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The Wolf; A Possible Symbolic Reference?
Topic Started: Nov 24 2004, 03:41 AM (1,260 Views)
Seii Monogatari
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Fishy McLuv Carp
I've been wondering for a while now, but there has been, among other new clothing items for Cloud, a wolf design added to Cloud's outfit. I found a strange parallel that this could be related to.
I've heard it so many times before, and it seems to fit too perfectly...

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They say that wolves mate for life.  When one wolf dies, it's partner never moves on.


It's just funny that the wolf is just now being included with Cloud's design. Wolves are also associated with loners, ("lone wolf," anyone?) and when a wolf loses their mate, they tend to reject pack life. This fits Cloud very well. While he had Aeris, he mixed with the others in his party better, and her memory and the need to avenge her helped him continue this past her death. In AC, Cloud has become the lone wolf, and has rejected his 'pack,' because the guilt over her death is all he can focus on. There is nothing for him to fight for, and so nothing to take his mind off the pain. Although Cloud and Aeris may never have been "mates" in the literal sense (you KNOW what I mean), they were soulmates, and as I see it, most definitely in love with each other.

If any of you have thoughts on this please post them here. I just needed somewhere to express my thoughts on this matter. ;)
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Sefie
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Eyes of dream-water
Hmm! Good point! I thought it was just to reflect his Lone wolf nature, but the symbolizm in the mates for life is very interesting!
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ice_spitz
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~rabid cloud fandog~
i absolutely love dogs and wolves and foxes, but i never thought that the Cloudy Wolf thingy could be interpreted in this way. Good observation! And i think it's quite true too. ^_^ i'm same as Sefie, i thought it was only about the lone wolf thing. But come to think of it, cloud is not naturally a "lone wolf"... i don't think he has ever been one. In FFVII, it was the frusration that he didn't understand himself or who he was, for that matter that made him want to lead a life by himself. However Tifa stepped in and persuaded Cloud to work for avalanche. i think it was when he got to know Aeris that he acted more like the leader of the group. and after Aeris' death, he still thought about her a lot...we can see that at the end right? Even Tifa agreed to "go meet her (aeris)"

~ mates for life! ^_^
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Anastar
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To touch the light I see in your eyes...
*some AC spoilers from the Film Festivals are in this post*

That's a very appealing interpretation, and I hope it's true.

However, Cloud's motorcycle is named Fenrir, and Nomura said that there's a meaning behind it. Fenrir is the name of a gigantic and terrible monster with the shape of a wolf in Norse mythology who was challenged by the gods to prove his strength. You can read about it here: Fenrir. Given that Cloud is dealing with issues of strength in AC, I sorta think that's why he's wearing the symbol of the wolf. Remember what Tifa says about Cloud finding his strength again as Cloud's getting ready to attack Sephiroth?

I hope I'm wrong, and that it's your interpretation that the wolf symbolizes. I'd love to have it mean what you suggest. But the wolf insignia seems to fit too well with the meaning of Fenrir to me, especially since Cloud is dealing with regaining the strength he used to have in the face of a "god".
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Kaldea
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fantôme
*Loves her Cloudy Wolf ring TO DEATH* :lol:

It really does suit Cloud. Square sure did their homework when it comes to Cloud's design! But I am surprised that Tetsuya Nomura didn't give him a necklace. :lol:

And this is my Fenrir! :lol:
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Andina
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~Absurd~
It's funny or perhaps more interesting than funny, that everything in FF games seems to have a meaning. Sometimes it's more hidden while sometimes it's very obvious. But rarely will you find something that has no meaning at all.

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But I am surprised that Tetsuya Nomura didn't give him a necklace.

Well we don't want Cloud to be TOO much like Squall, now do we? ^_^

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And this is my Fenrir! 

Dear me, he looks quite scary, just look at those eyes! Or did you just use your eyeliner on him? :lol:
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SweetJanie
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Can you imagine Cloud riding that Fenrir? Lol, now that would be original!! :lol:

Well, I think The Wolf means it all! Being alone, proving strenght...all that is our Cloud, right? ;)

And besides, all that means Aeris...alone cause she's not with him, strong to live without her. Aww...so cute!!! :wub:
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Carmencita
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The Rag Doll
Interesting that Fenrir is used that way...

Wasn't Fenrir the wolf bound in chains? If I remember right, once he's released, he'll destroy the world and lead it to ruins (called Ragnarok).

Cloud and the end of the Planet.... hmmmmmmmm..... O_o

Ah, I like the Wolf and his mate interpretation better. :lol:
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Anastar
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To touch the light I see in your eyes...
I like the wolf and his mate interpretation better, too. :lol:

Actually, the gods tried to chain Fenrir down because they feared his strength, but he broke the chain like cobwebs. So the gods had the elves make a magical chain that was made into a soft, thin ribbon. (Hmmm... interesting) When they challenged Fenrir to break free of the ribbon, he thought it would be easy and agreed to it... but he was unable to do it. Fenrir had his revenge by biting off the hand of one of the gods.

