a master-post on my thoughts.
Compared to the others (even Pierrot and Harlequin) TT and Doctor are placed next to each other more frequently than any other pairing, aside from two modern instances.
I theorize that TT and Doctor were once close, but after Columbina’s death, they became separated and gradually grew apart (possibly to the point of actively avoiding one another now).
I believe Ticket Taker and Doctor are relevant to each other’s lore, and that their relationship plays an important role in the narrative, even if it hasn’t been outwardly revealed yet.
They mirror each other in many ways.
I also believe that Jester may have influenced their separation as a calculated power move.
Their Parallels:
First, let’s look at their similarities. Doctor and Ticket Taker both have distinct personas and outfits that set them apart from the rest of the troupe. They’re the only two who don’t wear bells on their clothing and don’t lean into traditional clown-like accessories, instead sticking to gimmicks that feel uniquely theirs. They’re also the two oldest members, both more introverted, and generally considered the “weakest” overall (at least on their own).
TT and Doctor are considered to be the “least popular” in the troupe, that’s heavily suggested when they mention their tents. (“You wanted to run off, didn’t you? It’s fine, no one really likes visiting the Doctor,” (Notice how “Doctor” is capitalized. He’s referring to himself.) “My tent doesn’t usually attract that many curious souls, especially ones who seem so eager to run away”). Their tents aren’t as popular compared to Pierrot, Harlequin, and Jester’s so they’re often out of the spotlight.
Here’s the only interaction we see between them so far, during their imprisonment. Note that this is the only time we see dialogue from Doctor in the retellings. And it’s emotional mirroring with Ticket Taker.
Here are some examples of their contrasts (some will be discussed more in depth):
-height/size/build (Compared to TT, Doctor is taller, weighs more, and appears to be bulkier/broader).
-‘stability levels’ (TT is assumed to be more “stable” than Doctor).
-how they approach guests in their tents (Doctor is more hands on/messy. TT is more psychological/cleaner; I also connect this by how they idly place their arms. Doctor crosses his arms/has them in front and TT folds his arms behind his back, away from those he’s approaching. Keep in mind that TT dislikes messiness).
-activity in the circus (TT is active in the circus’ organization, while Doctor seems to keep more to himself in his tent).
-gloves (clean/dirtied)
-favorite kinds of music (classical/musicals vs. metal)
We can also look at the (fan-predicted) inspos from Commedia dell’arte. As them being Dottore and Pantalone. These characters are “double acts,” which are contrasts that perform as a “single act.” Performing as one.
Now let’s talk “stability”
We as a fandom have come to the assumption that TT is “stable,” while Neko himself has confirmed in a q&a that Doctor is “unstable.”
Taken from two different q&as:
I also want to generally talk about the vagueness on TT’s personality and characteristics, even in the q&a. The word usage and phrasing makes me feel like we have to read between the lines.
Let’s keep in mind that TT’s specialties are in illusions. So phrases like “he gives off” or “seems” could suggest that we need to be careful with our assumptions about him. What Neko definitively tells us in that answer is that “he’s extremely responsible and dedicated to his work and the kind of person you never hear raise his voice.” The other two pieces he includes are vague (in my opinion) and we have to come to our own conclusion on whether it is what it seems.
Based on this description of TT, he seems to be stable and have things ‘under control,’ or at least appears to be.
For Doctor, Neko puts extra emphasis on the word “seems,” when talking about his “laid-back” front. Then he follows it with a confirmation that he is instead unstable. This weight is a bit more clear.
I’ve come to find that Neko is deliberate and careful with how he phrases things. He does the same with how he has the characters speak and answer our questions as well.
Going back to the dynamic:
TT, next to Jester, helps with the circus’ maintenance. TT is detail-oriented and structure is greatly important to him. Instability goes against structure.
Here are two ways of looking at their relationship depending on Doctor’s “stability levels” before and after Columbina’s death:
If Doctor’s instability existed before Columbina’s death, then pairing him with TT as his “rock” to keep him in check could make sense (they’re a duality).
