#angraboda

He came from a military family, was raised with strict discipline, which gave him a stern and rigorous manner.

He's a huge man, tall and very well-built. Very. Intimidating. You would have stayed as far away from him as possible if not for your curiosity.

At the start of your relationship, you relied a lot upon Atreus- Kratos's son- to be the middleman of your conversation. After a lot of "practice" and determination, you're now confident to read his emotions and have a general understanding of what he's trying to say (but not saying).

He was a general in his country, then got a dishonorable discharge. Got into business with the local cartel for a while, brought down the cartel single-handedly, and is now an independent contractor doing construction work. You often joke that he should get his life story made into a movie.

You love that under all the hard shell and tough demeanor is a big warm heart. While he secretly admires you wearing your heart on your sleeves- although he worries from time to time for you rarely let your guard up.

He doesn't talk about his past much, even after dating you for some time. It was frustrating at first, you thought he either didn't trust you or wasn't serious about the relationship. After some heated arguments, you two finally talked it out. You'd patiently wait till the day he's ready to open up about his past, and it would be perfectly fine if he never want to.

Speaking of heated arguments, it is rare to happen. He's a very logical person and straightforward. And slowly he's learning to open up and communicate more.

He had 2 marriages before, both gave him bitter-sweet memories. On your anniversary, with Atreus's help, you dug out the very few photos he had of his family, framed them yourself (with handmade wooden frames, you had multiple cuts following those tutorials on youtube), and gave it to him over dinner.

You were so nervous that he might see it as crossing his boundaries that you thought you'd throw up, instead he almost choked up.

You helped him hang up the photos on the entry wall afterward.

And he started liking his pictures taken especially when it's with you.

Atreus gave him a film camera for his birthday. So he started the hobby of photography, and even learned how to develop photos.

He writes poems for you.

You submitted some of his photos to a local photography contest, and he won the second prize.

He prefers the old-school stuff, for the life of him couldn't catch up with all the new techs. And he hated using smart phones. Later you found out it was because his fingers are too thick for a small smart phone screen, so you got him an ipad. Now he facetime everybody if he needs anything and puts the tablet by his ear to listen.

Drives a 4 -door pickup, and wouldn't let anyone drive his precious car. Not even Atreus.

You often buy him clothes, knowing he would look good in either style- also knowing that if you don't care about what he wears he would wear whatever flannel he has in his closet- often with some holes.

He does not care about whether it's hot or cold, he basically wears the same thing all the time. You don't know how he is warm when he's only wearing a t-shirt in the snow, while you wrapped yourself up like an onion

Not like you wanna complain though, it's nice to have a human heater in bed keeping your feet warm.

Has a friend called Mimir, a somewhat hippy-looking man. He helps with Krato's company's finance and other paperwork stuff. Unlike his appearance, according to Kratos, he's actually very smart.

You often wonder how these two people become friends in the first place.

adult!Atreus

Works at a wildlife rescue organization, and travels all the time to help all sorts of animals.

You two met on a rescue mission. He admires your compassion and love towards the animals, and you love his capability of handling hurt and tense beasts.

When you first met, he had a full head of braided locs. He claimed that since he couldn't grow a full and luscious beard, he overcompensate with his hair.

Likes braiding your hair, and you'd let him do it because he can do all sorts of braids and does it better than you.

Used to participate in archery tournaments when he was still in school, won lots of trophies and medals. Now he plays amateur games.

He brought you to an archery range for your first date. You being competitive thought it would be a piece of cake. But couldn't even draw the bow string.

You thought you were going to impress him, instead, he impressed you with extreme patience and well-articulated instructions. You were able to hit a target after half a day's training thanks to him.

He loves to read. You planned a treasure hunt at the bookstore for your anniversary, looking for books to gift each other and to read together. He always talked about it to his friends, showing off how thoughtful you are.

He just loves showing you off to people.

He's as stubborn as a mule. Whatever he set his mind to, no one could change his mind. Sometimes you admire his level of determination, other times you wanna bang your head on the wall.

He has a huge dog named Fenrir, Atreus rescued him when he was just a little puppy. The first time you visit his house, Fen tackled you- it was almost traumatizing. Atreus told you it was because Fen really liked you, and he doesn't usually take a liking to people.

