Last night for some reason I was overcome with thoughts on the Qun
One of them was the Qunari Society juxtaposed against Orlesian Society
Under the Qun: you are never expected to be anything but yourself. You have your role, yes, but you are also you within in that role. By not being given a name at birth, you are thus allowed to choose your name as your grow up. You are not forced to bear a moniker someone else chose for you. Even your job is only picked for you based on your strengths, what you would thrive in. You're not forced to a job that you don't want to because what you're good at isn't suitable for society (like slaving away at a job even though youre a creative because capitalism). The Qun doesn't force you to be anything you don't want to be. If that makes sense?
In Orlais, you must wear your mask. Who you are is buried under it, always hidden, largely irrelevant actually since even those you let close to you are participating in that same masquerade. So from the day you enter the world, you are given a role not one of choosing or suitability but one that you must be broken into otherwise you won't survive.
Thinking about how Celene is a scholar in her heart, but was broken and moulded into the role of Empress because of the ambition and designs of others.
