Introduction
The world of Dark Souls II is riddled with metaphors and subtle lessons, waiting to be discovered by keen players. There are countless valuable lessons to be learned from playing Dark Souls II.
This is the format I've used to present them to you:
Lesson: [Title/Name of the lesson goes here]
Quote:
[A relevant quote from the game goes here]Metaphor(s):
[Symbol(s) in used in the game are pointed out here, along with a short explanation if necessary]
In-Game Description:
[A description of relevant gameplay/lore information goes here]
Lesson Description:
[A description of relevant information that applies to real life goes here]
Reference Link[darksouls2.wiki.fextralife.com] : Link to the relevant page (of the item/NPC/etc.) on wiki.fextralife.com
NOTE: Lessons are sorted in no particular order.
I truly hope that players might one day play games for a better reason than just having fun and/or passing time, that reason could be learning something valuable...
Lesson #1
Lesson: Running away from your problems won't solve them for you.
Quote:
Each encounter in life is a precious turn of fate, and fate will not be cheated.
-Bone of Order
Metaphor(s): Being invaded is a metaphor of having problems in life.
Disconnecting after being invaded is a metaphor of running away from problems.In-Game Description:
If you disconnect in order to avoid an invader, you will be punished by losing the ability to summon phantoms for help while invaders are still able to target you again.
Lesson Description:
The message is crystal clear and vivid, facing problems in life is what makes us stronger. If we run away from those problems, we will be punished by having to face the future problems without the experience needed to face them. You can avoid problems forever, because for every old one you dodge, a new problem will emerge.
Reference Link[darksouls2.wiki.fextralife.com]
Lesson #2
Lesson: Consequences of our decisions and actions are permanent.
Quote:
What is done cannot be undone
-Bonfire AsceticMetaphor(s): Burning Bonfire Ascetic is a metaphor of making a decision or performing an action.
Result of burning Bonfire Ascetic (stronger enemies) is a metaphor for consequences.In-Game Description:
You can burn an in-game item called "Bonfire Ascetic" in order to re-spawn enemies and loot (items) plus the boss, but it also makes them stronger every time you burn it.
Lesson Description:
This is a very important lesson that we tend to forget, we should always think before we act because once the water is spilled, you simply can't put it back in the glass. Every action has a consequence, and those consequences are permanent. We must first prepare ourselves before making an important decision. It's often our own misdeeds that makes the life harder for us. Just some food for thought...
Reference Link[darksouls2.wiki.fextralife.com]
Lesson #3
Lesson: We must learn from our past mistakes and move on.
Quote:
One cannot reside in memory for long.
-Ashen Mist HeartMetaphor(s): Entering the memory of a dead giant is a metaphor of remembering our past.
Actions performed within the memory is a metaphor of thinking about how it could have been.(regret).
Finishing the memory in time is a metaphor of leaving the past where it belongs after learning from our mistakes.
Failure to finish the memory in the time limit is a metaphor of being stuck in our past where we keep repeating the same mistake over and over again.In-Game Description:
Once "Ashen Mist Heart" have been acquired, it can be used to enter the memory of a dead giant and reside within it for a limited time.
Lesson Description:
This is one of the most subtle lessons with hidden messages. Remembering our past is a good thing, a very good think indeed. However, we must be careful not to be consumed by it. We must learn from our past mistakes and go on. Regret is a powerful feeling, but we can't let it bind us and take us down. Past is meant to be remembered, but only for so long.
Those who fail to forget their past will be doomed to living it forever and ever without learning anything from their mistakes.
Reference Link[darksouls2.wiki.fextralife.com]
Lesson #4
Lesson: There is always time for change, it's never too late.
Quote:
If you truly wish to start again, go to the place where your journey began.
-Soul VesselMetaphor(s): Using a soul vessel (to re-spec) is a metaphor for a profound change in your life.In-Game Description:
You can use a Soul Vessel to re-spec your attribute points from scratch. If you're not satisfied with your build, you can always change it.
Lesson Description:
A very meaningful lesson is learned here. If you're not satisfied with your life, if you don't like who you are, or if you simply want to be better, there is always time. All you need is the will to change, however, it doesn't mean that it's going to be an easy task.
Soul Vessels are really rare, which means you will have a hard time changing your life, but it's possible and will always remain possible, however hard it may be.