TT and Doctor seem calm, so even if Doctor didn’t exhibit unstable tendencies before Columbina’s devourment, a connection between them would still make sense. They share plenty of similarities aside from that. And if Doctor did show these qualities, TT, being as controlled as he is, may have taught him how to manage his own tendencies or took on a role to “keep him in check.”
I personally believe that Doctor was once “calm and stable.” But when he got a taste of cannibalism, his unstable nature was triggered.
What if Columbina’s death was a catalyst to his instability? Specifically from him devouring a part of her, a fellow monster?
Perhaps Columbina’s devourment awakened something in Doctor. A latent bloodlust that had always been there, unleashing after cannibalism. Or, perhaps the event amplified an already existing volatility.
Let’s also take note of another observation:
When we look at the frame of all of them eating Columbina, Ticket Taker seemed to have eaten the least amount, compared to the rest of the troupe, based on the blood on his mouth. He restrained himself, only taking what was necessary. Whereas Doctor seemed to have devoured the most out of her. Not only do we see the blood and viscera on his beak, but we also see it on his abdomen and chest. It was overkill.
Perhaps when he got a taste of her flesh, his bloodlust overtook him, causing him to lose control and be gluttonous. Yes, it could also have been due to his size but let’s take a closer look at the details.
Throughout the retelling of Columbina’s story, Doctor is depicted with cyan eyes—we don’t see them turn red until he eats Columbina. It’s only during and after this act that his eyes finally change color. The monster’s eyes had changed. Notably, in the update, Doctor’s eyes are deliberately altered, much like the change to TT’s cravat pin. This suggests that teardrops are symbolically significant to TT, while the color red holds particular significance for Doctor.
More frame analyses:
After looking at this frame, I noticed how Pierrot and Harlequin both have their eyes glowing, but TT and Doctor each only have one eye of their eyes open.
I mention this because, once again, they are standing beside each other, and the specific eyes that glow complement one another. TT’s left eye is glowing, while Doctor’s right eye is glowing. Together, they form a complete pair of eyes—two halves of a single set.
Are they possibly incomplete without the other? They form what the others (P, H, J) already possess. Together they’re whole.
Here’s some symbolism of the eyes that I’ve gathered:
Left eye symbolism: Emotionality, chaos
Right eye symbolism: Logic, order
Perhaps during the aftermath of Columbina, their roles were switched (likely in the grieving process). It was in that moment where TT was the one who was unstable and Doctor was the logical/more detached one.
I’ve attempted to connect why exactly these two drifted apart. I’ve come up with two ideas:
1. TT became disgusted with Doctor’s gluttony/instability while devouring Columbina and it caused him to drift away. If we consider the possibility that Ticket Taker shared a strong parental bond with Columbina, then witnessing his dearest friend—his “other half”—consume most of his surrogate “daughter” would be enough to not only overwhelm him with revulsion, but would add an extra layer of grief and agony.
2. Another theory I have (which can also go hand in hand with Doctor’s gluttony) is Jester’s manipulation of the troupe, particularly TT, ultimately causing them to break off.
Jester’s Manipulation:
Before moving further, I’d like to discuss how I interpreted the events of Columbina’s death. I also want to thank my dear moot @flysoji for their own contributions to this analysis.
Many people use Harlequin as the scapegoat, but let’s remember who’s truly in charge and “pulling the strings,” so to speak. I keep thinking about how in the recount in TT’s tent, Jester apologized to Harlequin. He did this after Harlequin took the first bite of her. Then, afterwards, “Columbina” told us:
“No. No he wasn’t.”
Jester couldn’t move in his cage, so he couldn’t have done the strike himself. Also remember how he said that he was going to feed Pierrot. Assuming that Jester has hypnotism abilities and how he wasn’t able to commit the strike himself, he had Harlequin do it. Other than Pierrot (who was severely injured), Harlequin was physically the closest to him. Keep in mind that Jester understands Harlequin the best; he likely knows how he ticks and what his weaknesses are. These things come in handy when you’re trying to manipulate or hypnotize someone, especially when they’re vulnerable or at their breaking point.
Let’s look at the previous screenshot again. Notice how the troupe has two pairs, with Jester being in the middle. Pierrot and Harlequin; Ticket Taker and Doctor. These characters are parallels of one another or close to each other in some way…then you have Jester. Jester is often seen as his own entity. The one in charge. The one above the rest.