Of course he would be a prankster, often pulling small pranks on you (harmless though), you are constantly amazed at how creative he is, and would often laugh at these pranks together.

At first you were scared of his father, a big man who rarely speaks let alone smiles. Sometimes you wonder if he really loves his son, when he barely gave Atreus any response to whatever he was sharing

Plus , what loving parent lets their kids call them "sir"?

Later in your relationship, after many childhood stories Atreus shared with you, you realized how wrong you were. You apologized to Kratos over family dinner.

When you two have a fight, he'd storm off, usually out of the house. He'd return after a few hours with flowers or other gifts to apologize, and would be cool to sit down and talk about your issues.

Freya

She's a florist/herbalist, has a dainty flower shop on the street where you live. Before you two got together you often went and got flowers for your mother.

She'd insist that you pursued her first.

Has lots of plants in the apartment, and a small herbal garden on the balcony.

If you're good with plants, she'd argue which plant loves her the most. If not, you're forbidden from even going near her babies.

The pair of you each own a cat before your relationship, but somehow both of the cats seem to like/obey her more.

She has published several books about herbalism, led a few workshops, and there's a small community on social media praising her work. You often joke that it's her little cult.

Your parents adore her, especially your mother. Whenever you two went over for dinner they'd hang out in the kitchen, cooking and chatting. To your parents, Freya would be the one to go to for opinions of stuff instead of you.

Your mother knits her a sweater every winter. You don't even get a hand-made sweater from your mother that often.

Had a marriage with a businessman before, and had a son who died in an accident. She has the son's photo on her phone's lock screen, and would curse every time the businessman shows up on the news.

Has a twin brother who she worries about all the time. He travels around and is rarely home, when he's home she'd cook him a meal fit for a king.

When she was young she had to work several different jobs to raise herself and her brother. Even though she doesn't have to worry about finance or her brother anymore, a lot of the time she still acts as a "mother", you'd have to remind her to lean on you more.

You two often go for a weekend drive, have picnics at the beach or in the forest, enjoying nature together. For some reason small animals like birds or squirrels- sometimes foxes and rabbits- love her.

Every month you two go help at the local rescue center on at least one of the weekends. It still amazes you how she knows herbal remedies for animals.

You'd apologize first every time when you had an argument. Most of the time it would be your fault anyways. Your queen could never be wrong.

Freyr

He's the lead singer/songwriter of a popular band, doing alternative music. The band has a decent amount of followers but their music is mediocre. You had a theory that most of their fans are in love with the band members, not their music. (He wouldn't agree though)

Very charismatic, often is surrounded by a bunch of people in social situations. It's hard not to feel jealous, but every time when he sees you from the crowd, he'd pish whatever conversation aside and get to you.

Sometimes you go visit him when he's on tour, his band-mates adore you, but would constantly make fun of him, saying he talks about you too much.

An indoor person, doesn't like going out very much. He claims that it's because he travels a lot for work, and he wants to be as still as possible in his spare time.

Has long hair, and often has it in a messy bun. Sometimes you'd feel playful and ask to braid his hair. He'd let you, and if he has a show in a few days he'd make sure the braids last till then, and would tell the whole crowd you did his hair.

He's a great cook, often cooks for you. He explained that he used to cook a lot when he was a kid.

Definitely a gamer, and is very competitive. Although he is not a poor loser, and would let you win if you lose too much.

Sings in the shower. Before you moved to a better apartment with better sound-proofed walls, your neighbors often come to knock on the door to complain about how loud he is. (yes other aspects as well he is looooud)

Obviously, he sings for you all the time. He claims that after you two got together, all of the songs he made are either for you or about you.

And he praises you all the time, you often giggle at the creative compliments.

He's more into anniversaries than you, insists that you celebrate every one of them. From the day you first met to the day you move in with him. Even when he's away on the tour, he'd make sure to send you presents/flowers and facetime you.

Also very into holidays, he makes sure he would be home during any of the holidays. Sometimes you two visit Freya and celebrate together.

Bought you a puppy for your birthday, though in fact he was the one who wanted the puppy. He fell in love at first sight at the store and insisted on getting the pup. He named the golden retriever Ingrid.

Has a twin sister, you've met her a few times. Every time you see her you think that "majestic" is the perfect word for her. Though she's very friendly.