Reference Link[darksouls2.wiki.fextralife.com]
Lesson #5
Lesson: Your mother will always stand by your side, she is the only person you can always trust until death. She will always love you.
Quote:
Bearer of the curse. I will always be at your side. Until hope has fully withered…
-Emerald HeraldMetaphor(s): Emerald Herald is a metaphor for mother.
Leveling Up is a metaphor for gaining experience in life.
Estus Flask is a metaphor for hope.
Aged Feather is a metaphor for home and shelter.
If you attack her, she will never retaliate! This is a metaphor for endless and eternal love.In-Game Description:
Emerald Herald is the most important NPC in Dark Souls II, without her, it's impossible to Level Up and improve your character. She also helps you upgrade your Estus Flask.
Lesson Description:
This is perhaps the most important lesson learned from playing Dark Souls II. Life is a curse, and in this brutal world, there only one person whom you can always trust, there is only one person who will always stand by your side, and she is no one but your mother.
She is the person that gives you hope, she is the person who helps you improve your life. Your mother is the person who gave you everything you have and everything you are. She gives you home, a shelter.
No matter what you do, she will always love you. Even if you do the worst possible things to her in life, she will never lose her love for you.
Reference Link[darksouls2.wiki.fextralife.com]
Lesson #6
Lesson: You will fail countless times in life, but you're only defeated if you surrender.
Quote:
Oh, I'll fool you no longer. You'll lose your souls. All of them. Over and over again.
-StrowenMetaphor(s): Gaining souls is a metaphor for success in real life.
Losing souls is a metaphor for defeat is real life.
Spending souls is a metaphor of sharing your life experience with others.
Becoming hollow is a metaphor of losing the will (and/or a reason) to live.
Humanity is a metaphor for the will and reason to live.In-Game Description:
Every enemy you defeat rewards you with souls, which can be used for leveling up or improving equipment. Upon death, you will lose all your souls and become hollow. Every time you lose, you will lose a percent of your maximum health until your hollowing reaches its final stage with 50% health left for you.
Lesson Description:
This is another valuable lesson for life. Facing your problems rewards you with success, and every time you fail, you lose hope. You keep losing hope until there is nothing left for you to fight for. But even then, you can regain everything you have lost if you stand up and fight. Constant failures in life can lead to depression (becoming hollow, literally hollow) but only if you chose to surrender.
You are never truly defeated if you keep fighting, there is always a second chance. There is always time to comeback, stronger than before.
Reference Link[darksouls2.wiki.fextralife.com]
Lesson #7
Lesson: Trust must be earned, not given by default.
Quote:
No, please, don't come near me. Nothing good will come of it.
-NavlaanMetaphor(s): Navlaan is a metaphor for an evil and deceitful person.
Freeing Navlaan is metaphor of helping a person that truly doesn't deserve your help.
Talking to Navlaan while hollow is a metaphor for evil people making friends with other evil persons.
Talking to Navlaan while human is a metaphor for good people avoiding evil friends.In-Game Description:
If you free "Royal Sorcerer Navlaan", things will get a lot worse for you. He will invade you several times throughout the game and you will also lose access to his side-quest with potentially unique and useful rewards. So what's the reason for freeing him? Absolutely no reason and that's the point.
Lesson Description:
It teaches you not to trust and help everyone you randomly see. The lesson is pretty clear, there are bad people in this world, the kind that simply doesn't deserve to be helped. They will always betray you, no matter how much you try to help them. If you help such person, expect to receive a knife in your back as a reward because nothing good will ever come out of it.
Reference Link[darksouls2.wiki.fextralife.com]
Lesson #8
Lesson: Don't let people take advantage of you, there are people that always try to do so.
Quote:
Gavlan want soul, many many soul! Gah hah! What you want?
-GavlanMetaphor(s): Gavlan is a metaphor for a selfish person that always tries to take advantage of others.
Selling a valuable item (like a boss weapon) to Gavlan is a metaphor of letting other people take advantage of you.In-Game Description:
"Lonesome Gavlan" is the only NPC that buys items from you, he is the only way to sell something in the game. However, he will always underpay you a lot for everything. He pays you so little that it selling something to him is usually (not always) a very stupid idea.
