The Dark Side of Undertale's SOULs

Summary

This video essay explores the deeper meanings behind the six human soul traits in *Undertale*, highlighting how they can be both positive and negative. Each trait—Bravery, Integrity, Kindness, Perseverance, Patience, and Justice—can serve as a force for good or be twisted into darker forms, as shown in the fan game *Undertale Yellow*. The analysis suggests that these traits were intentionally chosen by Toby Fox to reflect the duality of human nature, offering a rich moral complexity that has sparked ongoing discussion among players for years.

Takeaways

• 😀 The ball game in Snowden in *Undertale* offers rewards based on how quickly and efficiently players complete it, including flags that correspond to personality traits of the human Souls.
• 😀 The six human Souls in *Undertale* each represent a different personality trait: bravery, integrity, kindness, perseverance, patience, and justice.
• 😀 The red Soul's trait is left open-ended, allowing it to represent the player's most defining trait, with many associating it with determination.
• 😀 The fan game *Undertale Yellow* expands on these traits, presenting a darker interpretation of each Soul's characteristics.
• 😀 The six personality traits of the Souls can be both positive and negative, with the potential for darker, villainous interpretations of otherwise heroic qualities.
• 😀 Justice, as represented by the yellow Soul, can be both a force for good (helping the oppressed) or a justification for villainous acts (vengeance against monsters).
• 😀 Patience, often seen as a positive trait, can also be used manipulatively by villains, waiting for the right moment to strike or to exploit others.
• 😀 Kindness can be twisted into something dark, as demonstrated by historical villains who believed their atrocities were acts of kindness.
• 😀 Bravery can be misused by people who act courageously in support of hateful or harmful ideologies, thus re-contextualizing what it means to be brave.
• 😀 Perseverance, often seen as a heroic quality, can also drive villains to continue with their evil deeds despite failure, as exemplified by characters like Plankton in *SpongeBob*.
• 😀 Integrity, while typically associated with honesty and strong moral principles, can be warped when someone uses their unwavering principles to justify evil acts, as seen with characters like the Joker.

Q & A

What is the significance of the red flag in the ball game in Snowden?

The red flag is a reward for completing the ball game quickly and with minimal errors. It lists six personality traits that correspond to the colors of the human souls in *Undertale*, offering insight into the personalities associated with each soul.

How do the soul traits in *Undertale* correlate with the six human souls?

Each soul in *Undertale* corresponds to a personality trait: Orange (Bravery), Dark Blue (Integrity), Green (Kindness), Purple (Perseverance), Light Blue (Patience), and Yellow (Justice). These traits are used to define the personalities of the human souls encountered in the game.

How does the fan game *Undertale Yellow* influence the understanding of the soul traits?

*Undertale Yellow* provides a new perspective on the soul traits by exploring how they can be used for both positive and negative purposes. The game shows how the Justice trait, for example, can be used for both helping others and justifying dark actions like mass murder.

What is the connection between the Justice Soul in *Undertale Yellow* and the character Clover?

Clover, the protagonist in *Undertale Yellow*, holds the Yellow Soul of Justice. In the game, Clover's soul can be used in two contrasting ways: to assist monsters in escaping the underground (positive Justice) or to justify committing atrocities in the name of retribution (negative Justice).

What is the darker side of the 'Patience' trait as discussed in the video?

While Patience is usually associated with positive traits like wisdom and restraint, it can also be used negatively. For instance, a villain might use patience to bide their time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike or to manipulate situations to their advantage, like waiting for someone to drop their guard before attacking.

How can the 'Kindness' trait be misused in a darker context?

Although kindness is generally a positive trait, it can be twisted into something darker, such as when a villain claims their actions are 'kind' in a misguided or manipulative way. The example of Thanos from the *Marvel* universe is cited, where he justifies his mass genocide as an act of kindness to the universe.

What is the argument about how 'Bravery' can be misinterpreted in the video?

Bravery is often thought of as courage in the face of danger for a good cause. However, the video points out that individuals who espouse harmful, socially unacceptable views may call their actions 'brave,' even though they are not heroic. This redefinition of bravery is problematic and misuses the term.

How does 'Perseverance' serve as both a positive and negative trait?

Perseverance is typically seen as a valuable trait that helps individuals overcome obstacles, but it can also be associated with stubbornness in a negative light. The video highlights examples like Plankton from *SpongeBob SquarePants*, who persistently attempts evil actions despite repeated failures.

In what way can 'Integrity' be viewed negatively?

Integrity usually refers to holding strong moral principles. However, as shown in the video, villains like the Joker possess strong integrity, but their moral principles are evil. This highlights how integrity can also be used to justify harmful actions when someone follows a twisted personal code.

What is the significance of the 'Red Soul' in *Undertale*?

The Red Soul is often associated with 'Determination.' While the game does not explicitly define its personality trait, many fans link it to determination because the Red Soul represents the player’s resolve to overcome obstacles. The video suggests that the Red Soul might also represent the player’s defining trait, be it positive or negative.