the good-for-nothing

[f0rrest]

Gustave XIII, from SaGa Frontier II, is probably the most compelling character of any video game I’ve ever played, and I’ve played a lot of video games. He may even be one of the most interesting characters in all of fiction, although I don’t know if his story is truly unique or perhaps lifted from some ancient archetype that, deep down, we can all relate to. I say this because, in Gustave’s story, we can learn not only about ourselves but also something about the human condition, something existential.

So bear with me a moment, because I want to talk about Gustave, and to do that, I need to provide some context.

The world of SaGa Frontier II is one of magic. They call it “anima.” Everyone in the world of SaGa Frontier II is born with the ability to wield anima, by drawing it out of objects from the natural world, like wood and stone and water, to cast spells. Think something like the television show Avatar: The Last Airbender, but instead of certain people only being able to wield certain elements, anyone can harness any element. So, in the world of SaGa Frontier II, wielding anima is as ordinary as being able to breathe. Everyone can do it.

But when I say “everyone,” I actually mean everyone except Gustave. He was born without the ability to wield anima.

Gustave, being a king's son, is the rightful heir of the kingdom of Thermes. The heir, however, must possess the ability to wield anima. So, at the age of seven, to determine the legitimacy of his rule, Gustave must pass a test. The test itself is simple. All he has to do is lift the ceremonial sword, the Firebrand, and, by channeling his anima, make it glow a little bit. But, of course, being anima-less, Gustave fails the test, he cannot make the sword glow. And this enrages his father, the king of Thermes.

“Common trees, grass, and even rocks have Anima. He is less than a rock. I had high hopes for him. That is why I feel so betrayed. It is unforgivable. It is not permissible for a member of the royal family not to have Anima. He will be banished.”

Gustave and his mother, Sophie, are banished from Thermes, and as they leave the city, the townspeople throw things and shout all sorts of names at him. One of those names in particular stands out to the young Gustave.

“You good-for-nothing!”

Gustave, now living in exile with his mother, grows up believing himself to be a “good-for-nothing,” and this belief develops into an insecurity so profound that he becomes an antisocial, angry young man with serious behavioral issues, taking out his frustration on everyone around him, including his one and only friend, Flynn, and even his mother, who, after an incident in which Gustave throws stones at birds, still believes in her young son.

“Gustave, look! Is it the power of spells that makes flowers and trees blossom? Are birds able to fly because they can use spells? Even though you can't use spells, you are still human.”

At the age of thirteen, Gustave meets a blacksmith who specializes in making kitchen knives out of steel, and this intrigues Gustave. Steel, in the world of SaGa Frontier II, is an anima-less substance. It cannot be used to channel any sort of anima whatsoever, but it is hardy and strong. So Gustave comes up with a crazy idea. He will become an apprentice blacksmith and forge a steel blade, which, apparently, in the world of SaGa Frontier II, had never been done before, because wood and stone were typically seen as the better choice, as they could be used to channel anima, whereas steel could not.

When asked by the blacksmith why he, Gustave, wants to forge a steel blade, Gustave says, “I cannot use anima. I need to find another way to build up my strength.” And so, after a year of blacksmithing, Gustave forges his first steel blade, and he, of course, immediately takes it out into the local caves to build up his strength by slaying monsters, and he does this obsessively, day after day.

As an aside, the world of SaGa Frontier II is not black and white. Much like real life, everyone in SaGa Frontier II is morally gray to an extent, and Gustave is no different. To draw a modern parallel, Gustave exists in a world similar to Game of Thrones, wherein kings are constantly plotting to kill each other and endless wars are fought over territory, if that gives you any idea. So, with that context, please do not take my words on Gustave as praise of his actions, as from this point onward, his actions are warlike and lead to a lot of bloodshed.

Anyway, through excessive training and sheer force of will, Gustave, despite his crippling lack of anima, becomes far stronger than pretty much anyone else in the world of SaGa Frontier II. And not only does he become stronger, he becomes more well-read and more introspective through obsessive, self-motivated study. The interesting thing about all this, however, is that his motivation was not altruistic, not at all. In fact, what motivated him was that one name he was called way back on the day he was exiled from Thermes, “good-for-nothing.” From that day onward, Gustave believed he was truly good-for-nothing, and this belief fostered a deep sense of inadequacy within him. But instead of being discouraged, that inadequacy drove him to prove himself, to prove he was not a good-for-nothing, to prove that, despite being anima-less, he was still human, just like his mother said, and that he could accomplish anything anyone else could. Maybe, he thought, he could accomplish even more.

So that’s what he does, accomplishes even more. In his obsession to prove that he’s not a good-for-nothing, Gustave takes over the world, more or less.

Through tactical espionage, political maneuvering, military conquest, and much bloodshed, Gustave comes to rule over a small kingdom, and using the might of this small kingdom, he storms the shores of Thermes, executes his own brother, and conquers his homeland, all to prove that he's not a good-for-nothing.

But herein lies the question, does this calm Gustave’s fear of inadequacy?

Upon landing on the shores of Thermes, Gustave has an exchange with his generals. This exchange, combined with the story of Gustave outlined herein, is what I believe reveals some existential truth about the human condition.

The following is the exchange between Gustave and his generals, copy-pasted from the script of SaGa Frontier II found here.

Kelvin: Did you ever think that one day you would return home commanding an army? How do you feel? 

Gustave (closing eyes): I wonder what mother would've said if she were still alive. 

Kelvin: She would obviously be very pleased. 

Gustave (opens eyes): I will now have to fight my half brother. I'm sure mother would have no desire for such a bloody act. 

Kelvin: It's not like you to be so weak spirited. 

Gustave: Soon, many Animas will disappear from the face of the earth. They will  desperately fight for themselves and for their families. They believe that, if I gain the throne, those things that have been lost will not have been in vain. However, I do not want the throne. I just want to see what I am capable of. I am sacrificing everyone's Anima for so selfish a motive. How appropriate, coming from a man with no Anima, eh? 

Kelvin: Get one thing straight, Gustave. No matter what you may be thinking, I don't want you ever to utter such words in front of our men. You understand? 

(enter Nebelstern)

Nebelstern: So this is where you were. 

Gustave: Is the landing proceeding as planned, General? 

Nebelstern: Yes, there are no problems. The landing has been a success, and now I would like to send messengers out to each region. I would like them to spread the word that the rightful heir, the son born to Gustave XII and Queen Sophie, has returned home.  

Gustave: I am not the rightful heir, General. I'm just a good-for-nothing.