You'd ask her about his favorite food, and cook it for him, surprising him when he gets home.

You two don't really fight, he'd make it up to you before you even get upset. And you are absolutely perfect in his eyes.

adult!Angraboda

She's an artist, known for her unique way of utilizing color.

You first met at her exhibition, you didn't expect to be fascinated by this random artist at the exhibition your friend dragged you to. Soon you became her number-one fan, showing up at all of her exhibitions.

She'd recognize you and come greet you every time, greetings gradually evolved into coffee and dinner dates. Then it became nightly phone calls. One night she just blurted out a confession over the phone.

You two share a studio apartment, allowing you each to have your own space while enjoying each other's company.

She's pretty messy. When you first moved in, her stuff was left everywhere, you could find brushes on the stove, remote in the fridge, and clothes on the back of every chair you own. You had to teach her how to be more organized (her manager was very grateful). Now she keeps her messiness in her own space.

She's an animal lover, owns two dogs and three cats. Whenever you two watch something together and some animal shows up, she'd wanna have them as a pet.

She doesn't drive, she either takes public transport or rides a bike.

She doesn't really like living in the city, and is saving money to buy a little country house.

A spiritual person. You always find some crystals in the house, sometimes, she'd drop some rocks in your bag claiming it would help with fatigue or anxiety. The apartment always smells nice with the burning incent.

She also loves to bake, often experiments with different recipes, adding a sweet and buttery smell to the apartment.

You learned how to meditate from her. When you start working from home, she'd grab you every afternoon to do a 30 min meditation.

You do weekly pamper nights together, having face masks on, rubbing each other's feet, watching movies, and catching up.

Eventually you two would move to a nice little country house. And slowly but surely she would turn it into a small farm with sheep and chicken and goat and other animals.

You would get a secondhand car so it's easier to get groceries. You'd give her a ride if she has work in the city, and have a launch date in your favorite cafe.

Different from his father, Atreus is interested in the visions and prophecies and is eager to prove himself. He thinks that by opposing Odin they will be fighting the good fight, as they are better gods. These vision are also about Loki so they can be viewed as a key to Atreus understanding his own identity. In Kratos´s mind following the visions of the Giants would mean that his son would become a pawn of fate. As a former chained tool of destruction, Kratos despises the idea of being a puppet for fate. He will only kill as he decides, not because his puppet master orders him to. To make things even more complex, Freya brings up the idea, that the champion is not Atreus but Kratos himself. The Giants hatred towards Odin runs deep, and the path that Faye, a Giant herself, sends Kratos and Atreus on ends up with at least 3 of Odin´s kin dead. Within this interpretation Faye´s words about not being who we were seem to run hollow, as Kratos becomes the champion of a foretold war and means of vengeance for the Giants. 

I will return to idea of prophecy when it is revealed, how it actually works in the setting of Ragnarök. For now what one should keep in mind, is that ragnarök as an thematic obstacle for becoming better could be viewed to work in the above manner. It has a macro level implication, but also personal ones related to the characters, which threaten to negate their growth and attempt to change. Kratos will return into tool and a monster of fate desiring revenge, and his son will be pulled into carnage with negative implications. In the following section I will focus the second thematic challenge, which comes in the form of Thor. 

The monster within - The challenge of Thor

The 2018 game presented the god of thunder´s sons, Magni and Modi, as mirror characters for Kratos and Atreus. They are reflections of a relationship and a future, where Magni and Modi were doomed to become like their father and inherit his worst traits. This is a path that Kratos wanted Atreus to avoid and he insists that his sons must become better than him. In Ragnarök Thor himself plays the role of a mirror character to Kratos, and is there to question his growth or if something like change is possible. Thor is depicted as a person who tries to be better a little bit. In the beginning of the game when Kratos and Atreus first meet him, he has seem to stopped drinking. However despite this Thor represents the idea of a monstrosity, that lingers on. When he and Kratos engage in battle the god of thunder mocks Kratos. What Thor thinks of Kratos´s journey and attempts to become better, are poignant in these pieces of dialogue:

 “I am not leaving till I see the real you.”

“You think you can come here, become a daddy, get an clean slate... That ain´t how it works. You are a destroyer, like me.”

