2. The Impact Of Children
It was always apparent to me early on that Ellies arrival in the narrative was to surrogate the loss of Sarah. Joel comments how Ellie and Sarah would have been good friends; they wouldve liked each other because theyre very similar. Thus Ellie is used as a repair mechanic for Joels grief. By the end of this story, Joel calls Ellie baby-girl, a direct analog to the moment he puts Sarah to bed and calls her by the same name. The one artifact (collectible) in the title that is key to supporting the relationship between the two characters, is the card Sarah forgets to hand Joel on his birthday. It reads, Youre never around. You hate the music Im into, you practically despise the movies I like and yet somehow you still manage to be the best Dad every year. How do you do that? With prior knowledge to the basic narrative to The Last of Us - knowing it would take place over the course of one year, I read that note and thought everything preceding this moment will authenticate how Joel is the best father in the world. In hindsight, it appears to showcase Sarahs obscurity on reality. Like the scene with the giraffe, the observation of the scenario is harrowing. As children we all believe our parents are the best; in some cases theyre our heros but sometimes we arent aware they make bad decisions. We arent introduced to Sarahs mother in the prologue; is that because Joel made bad choices thus leaving the mother no option but to separate from him? Its all unknown. Hes presented as a single parent and therefore we assert sympathy on him. The burden on his shoulders, living in a financially worrying climate (2013) and looking after a child must be excessive. He pleads with his brother Tommy down the phone that he needs a contract to go through, suggesting a possible financial worry. The principal thing to remember is that Sarah isnt killed by monster/beast, shes killed by a man with a gun. While in Lincoln, Bill comments, At least theyre (the infected) predictable, its the normal people who scare me. You of all people should know that. Joel who had already lost one daughter at the hands of man, perhaps couldnt let the same thing happen twice. What if experimenting on Ellie led to no cure? That outcome would have meant Ellies whole principal would have been for nothing; but instead of Joel letting the decision be hers, he makes it his and thats wrong. But its not the first time he does it. In the prologue, he chooses to leave a family, cited with a child, alone on the side of the road Sarah claims they should have gone back for them, putting himself first and forsaking others to their own peril. It suggests that normal people make irrational choices and Joel is a primary example of that fear.