I hate to see the ribbon signify something that has Cloud "chained down" that he is unable to break away from, and I doubt it's supposed to be interpreted in that way. It may just as easily represent a lovely thing which has a powerful hold on Cloud's heart and to which he will forever be tied.

And no, Ragnorak (the destruction of the world) will not be caused when Fenrir breaks free. Fenrir will only be able to break free at the time of Ragnorak. Until the destruction of the world, Fenrir will be unable to break free.

And Cloud's Girl... your Fenrir is adorable! :D
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SweetJanie
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You know, I kinda doubt all these theories...about the ribbon and the mate stuff, even though it's really cute!! :lol: I really think you're complicating things cause all they said was the loneliness and survival part, just like wolves do. Oh, and getting back to the mate stuff...isn't that just with the foxes? Cause wolves live in group and I though they procriated with various females like dogs do...or something like that :blink: Not that I don't like your theories, but I just don't think that Square would really do that...too complicaded :ph43r:

Stories oughta be Simple and Clean... :P
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Shiva
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SweetJanie
Nov 26 2004, 04:00 PM
You know, I kinda doubt all these theories...about the ribbon and the mate stuff, even though it's really cute!! :lol: I really think you're complicating things cause all they said was the loneliness and survival part, just like wolves do. Oh, and getting back to the mate stuff...isn't that just with the foxes? Cause wolves live in group and I though they procriated with various females like dogs do...or something like that :blink: Not that I don't like your theories, but I just don't think that Square would really do that...too complicaded :ph43r:

Stories oughta be Simple and Clean... :P

Agreed. I always just thought that the wolf jewelry and the name of the motorcycle referred to Cloud's status as a "lone wolf". :rolleyes:
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Anastar
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To touch the light I see in your eyes...
FF_Goddess
Nov 27 2004, 01:41 AM
Agreed. I always just thought that the wolf jewelry and the name of the motorcycle referred to Cloud's status as a "lone wolf". :rolleyes:

Then why would Nomura say that the motorcycle is named "Fenrir" and that there is a meaning attached to it?
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SweetJanie
Unregistered

You'll never know for sure. Fenrir might be a god, but it's still a wolf. Cloud's got wolf jewelry, a wolf motorcycle, maybe that'll only mean he's alone, all alone... maybe all about him is loliness, not power... I think Cloud kinda lost his power when he lost the willing to live...I think he just wants to die in peace. :(
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Shiva
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SweetJanie
Nov 27 2004, 03:39 PM
You'll never know for sure. Fenrir might be a god, but it's still a wolf. Cloud's got wolf jewelry, a wolf motorcycle, maybe that'll only mean he's alone, all alone... maybe all about him is loliness, not power... I think Cloud kinda lost his power when he lost the willing to live...I think he just wants to die in peace. :(

Agreed. When Nomura said that there was a meaning behind the name "Fenrir", I am not so sure he wanted us to dig up the actual legend and the meaning behind the legend. Perhaps he just wanted us to realize that "Fenrir" isn't just a fancy name, that Fenrir was actually a wolf in Norse legend. But, I am not convinced that he wanted us to take the ENTIRE legend into consideration here. I think he was wanting us to realize that Fenrir, also a wolf, fits into Cloud's wolf jewelry, and his status as a "lone wolf". After all, Cloud's wolf head jewelry is called "Cloudy Wolf", right? If it was all called "Fenrir", maybe I would think of it differently... :huh:
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Anastar
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To touch the light I see in your eyes...
I think it's dangerous to assume that it has the meaning of "lone wolf" before that has been stated by the creators. It may mean that, and I hope it does mean that. I'm not saying that it can't mean that, but that we may be jumping to conclusions by thinking that's what it means. If the creators have only indicated that it has a meaning that somehow relates to "Fenrir", I don't think we can assume that it means anything else.

Why even specify that the motorcycle had a name that had a meaning, if all they want is the association with a wolf? Cloud's earring and armor insignia would have been enough to associate him with a wolf... but instead they specified a certain wolf: Fenrir.

How do we even know whether the wolf is associated with being single in Japan? They may associate single men who want no partner with something other than a wolf in Japan, for all we know.

We look behind the meaning of Aerith's name to relate it to Cloud. So why can't we look behind the meaning of Fenrir to see how it applies to Cloud in AC? Fenrir was a wolf challenged by the gods to prove his strength. Cloud's strength is being challenged in AC. I think that's too great a coincidence to ignore.
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