As the battle goes on and becomes fiercer, Kratos´s tries to resist Thor but at the same time keep his own rage and violence in check. This crumbles as Thor mentions that Odin has plans for Atreus and Kratos punches him so hard, that Thor loses a tooth. However instead of bitterness Thor´s reaction to this is joy. He laughs and remarks that the he has found the god of war. Even though Kratos tries, the monster is still there and for Thor, this means that the Greek god is like him. The battle comes to a close and as he leaves, Thor´s challenge is clear: will Kratos ever be the nothing else than a destroyer, an almost instinctual god-killer despite his best efforts to change? No different than Thor?

The thematic challenges have been set and they come in the form of ragnarök´s war and prophecy, and mirror characters like Thor. In the next section I will outline how the characters wrestle with the these obstacles and how prophecy actually works in the setting of Ragnarök. It operates in a way that is very fitting with the idea trying to be better.   

Resisting the foretold and prophecy as the sum of our choices  

As the more secret parts of the prophecy of ragnarök surface, Atreus becomes more and more interested. He follows the pieces that are told to ensure their victory, and locating Tyr is the first step. Kratos´s at first follows along as Mimir advice´s him, that it is better to walk the path with his son when he is still able to do so. However this comes with the condition that if nothing is found, they will abandon their search. While Kratos goes along with his son, as a person who opposes fate he is skeptical about all of the grand visions. His mood becomes even more sour when the idea of champion is introduced. Kratos thinks that this only clouds Atreus judgement. Instead following prophecy, Kratos thinks one should ignore it. Like Atreus tells later on to Angrboda, his father´s advice towards these things is to close one´s heart to them. From the world.

Since all of this talk about prophecy is tied to the identity of Loki, Kratos tries to shut off this part about his son. In their big fight when Atreus and Kratos argue about Loki and fate, Kratos tells that Atreus is Atreus. He is Kratos´s son and nothing more. I think the reason why Kratos reacts so strongly is because he is worried about his son, but also because he opposes fate and all of these visions are tied to the haunting feeling, that he has about the mural in Jötunheim. Why did Faye want him to see his own death? So instead of following his son he wants to divert his attention from prophecy, from Loki. It will only lead to confusion and war. 

Atreus path with fate is a cruel one, because he at first searches for it earnestly. They offer a key to opposing Odin and to understand Loki´s part in all of this. It symbolize finding purpose, identity. However when Angrboda shows Atreus his own personal mural in Ironwood, Atreus shifts from trying to make the visions come true to desperately opposing them. His mural like the one in Jötunheim shows Kratos dying and Atreus serving Odin. What is Atreus method to opposing fate then? Interestingly his method has some similarities to Odin, namely gaining information. If you know more things and have more answers, then you can influence things and alter fate. Odin´s operating method is a more warped version of this. He hoards and steals knowledge about everything. By knowing the outcome and how things go, Odin can try to alter things and change events to his favor. He has had a life time to get ready for ragnarök.

This is supported by the tales Mimir tells in the 2018 game but also during Ragnarök, when in Asgard Odin shows Atreus the mask and the rift. The rift which they both can feel containing knowledge and the truth, is both a personal obsession for Odin but also a means to break free. As he tells to Atreus and later on to Kratos: 

Odin: (describing the rift) “All truth. All the answers. We could find out why we´re here. Learn to change our fates. Stop Ragnarök for good. Maybe save the people we love.”   

Odin: (describing Atreus and the work they are doing with the rift) “He is the key to peace in our age, to break free from all of this fate and prophecy.” 

All of this is tied to knowledge, knowing how things will turn out and being able to alter things trough that. To plan for them. Atreus goes to Asgard and to Odin to get answers and learn how to prevent his father´s death. Odin inspects the rift to gain information. This method appears in an interesting light after Kratos, Freya and Mimir decide to visit the Norns, the Fates of Norse mythology. Kratos wants to gain knowledge as well, not how to avoid ragnarök per se, but to find his son. As the trio venture into the the well of the Urd, at the end of the azure, watery depth lies the golden adobe of the Norns. Their piece of dialogue is so important for the whole narrative that I will directly quote most of it here: 

“You came to us, piteous archetypes, seeking freedom from you´r scripts. As if knowing you´r lines would grant you the power to rewrite them.” 

“There is no grand design. No script. Only the choices you make. That you´r choices are so predictable, merely make us seem prescient.” 

