Why is Baldur obsessed with Kratos?

Introduction

The world of video games is a vast and complex one, filled with characters that span the gamut from heroic to villainous, from virtuous to corrupt. One of the most fascinating characters in recent years has been Baldur, the antagonist of the critically acclaimed video game “God of War.” Baldur’s obsession with Kratos, the game’s protagonist, has become one of the most intriguing aspects of the game’s storyline, leaving players to ponder the reasons behind his obsession. In this blog post, we will delve into the various reasons why Baldur is so obsessed with Kratos, exploring the psychological, emotional, and symbolic factors that make their dynamic so compelling.

The Origins of Baldur’s Obsession

Baldur is introduced early on in the game as an antagonist, but it quickly becomes clear that his obsession with Kratos goes beyond a simple desire to defeat him. In fact, Baldur’s obsession seems to stem from a deep-seated need for validation and acceptance from his father, Odin. As we learn throughout the game, Odin is a distant and abusive father, prone to using his children as pawns in his schemes for power and control. Baldur, in particular, has suffered greatly at the hands of his father, as Odin has made him invulnerable to all harm, rendering him unable to feel anything, physically or emotionally.

It is this lack of feeling that drives Baldur’s obsession with Kratos. Kratos, as a former god of war himself, represents everything that Baldur is not: he is mortal, vulnerable, and capable of feeling pain and suffering. To Baldur, Kratos represents the very thing that he has been denied his entire life: humanity. In his pursuit of Kratos, Baldur is seeking to prove his worth as a son and as a warrior, hoping that by defeating Kratos he will finally earn his father’s love and respect.

The Psychological Complexities of Baldur’s Obsession

While Baldur’s obsession with Kratos has clear roots in his dysfunctional family dynamic, there are deeper psychological complexities at play as well. As a character, Baldur embodies the archetype of the tragic hero, a figure who is both noble and flawed, driven by a desire for greatness but ultimately undone by his own hubris. In his pursuit of Kratos, Baldur is seeking to fulfill a heroic destiny, one that he believes will elevate him above the petty concerns of his family and his society.

At the same time, however, Baldur is also grappling with a deep sense of guilt and shame. As we learn throughout the game, Baldur has committed terrible acts in service of his father’s goals, including killing his own mother. These actions have left Baldur deeply traumatized, struggling with a sense of moral ambiguity and an inability to reconcile his actions with his own sense of self. In his pursuit of Kratos, Baldur is seeking not just validation and acceptance, but also redemption, hoping that by defeating Kratos he will somehow make amends for his past sins.

The Symbolism of Baldur’s Obsession

Finally, it is worth considering the symbolic significance of Baldur’s obsession with Kratos. In Norse mythology, Baldur is a figure associated with light, purity, and goodness. He is a beloved son, a favorite of the gods, and a symbol of hope and renewal. Kratos, on the other hand, is a figure associated with darkness, violence, and chaos. He is a former god of war, a figure who has committed countless acts of brutality and who has caused untold suffering and destruction.

In this sense, Baldur’s obsession with Kratos can be seen as a metaphor for the struggle between light and dark, good and evil, order and chaos. Baldur represents the forces of light and goodness , while Kratos represents the forces of darkness and chaos. Baldur’s obsession with defeating Kratos is, in essence, a struggle to restore balance to the universe, to ensure that the forces of light and goodness prevail over the forces of darkness and chaos.

However, as the game progresses, it becomes clear that this struggle is not so clear-cut. Kratos himself is not purely evil, but rather a complex character struggling with his own demons and seeking redemption for his past actions. Baldur, too, is not purely good, but rather a tragic figure struggling with his own sense of identity and morality. In this sense, Baldur’s obsession with Kratos can be seen as a symbol for the complexities of human nature, the struggle between light and dark that exists within each of us.

The Role of Fate in Baldur’s Obsession

Finally, it is worth considering the role of fate in Baldur’s obsession with Kratos. Throughout the game, we see Baldur grappling with his own sense of destiny, struggling to reconcile his own desires with the forces that seem to be pushing him towards a particular end. As a figure associated with fate and destiny, Baldur is constantly struggling to understand his own role in the grand scheme of things, to understand what his purpose is and why he is being driven to pursue Kratos.

At the same time, however, we also see Kratos grappling with his own sense of fate and destiny. As a former god of war, Kratos is intimately familiar with the forces of fate and destiny, having been a pawn in the schemes of the gods for much of his life. In his pursuit of Baldur, Kratos is seeking to break free from the constraints of fate, to chart his own course and forge his own destiny.

In this sense, Baldur’s obsession with Kratos can be seen as a reflection of the larger themes of the game, the struggle between fate and free will, between destiny and choice. Baldur, in his pursuit of Kratos, is seeking to fulfill his own destiny, to prove his worth as a son and as a warrior. Kratos, on the other hand, is seeking to break free from the constraints of fate, to chart his own course and forge his own destiny. In the end, it is the struggle between these two characters that drives the narrative of the game, and that makes their dynamic so compelling and fascinating.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the obsession of Baldur with Kratos is a complex and multi-layered one, rooted in issues of family dysfunction, psychological complexity, symbolic significance, and the struggle between fate and free will. As a character, Baldur embodies the archetype of the tragic hero, driven by a desire for greatness but ultimately undone by his own flaws and limitations. In his pursuit of Kratos, he is seeking not just validation and acceptance, but also redemption and a sense of purpose. Ultimately, it is the interplay between these various factors that makes Baldur’s obsession with Kratos so fascinating and compelling, and that has helped to cement “God of War” as one of the most memorable and thought-provoking video games of recent years.