Lesson Description:
Again, the lesson is crystal clear. There are people in this world that only think about themselves, they're so selfish that they see others as nothing more than tools. It's up to you how to deal with such people. You can let them take advantage of you, or you can simply choose not to interact with them.
Reference Link[darksouls2.wiki.fextralife.com]
Lesson #9
Lesson: Always set a new goal for your life, never stop trying.
Quote:
Once the fire is linked, souls will flourish anew, and all of this will play out again. It is your choice: To embrace, or renounce this.
-Emerald Herald Metaphor(s): Finishing the game is a metaphor of reaching a goal in your life.
Going into the next NG+ cycle is a metaphor of setting a new goal in your life.In-Game Description:
Once you finish the game, you can chose to begin a new game cycle and it never ends. However, every time you begin a new cycle, there will be new surprises waiting for you, such as stronger enemies and new items.
You must finish the game at least three times (possibly twice, but very hard) to have access to literally every single item and enemy in the game.
Lesson Description:
Never stop trying, always strive to make the world a better place, for yourself and others. Life never ends until you die, you should try to make tomorrow better than today. Every new day should be better than the previous one, and it will become harder and harder the more you try.
It teaches you to always strive for a better dream, a better goal in life. It only ends if you want it to. Don't waste your time with small goals and focus on something big and when you achieve your goal, set a new goal for yourself.
Reference Link[darksouls2.wiki.fextralife.com]
Lesson #10
Lesson: Nothing good will come out of revenge (and grudge), ever.
Quote:
The crushed eye writhes unsteadily, in search of dishonorable miscreants.
-Crushed Eye OrbMetaphor(s): Crushed Eye Orb is a metaphor of having the power to take revenge.In-Game Description:
You can use "Crushed Eye Orb" to invade the traitor Licia of Lindeldt and kill her.
Lesson Description:
You should learn to forgive others in your life, if you chose to invade and kill Licia using this orb, you will gain Sin. It tries to teach you, just because you have the power to exact revenge on someone who has betrayed you, doesn't mean it's the right thing to do.
Forgiveness is a very honorable act, revenge isn't always the answer. You must learn to forgive.
Reference Link[darksouls2.wiki.fextralife.com]
Lesson #11
Lesson: If you hurt others, you're only hurting yourself.
Quote:
Poisons foes, but also affects oneself.
-Dung PieMetaphor(s): Using Dung Pie is a metaphor of hurting others.In-Game Description:
You can use this item to instantly poison your enemy, but it also poisons yourself. You can heal yourself later using Poison Moss.
Lesson Description:
Another important lesson to keep in mind, hurting others results in hurting yourself. If you inflict pain, you will suffer pain yourself. A wise man once said: He who digs a hole for another, will fall in the hole first.
Reference Link[darksouls2.wiki.fextralife.com]
Lesson #12
Lesson: Nothing is inherently good or evil, it depends on how you use it.
Quote:
Fire is what the caster wishes it to be.
-WarmthMetaphor(s): Fire is a metaphor for any tool (i.e. a knife)
Caster is a metaphor for the intention to use a toolIn-Game Description:
Warmth is a Pyromancy that can be used for healing, it places an orb that heals everyone nearby, friends and foes alike.
Lesson Description:
Pyromancy is usually used to damage enemies, but there's single spell that let's you use the power of the flame to heal yourself and others. It means that nothing is inherently good or evil, it depends on how you use it. A murderer can end a life with the knife, but at the same time a doctor can save countless lives with the very same blade.
Reference Link[darksouls2.wiki.fextralife.com]
Lesson #13
Lesson: Nothing is free in life, everything has its price.
Quote:
Something gained, something lost.
-Resonant FleshMetaphor(s): Casting Resonant Flesh is a metaphor of sacrificing one thing for another (paying the price).In-Game Description:
Resonant Flesh will temporarily increase your max HP at the cost of your souls.
Lesson Description:
The lesson is pretty clear, nothing is free in life. In order to achieve a victory, you must show effort. In order to buy your favorite gloves, you must pay money. If you want to be an actor, you must first learn how to play and so on...
Reference Link[darksouls2.wiki.fextralife.com]
Lesson #14
Lesson: The most precious things are often the easiest ones to lose.
Quote:
Grants its bearer the protection of dragons. Increases HP, stamina, and maximum load, but is easily broken.