But it’s lonely at the top, right?
[Even in Jester’s performance, TT and Doctor’s reps are next to each other, in front of a full moon. Full moons symbolize duality.]
Also, if Jester was able to manipulate Harlequin when he was vulnerable, he would also be able to manipulate Ticket Taker during his “breaking point” (when he was experiencing his extensive grief). And besides, how easy is it to manipulate a grieving person? Someone that’s in a state of emotional turmoil?
Before the events of Columbina, Pierrot and Harlequin’s friendship was already broken. One of the duos was split, leaving only one. What if Jester was envious of the strength TT and Doctor had with each other? Their bond? What if he recognized that their combined intellect and strategy was enough to outmatch his? Jester may have saw the incident as an opportunity to break the second bond of the circus. keeping Doctor and TT weak on their own whilst “making a friend.” That way he wouldn’t have to worry about any potential threat. Not only would this put TT at his side, but it would further alienate Doctor.
At present, Jester and Ticket Taker seem to be close friends, as do Doctor and Harlequin. However, Jester and Ticket Taker’s dynamic appears to involve a power imbalance, whereas Doctor and Harlequin’s relationship resembles a genuine friendship. These connections create two new duos in the troupe, leaving Pierrot as the one on his own.
Harlequin and Doctor may have formed an unspoken bond through their shared instability following the events surrounding Columbina. Both unintentionally “lost control” during her death—Harlequin through Jester’s manipulation in the “first strike,” and Doctor through his gluttony.
[Doctor’s opinions/interactions involving Harlequin (and Jester in the AMAs)]
TT and Doctor’s outfits:
If colors are significant and Jester is the leader, it likely suggests that he devised the designs of the troupe’s clothes, along with the fools.
The fools are defined by her color, possibly insinuating that Jester saw Columbina as nothing more than a pawn, a piece in his game—a game built on control. The fools are also used and inevitably killed (thank you @goredotweb for pointing this out!) The troupe’s starvation could have been the final, cruel tactic to break them completely and place him above them all.
If Columbina’s colors are pink, then TT being blue is a good match. They’re gendered colors, but they are complimentary.
Considering that blue is also the color of melancholy, Ticket Taker is defined by his grief. This is also shown by the tears on his mask resembling those that he shed during her devourment, and his cravat pin/symbol being a teardrop. His mask and symbol are both split into halves. For his pin, half is deep blue (deep sadness) and the other is white. This split likely references how TT is no longer whole. Whether this means that his grief is what’s torn him from being whole, or if it’s because he’s no longer with Doctor. Or both. It could also be a reference to the color split with his eyes.
As for Doctor, his outfit is predominantly red and black, likely symbolizing the bloodlust he developed following her death. He also appears to be the predominent outlier within the troupe (a plague doctor isn’t what one typically expects to see in a circus, after all) and he tends to keep to himself. In this sense, black represents him well, reflecting how he often remains to the side or “in the shadows.” This is further emphasized by how difficult it is to fully see him inside his tent or even the inside of his tent in general. His mask, too, is black. In contrast to Ticket Taker’s split black-and-white mask.
UPDATE: Also the difference between their gloves. TT’s are white—clean and pristine; while Doctor’s are red and always bloodied/dirty.
Mirroring w TT & Doctor’s color palettes:
This is where I bring out the color wheel.
Excluding the yellow accents on their outfits (which are assumed to represent Pierrot’s mark) TT’s primary colors are dark blue and teal, while Doctor’s, aside from black, are red and cyan.
Blue and red sit on opposite sides of the color wheel, and this depiction effectively captures the contrast between their characters. At the same time, their similarities are also reflected in their designs, with teal being a darker shade of cyan.
Not only does the color wheel effectively capture the dynamics of the troupe’s relationships, but in the frame above, they are also arranged in a sequence that mirrors the wheel itself.
Yellow (Pierrot) is next to Green (Harlequin) who is opposite from Purple (Jester). [There’s a theory that Jester takes a fondness for Pierrot because of his potential for brutality].