“He still slays gods but now he is sad about it?” 

“You are the sum of you´r choices. Nothing more. And because your choices never change.. you will learn that Heimdall intends to kill you´r son in Asgard, and you will do what you do best.” 

Here it is, directly from the mouths of the Fates. There is technically no cosmic script that binds the individuals to do their bidding. There are only people and there are the choices these people make. The sequel like the first game has an echo of existentialism. However the characters are described as “archetypes” which suggests a pattern, a repeating behavior. Indeed as the Norns tell to Mimir, Kratos, Freya and the audience, they tend to stick to certain choices which become so predictable, that it seems you could see their fate. If you know person A will with a 99% certainty always choose X, you can predict person A´s behavior. 

There are elements in this reveal that cast things in an interesting light. First, the 2018 game indeed shows the possibility of becoming better and as Freya says, Kratos did not kill Baldur out of hate. A form of metamorphosis has happened. However from the macro cosmic point of view of the Norns, Kratos nature or choices have not really changed. Kratos is a known to kill gods and he killed yet another god. He just felt sadness instead of rage. A woodcutter who cuts down wood even if he has tears in his eyes is still a “woodcutter”. 

Second, the idea of knowing you lines won´t bring you any freedom from you´r  so called script. The method of opposing fate by collecting information of how things turn out fits this quite well. What Odin is after is to know why they are here, what happens next and from this sea of knowledge, find a way to break free. At the eve of ragnarök Atreus also suggests the idea, that the mask with its answers might be away for the characters to avoid the twilight of the gods.

However according to the Norns, this will not bring salvation to the archetypes. The characters recall tales where people who knew their fate tried to alter it, but ended up making it a reality. Knowing what comes next seems to mess up people, and make then even more entangled into the spiderweb of prophecy.  

It is here where we see how characters react and try oppose a predetermined outcome. The Norns dangle the information that Heimdall intents to kill Atreus in front of Kratos, likely knowing how he will react. Kratos´s way is to eliminate a threat and in essence lean on his nature as a slayer of gods even harder than before. While before he trained Atreus to become ready and stayed out of ragnarök´s way, now he goes to the realm of the dwarfs to create a spear able to kill Heimdall. This risks starting a war and is very different to his previous approach, but consistent with his established behavior. 

As Mimir says Kratos flaw is to run head along into danger when people important to him are at risk, and this leads to killing gods, which leads to ragnarök, all the way to the patterns conclusion: the death of Kratos as shown in the mural.  

So the Norns and the challenge of prophecy indicates that when push comes to shove and people are at crossroads, as the archetypes they are, they will stick to certain same decision following their “nature”, which leads to a foretold/logical outcome. Kratos with the help of Brok creates the Draupnir spear that has the power to kill a god. It is an uplifting and emotional moment, but also an eerie one since Kratos is starting to resemble his older self. Spear is the first weapon Spartans learn after all. As said by Mimir, with this act Kratos is on the verge returning to form, and if the start of a war no longer concerns him, then maybe the Giants had the Ghost of Sparta in mind all along. How then do the characters move forward and solve this problem? 

Trying and failing to change our nature

The story section coming after the above described is interesting, because it at the same time shows the solution to the thematic obstacles, but also an failure to act upon it. Atreus visit to Asgard comes to an halt when he makes a mistake in Hellheim. He frees a giant wolf named Garm which is able to tear holes into space time, and move between realms. After this Atreus goes back to his father and with Kratos´s help, they travel to Helheim to deal with Garm. At first they try Atreus´s method and attempt to imprison the wolf. This fails however and they proceed with Kratos´s plan, which like in the past involves killing things. After a lot of work they are finally able to kill Garm. However as the father and son are about to leave Helheim the wolf resurrects itself and starts to pursue the duo. Kratos and Atreus engage in combat yet again, but every time as he is about to perish Garm returns. Kratos remarks that this ability is the wolf´s nature. 

Here the solution to the problem is not to kill the adversary, but to change its nature. Trough their team work Atreus plunges a knife into the back of the wolf and transfers Fenrir´s soul into Garm. Garm is transformed from ravaging beast into the friendly and lovable Fenrir. Here is the solution that the characters have to realize. While the Norns mockingly tell them that they will stick to the same predicable choices, like it was their nature, the characters can mold and recreate this nature, themselves, by picking different choices. You change fate by picking different choices and becoming better yourself, not simply focusing on gaining knowledge and manipulating external factors.