-Dragon RingMetaphor(s): Dragon Ring is a metaphor for a precious thing (something that's held very dear).In-Game Description:
A ring that Increases HP, stamina, and maximum load, but is easily broken.
Lesson Description:
The things you hold most dear in your life are the ones that you easily lose. We must be careful how we treat the people we love and the things we value because they're often very fragile.
Reference Link[darksouls2.wiki.fextralife.com]
Lesson #15
Lesson: Appearances can be deceiving
Quote:
Wearer of this ring appears Human even when Hollow.
-Ring of the Dead Metaphor(s): Wearing Ring of the Dead is a metaphor of being pretty on the outside while you're wicked withinIn-Game Description:
If you are hollow, you can wear this ring to appear human. However, the effect is only visual and has no effect on the penalties of being hollow.
Lesson Description:
This is a very important lesson. Don't judge a person by his/her looks because appearances can be deceiving. A lot of people will try to hide their true nature and appear good in public, while on the inside, they are pretty wicked.
Reference Link[darksouls2.wiki.fextralife.com]
Lesson #16
Lesson: Humans are ruining the nature.
Quote:
A wretched place, indeed, but not without traces of its former glory.
What could have caused such degradation?
-Lucatiel of MirrahMetaphor(s):N/AIn-Game Description:
Lucatiel of Mirrah is a friendly NPC that can be summoned to assist you during various boss fights.
Lesson Description:
We're polluting the air, we're cutting down trees, we're poisoning the waters and we're doing hundreds of other things to Earth that we shouldn't. Earth was once a beautiful place, but now it's infested by various machines and its beauty is hidden behind a mask of infection.
Reference Link[darksouls2.wiki.fextralife.com]
Lesson #17
Lesson: Depression makes you see life as a curse.
Quote:
Maybe we're all cursed…
From the moment we're born…
-Lucatiel of MirrahMetaphor(s):N/AIn-Game Description:
Lucatiel of Mirrah is a friendly NPC that can be summoned to assist you during various boss fights.
Lesson Description:
Another message that's pretty clear, it feels almost like the developers are talking directly to you. When a person is depressed, all hope seems lost and the world is seen through a glass of hopelessness.
Reference Link[darksouls2.wiki.fextralife.com]
Lesson #18
Lesson: Sentimental value is only understood by the owner
Quote:
I see you've taken a liking to the sword. Well, I applaud you, for you've a sharp eye.
But this is one sword pal that I will nae be giving up.
If you still insist on having it…
Then you will have to pry it from my cold hands! Gah hah hah hah hah hah!
-Benhart of JugoMetaphor(s): Fake BlueMoon Greatsword is a metaphor for something that only has sentimental value.In-Game Description:
Benhart of Jugo is a friendly NPC that can be summoned to assist you during various boss fights. He has a sword that's a fake, however, he holds it very dear regardless. Although you can take it off him without actually murdering him, you should bear in mind that he really likes his sword.
Lesson Description:
It means there are things in our lives that we hold very dear, although they don't have any financial value. Only we understand how valuable these things are for us.
Reference Link[darksouls2.wiki.fextralife.com]
Lesson #19
NOTE: All credits of this lesson go to this kind player.
Lesson: Anger and how it hurts others
Quote:
Peer closely at an effigy, and one begins to perceive a human form, but whose form it takes depends on the person looking.
-Human EffigyMetaphor(s): Shape of Human Effigy is a metaphor for loyal and trustworthy people you will meetIn-Game Description:
N/A
Lesson Description:
There are very few human effigies you come across. “Effigy” is a term used to describe a sculpture or model that is supposed to be destroyed out of anger. These effigies are shaped in the form of a human shoulders and head. This is a metaphor for how few loyal and trustworthy people you will meet in your life. Anger shatters it all. It is easy to forget this when depressed (or in this case, hallowed).
Reference Link[darksouls2.wiki.fextralife.com]
Conclusion
It wouldn't be exaggeration if I say that Dark Souls II is truly the best game I have ever played in my entire life. I am truly thankful for this experience and wish the developers best of luck in their lives. This is the only game that could teach me so many great things about life, I truly believe Dark Souls deserves to be a book.
Again, I truly hope that players might one day play games for a better reason than just having fun and/or passing time, that reason could be learning something valuable...
And at last, I want to thank you for reading my guide and hope my work could have been of help.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=381155163
Source: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=374920437
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