Harlequin and Ticket Taker stand side by side (their tents are also positioned together). The nature of their connection remains unclear (I figured it might be one of resentment if TT suspects Harlequin of outright initiating Columbina’s death. In contrast, Harlequin sits opposite Doctor, possibly highlighting the friendship previously discussed.
TT is next to Jester. Obvious connection. Jester is in between Doctor and TT. We can interpret this as him being a barrier to their closeness. Deliberately keeping them apart.
Jester is beside Doctor (Jester, along with Harlequin, are the ones who visit Doctor the most).
And TT and Doctor are opposite from each other (as mirrors of one another).
UPDATE: Purple is also a mix between Blue and Red
BONUS:
My lovely mutual @flysoji and I came up with the prediction that we/MC are orange on the color wheel.
We are next to Pierrot, who is infatuated with us and VERY expressive with it. We are opposite to Harlequin, who is attempting to “take us from him.” TT is across from us (likely staring at us from afar/keeping his eyes on us). And we’re next to Doctor (who might also be obsessed with us, but not as intensely as Pierrot, at least outwardly).
Final frame:
Now let’s look at the second (only other) instance where TT and Doctor aren’t together within the troupe.
This final screen at the end of Day 2 wraps the present dynamic well. Ticket Taker is beside Jester and is the furthest one from Doctor. And Harlequin is the closest to Doctor.
In this frame, Ticket Taker and Doctor are the furthest away from each other. No longer together.
Whether it was Jester orchestrating their falling out or simply TT’s disgust at Doctor’s gluttony, some form of separation between them clearly exists. The only times we don’t see TT and Doctor together is in the present.
All in all, what I can confidently ascertain is that TT and Doctor had something close, whether it be a strong friendship or a camaraderie.
We have consistently seen them together, suggesting that their bond is significant to the narrative. They’re incomplete alone. They may be the most “overlooked” or “pushed aside” but they do so together. Or, they did.
I have called this since the beginning of me discovering The Freak Circus. The second I saw Harlequin and saw his behavior, my first thought was color theory. Specifically with how certain colors mean certain emotions. And I think Ticket Taker became a bit more of a confirmation of this. So here I’m gonna say my theory’s on guys based on their color. And how I think their color shows how they cope with Columbina. (Sorry if I butchered the spelling of her name)
Pierrot:
Now I’m pretty sure we all know the meaning of red. Love, danger, romance, and all that good stuff. But the gist of red is love, harm, and anger. Sound familiar? There isn’t much to really says for this since we would have to learn more about the past and Pierrot himself to really understand him. But the red does make sense for his love for MC, the harm he causes to others/to MC for the MC, and about his hatred to Harlequin. Though as we’ve seen, Pierrot is probably in love with us as a replacement. (Which in my opinion I don’t think so.) But we just have to leave that up to the next updates of the game.
Harlequin:
Now this felt so obvious to me since the beginning. And that green is almost ALWAYS used to represent envy/jealousy. Which on the not of green, it’s seen as meaning good but also disgusting and gross. Which would make sense as well if we look at Harlequin’s past behavior and current behavior. From what I can guess about his past behavior, I believe he was a good and romantic guy who just wanted to be loved by Columbina. And maybe could have been an act knowing him, but he did all her could to appeal the her. But as we know, he ended up killing her sick of the her not loving him and felt envy for Pierrot. The disgusting part isn’t about his act of murder. But his look in general. Now we have no idea what he looks like under everything, but from Day 2 we did get a hint with the whole tentacle things. Which to most people would be considered gross and disgusting. Not the most attractive thing to most people, which probably led him to be insecure about himself. That’s a whole other theory though. My theory on how he copes, not with her death. But by his possible insecurity about his appearance and how he couldn’t get Columbina to fall in love with no matter how hard he tried. With being charming and romantic to her but she already was in love with someone else. So my theory is from based on what me know, that he seems to like to take people away form Pierrot. Probably people he thinks Pierrot would like because of his envy, seeing him as someone to always compete with. Likely put of revenge. I strongly believe his green color I’d pointing to his envy. And in my option I would consider green to be a meaning of insecurity.