As Kratos and Atreus are leaving Helheim, they reflect how they have seemingly regressed. Kratos says that when Atreus has been gone he has fallen back to his old ways. Becoming angry and distrustful. As Atreus says to Kratos and this applies the other way around as well, Kratos does not have to be who he was because Atreus is not there. They make a promise to listen to the other´s voice in their head to guide them, when they are not around. With determination the father and son decide to forge their own destiny. When they return to Freya and the others, Kratos and Atreus decide that they won´t be going after Heimdall. They´ll find another way rewrite fate.

However after this triumphant moment things take a dire turn. Kratos, Atreus and Mimir venture into Vanaheim to oppose Odin, and they notice that they are marching on the footsteps on fate. They are doing similar things shown in the murals and Atreus is worried about what outcome it will create. They are helping the wolfs, Skoll and Hati, like the murals show because that is what they would do. It is “fate”, but they cannot really turn their backs towards their friends and allies, it goes against who they are. 

Things proceed into a point where they mount a rescue mission to free Freya´s brother Freyr. While Kratos made the conscious decision that he would not go after Heimdall, in a cruel twist it is Heimdall that he meets at the place holding Freyr. Kratos comes into conflict with the Herald of the Aesir and with his spear, gains the upper hand over Heimdall. Heimdall is injured but Kratos plans to let him live, while he himself walks away. However Heimdall sees Kratos mercy as pity and mounts a final desperate attempts against him. Finally Kratos beats Heimdall into a bloody mess and strangles him to death. 

With his last dying words, bifröst eye gazing upon him, Heimdall utters the word “Monster”. Even while trying to be better, trying to make a different choice, Kratos yet again has killed a god and earned the nickname of a monster. 

This whole sequence is interesting because while Heimdall is portrayed as a bully and a asshole, the catharsis from putting him out of his misery is intertwined with a sour feeling. Kratos overpowers him with extreme violence and the death is framed with a closed up shot, while Mimir desperately pleads Kratos to stop, saying that this is not who he wants to be. The scene ends with a lingering shot with Heimdall´s corpse that Mimir is looking, giving room for the characters and Kratos to let this death and its meaning sink in. 

This scene has a couple interesting elements. One, it shows that even if you desperately want to, becoming better is difficult. The second is that becoming better is tied into an interconnected web of different individuals and surroundings. What mattered was not only the decision made by Kratos, but Heimdall´s as well. Heimdall the proud fool that he was, who like Thor lives in venomous warrior culture, mistook Kratos mercy as pity. He perpetuated the battle when it could have been resolved without anyone dying. As the Norns said Baldur´s fate was the result of three people´s choices, and as the characters later discuss, many things affected his end. This idea of multitude things affecting our choices becomes important in the next section, as we return to Thor.

Choice, identity and existentialism

After the death of Heimdall the party gains Gjallahorn and they can start ragnarök when ever they want. However Atreus suggests that they try one more time with the mask, to find away to avoid ragnarök and rewrite their fate another way. Atreus returns to Asgard to continue his quest with Thor. With the help of Thurd, Thor´s daughter, they find the god in a local tavern. Drunk and clearly going trough a relapse, Thor and Atreus set off to Nifelheim to find the final mask piece. 

Atreus and Thor´s journey in Nifelheim (and Atreus´s whole trip to Asgard) is crucial as it touches upon identity and knowing who you are. The idea of identity is heavily tied to Atreus and could be considered its own theme, separate from the idea of becoming better. However I will argue that they are intertwined

For a major part of the game Atreus is unsure of what he wants or who he technically is. He goes back and forth between Atreus and Loki. Atreus says that Kratos wants him to fit into certain mold, but he is not sure if that is who he is. 

Different from Atreus, Thurd has a clear vision of what and who she wants to be, namely a Valkyrie. Interestingly while Thor is the major mirror character for Kratos, he ends up being that for Atreus as well. As they search the mask in Nifelheim, Atreus points out that they share similarities. They are half-god and half-giants, and have parental figure with impossibly high expectations. Here Atreus makes an crucial comment:

“Okay, I just want to add one more thing... If you can´t be yourself, you also might not feel like you can follow you´r own path. That dosen´t sound familiar to you at all?”

Identity, change and becoming better are themes that could be viewed as interconnected. The connecting between thread between these themes can be found in existentialism. Existentialism suggests that existence precedes essence and that trough existing, aka making choices, we create ourselves. Thus the idea of choice and identity become linked and the Norns statement of us being nothing more than our choices, gains an existentialist echo. However the thought system was criticized for not taking into consideration societal or macro level effects. Choices do not happen in a vacuum. This same idea can be applied to Ragnarök. 

The Norns statement seems to run true as an individual or archetype, as they call the characters, who kills gods becomes a god killer, even if this act had different intentions. Choices make you who you are, and what exists are only you´r choices. However what if like in the above comment made by Atreus, we cannot be ourselves and are unable to follow our path? What if outside forces, that either being macro level one´s or other individuals restrict or convince us otherwise? 

Thor´s relationship with his father Odin is portrayed as difficult. The Lord of the Hanged mocks his son and thinks of him as a drunken fool. In the opening hours of the game when Odin and Thor pay a visit to Kratos, Odin calls Thor dead son´s as useless. The idea here is that with his venomous upbringing, Odin has shaped Thor into a certain way, where he fits into a certain mold. As Odin says at the end of the game, Thor´s job is to not think but to kill who Odin orders him to kill. It is no wonder that a person who has gone trough that, identifies himself as destroyer and nothing more. 

Make no mistake though. This is does not absolve Thor from the horrible things that he has done. While Thor was shaped up by his horrible past he also likely made an active choice to slaughter the Giants. He says he revels in it. However the point still stands that you´r surrounding setting and the people around you can shape you. They can make it seem like only certain options are available, help creating a sense of self where you feel you can only choose option A, instead of A, B and C. If Odin has mocked, ridiculed and convinced Thor that he is nothing more than a wretched killer, then that will likely affect what kind of choices Thor picks or thinks are available to him. As Sif, Thor´s wife says she is not afraid of Thurd becoming a Valkyrie per se. She is afraid that she will become Odin´s Valkyrie, and that it is Odin who dictates what Thurd can do and what kind of Valkyrie she can be. While arguing with his father Atreus also says that at times he feels like that he has no choice. Kratos wants Atreus to forget about Loki. If Atreus feels that he cannot be himself, aka also Loki, then it likely feels that he cannot make his own choices, not follow his own path. 

Essentially the idea that there are individuals and that we are the sum of our choices stands. Hyper focusing on changing the external factors of prophecy also does not free the characters from it. However the Norns answer is a bit too limiting, as external factors affect the choices that are available to us. A great burden still lays on the characters to strive to be better even how difficult it is, and to see that there are options available. However to nurture that one likely needs other people and a setting, which helps realize this. Kratos, despite his failings tries to give Atreus a surrounding where he can choose and become better, while Odin shackles others. 

Becoming better and the assault to Asgard

Near the game´s finale in clever twist it is revealed, that the “Tyr” helping the party was actually Odin in disguise all along. He murders the dwarf smith Brok and tries to steal the mask, but fails. With this tragedy that has befallen the characters, ragnarök is sealed. The party makes the needed preparations and get ready for a war against Asgard. However there is sour taste especially in the mouth of Kratos. Now with Brok´s death, he is yet again on the path of vengance. As Kratos bitterly laments, what ever he tries to do, every path seems to lead back to revenge. For the retired god of war, is there no escape? Is this who he is always doomed to be? 

In the war´s opening hour as gates into all realms are opened with Gjallahorn, Kratos holds a speech. He addresses the troops and says that wars are won only by those, who are ready to sacrifice everything. It is with this framework in mind that they begin their assault to Asgard. The invading force moves along but Kratos and Atreus stop near the wall shielding Asgard. They see that along the wall people from Midgard have build their homes. As Atreus remembers from his previous visits to Asgard, Odin placed these people here and he realizes, that they are civilian meat shields supposed to slow them down. 