Ticket Taker:
Another common color I’m pretty sure we all know the meaning of. Sadness, intelligence, cold, loyalty, calm, and all that jazz. Which I think most of it fits with TT. The sadness, loyalty, and intelligence. I will barrow the theory that @hexserath made on TT for this because I think it’s a very good theory from what I saw on their post on Twitter. The sadness makes sense and he seems to kiss Columbina’s forehead and crying the most in the scene of it showing them eat her. The intelligence is pretty self explanatory if you’ve learned enough about him and how he takes care of the finances and learning the language and culture of the places they go to. The loyalty is also self explanatory when you remember that TT is very loyal to Jester. Now back to the sadness thing on how he copes. I do think that hexserath does explains it better than I can. So if you wanna see that I can link it. But I’ll try to explain as much as I can. He has a favorite mirror that shows the story of the time Columbina was killed. From what I understand and think, I think he was copes by sharing what happened. Even if people won’t understand it or think it’s part of the act, he shares what happened as a way to release the trauma. If that makes sense. Like talking to a friend or a therapist about what happened that lead to your trauma. Hope this makes sense.
Jester:
So this is probably gonna be a bit more complicated… Since there is nothing much we really know about him at all. So the only thing we can go off of here is prediction and guessing and possible theory. So let’s get to the meanings we have for purple. And if they fit in the end it would be pretty cool! So the meanings of purple (from what I think fit Jester) mysterious, restrictive, creativity, emotional. There is more, but I don’t think it fits with the perspective we have of Jester right now. The rest of the definitions of purple were seen to be somewhat childish but I don’t think that’s what he is at all so far. So I’ll go off on my ideas of the words I provided. Mysterious, it’s pretty self explanatory. But I think I mostly picked this word because our perspective, but I do think it can change. Restrictive I think would be more fitting with how protective he is of the others. He makes the rules very clear to all of them to keep them all safe. That thing you’d want if for people to suddenly realize what you are and what you’re doing. I do think Jester would be pretty restrictive to everyone for that very reason. Creativity, I think would be with the way he acts. An example of it would be with his whole performance we saw. You can’t tell me he didn’t choreograph the whole performance. I also think the drama he put in himself when he was going around the stage telling the story adds to the creativity. Now emotional, I know some of you would disagree with me on but hear me out! As I did with Harlequin, I will be referring emotional to his past self. Now we can’t say for sure if he was very emotional or not in his past. But the only thing I can give that helps with small theory of him being emotional is from all the lines he says during the time of Columbinas death. He was very much against her being killed and cried about it to like the others. Just remember this is all a guess.
Doctor:
Soooo this is just as hard as Jester. So for this since it’s kinda hard to find definitions for his color which is meant to be teal or cyan and red. Which I already explained what red means but I think that Doctor is more on all the aggressive definitions of red. So for the teal and cyan definitions I’m just gonna pull what I can find. Private, heals, and clinical is as much as I can find that I think fits with Doctor. All of those words are self explanatory. I do with we can learn more about Doctor and probably more research into color theory to understand meanings in colors more.
Final thoughts:
Hope all of what I said makes sense. I’m not the best at explaining things and I hope it was clear. If you all have a different opinion or thoughts about it I would be open to listen! And not gonna lie Jester and Doctors ones were on the fly because there isn’t much about them to say as a person. But I hope with was a fun theory for you all! :]
A little continuation of my... TFC Theory and Prediction (Harlequin’s Idea of Love)
Okay, after reading AMA 2 – Parts 8 and 9 on the official blog, I can add this:
''Hides everything''
" Won't say it outright''
''Diminish his own significance''
…It confirms that he has difficulty showing his true self, that he doesn’t feel secure in himself, and that he may either fear doing so or simply not know how.
He likes the Doctor because he doesn’t judge, doesn’t push and is a good listener.
Besides that, it’s cute to see Harlequin keeping himself busy with little outings like looking for things he finds interesting, or just being in someone’s company—like when he helps hand out flyers with Pierrot or Ticket Taker (= scene where he calls us to his tent), and now we know he sometimes spends time with the Doctor too. I find myself wondering if it’s because he feels lonely, even if it’s just to have someone there… I think so.
And there it is:
“I never knew Harlequin’s parents, he was alone when we first crossed paths.”
...
He was alone… young and by himself...
...
....That brings me back to what I asked in my previous post:
- Did Harlequin ever truly receive enough love from his parents?
The Moon Monster, the circus and an internalised fairytale
Analysis of The Moon Monster story and its significance to the plot of TFC (co-written by @readersofthevoid)
The special AMA revealed a very interesting piece of information, that being Pierrot’s favourite fairytale.
According to this post by @thekuronaqueen, The Moon Monster could be the story of St George and the Dragon. It writes out the whole story in more detail (as well some of its religious/cultural history, it’s a very interesting read), but the following fragment is what this analysis is based upon:
A young warrior decided to face the beast. When the full moon lit the night sky, he would mount his horse and wait, spear in hand, watching the heavens.
One night, he saw the dragon in the sky and charged to meet it. The creature was about to devour a young woman when the warrior struck, piercing its neck and chest with his spear.
Unable to defeat him, the dragon took flight, and the battle continued across the sky until it reached the moon. There, the struggle left craters on its surface, and the dragon was finally slain.
George chose to remain on the moon, keeping eternal watch over humanity’s fears and dangers, from where he continues to protect the oppressed and the unjust.
Now, why we believe this is Pierrot’s favourite story: St George did what he could not - save the young woman from being devoured by the dragon. The parallel here to Columbina is clear (and tragic), but it also inspires two other interesting ones - Pierrot as St George and Harlequin as the Dragon.
First: St George. He watches from the moon at a distance, used a spear to slay the beast, to stop an innocent being eaten by it. Is that not what Pierrot does? He stalks the MC, watches us when we approach the black tent, even ‘spears the dragon’ during the tent scene with Harlequin. Despite his obsessive and violent tendencies, he puts in great effort to do so at a distance, without getting up close and personal (at least not when MC can see him).
His weapon of choice is also interesting: he prefers his daggers and throwing knives despite being stronger than the other circus members. Not only does that weaponry sound very similar to what St George used, but it also allows him to keep his ‘monstrous’ strength and claws hidden from the MC. It allows him to portray himself not as the beast but as the protector. He tries to be the one who guards MC at a distance, who prevents the dragon feasting once more. He is the one who, in his mind, is the one that will stop another tragedy. He internalised a fairytale and believes that, if he acts like the hero, then things must go like they do in the story. The young person targeted by the dragon cannot die if he plays his part.
The dragon. The parallels between it and Harlequin are pretty clear: reptilian tongue, green, sly. Hell, the special AMA even confirmed he is a fire-eater - another thing that ties him with the image of the beast. Obviously, Pierrot sees Harlequin as the dragon - the destroyer, the devourer - but does Harlequin see himself the same way? It’s a popular theory in the fandom that Harlequin makes himself a ‘villain’ so that Pierrot has someone to hate, to stop him falling into the catatonia he was likely in after Columbina’s death, but what if it goes a step further?
Harlequin is a storyteller and, given his previous friendship with Pierrot, he likely knows that this is a story the other cherishes. Is it possible, then, that he plays along with the ‘story’ because it keeps Pierrot sane? Given that they are all performers who shed their former identities and names only to embrace their new ones as the stock characters of the Commedia Dell'arte, they’re used to performing and playing their part, so what’s one more role?
Or is it perhaps because he too has internalised the role of the dragon. That way, he was a mighty, ruthless being, not a starved, weak monster that had to consume one of its kind to stay alive. Maybe the role gives him as much sanity as it does Pierrot.
The final piece of the puzzle: the moonless night. Moonless. St George is associated with the moon, from where he protects the oppressed. There was no moon the night Columbina died: there was no one to save her.
Pierrot is no moon, not quite. He cannot be if Columbina was killed. But perhaps he can be another celestial entity, one that watches and protects when you are in danger and there is no moon to save you. He is not quite the moon, but he can be the stars - the ones that adorn his costume and the one on your pin.
He is not exactly like St George, but he makes every effort to be, so that things can stay as they are in the story.
So that no one he loves is devoured again.