Atreus hears their suffering, innocent people in the middle of a battlefield. It is here, near the end of the game where one the most important choices and cross roads for the characters appears. Atreus with Kratos has the option to steel themselves and close their heart to the Midgardians suffering. They can press on and trample on the lives of the innocent to reach Odin. Here Atreus would become like his father and inherit the blood tainted mantle as the god of war´s son. A god who in order to get what his wants is ready to soak his hands into the blood of the innocent. However Kratos realizes his sons´s anguish and against his previous speech, chooses a totally different choice. He halts the attack and lets their allies know, that they won´t sacrifice the innocent. Kratos tells his son that Atreus hears and cares for the people´s suffering, because that is who he is. He must never sacrifice this part of himself. Today Kratos and Atreus have decided to be better. 

This decisions importance is crucial as this is not the first time, that Kratos has assaulted the stronghold of gods. In his attack on Olympus Kratos brought ruin to Greece and did not really care, what the aftereffects of his actions were. He was too consumed by revenge to care about the plight of mortals. Now Kratos and Atreus decide to take a much more difficult approach, as it would have been easier to simply push trough. Instead Kratos and Atreus decide that instead of seeking revenge, they might die for seeking justice, and play a riskier plan. 

Kratos and Atreus bold plan to breach the wall in its flaw works, and they reach the inner parts of Asgard. They have decided to truly become better, trusting to Thrud as Atreus views her as friend instead of an enemy. Kratos helps Atreus hold onto part of his identity that is important to him, not limiting how he should act. Kratos´s approach shows that he is not the same god who attacked Olympus. The final challenge to test the characters come in the form of Thor and Odin. Before they can reach Odin, Thor interrupts them and challenges Kratos in a final deadly duel. The two gods fight bitterly, while Kratos and Mimir try to make Thor realize that he does not need to act this way. 

Kratos finally defeats Thor and the audience waits, holding their breath, how the conflict will resolve. Will Kratos fail and kill Thor like he did with Heimdall, unable to change his ways? Will Thor insist on his mantra and self-image as nothing more than destroyer? Will both of them be nothing else but destroyers? In the end Krato`s reasoning, that they must be better for their children, for Thurd, goes trough to Thor. The god of thunder lays down his hammer, the symbol of his carnage and power. 

Thor asks if Kratos knows what he has done. Kratos knows but in return asks what Thor will do now. Here, at the culminating point of his daughter´s pleads, with Sif´s, with the time spend with Atreus, Thor is put in a setting, where he is given a choice be something else, than destroyer. And Thor takes this chance.

The scene ends as Odin arrives, emerging from a swarm of ravens. Thor clearly shows that he will not fight against Kratos, and concludes that Sif was right about Odin poisoning influence to their family. As Odin realizes that his son won´t follow his commands, he fatally wounds his son with his spear. On the verge of change Thor dies in the hands of his father, continuing the cycle of parents killing their children found in various mythologies. 

Here a question can be raised. Why did Thor die if he was about to become better? 

Thor was finally in a place of mind and setting where he could make a different choice, but it is denied from it. One could argue that this decision comes too late and Thor had a chance to choose differently earlier. Thurd and Sif were there to support him. Thor also says that he had realized Odin´s nature but did not want to see it, to oppose his father. Or maybe the eve of ragnarök was the true moment/surrounding where Thor could conceive himself as something else than destroyer, making a different choice. Either way what I think is most important is that the death of Thor shows what kind of person Odin is. Odin refuses to change and he does not let anyone else become better either. As soon as Thor started to act in away where he was not useful to Odin, he disposed of him. 

It is the embodiment of this wickedness, a stagnant cage that the characters wish to break, as Kratos, Atreus, Mimir and Freya challenge Odin in the final battle. During the battle there are two important moments. The second half and the battles conclusion. The characters are plunged into the depths of Odin´s library where the rift awaits. Odin throws down his spear and offers Atreus the opportunity to use the mask, to gaze into the rift. Here Atreus has a choice to make: will he use the mask or will he not? 

Atreus approaches the rift when Kratos emerges from smoke and fire. Kratos does not angrily approach his son and instead gives him the space and freedom to make this decision on his own. Gone are the fear and distrust from the beginning. Kratos takes a huge risk, but he trusts his son. This moment shows how strong the bond between Kratos and Atreus has grown, but also for the boy who felt that he had no choice of his own, his father gives it to him. And this ends up working, Atreus breaks the mask and it vanishing into the rift. Atreus makes the right decision. 

Odin rages as all of his life´s work becomes naught. Atreus seemingly has cast away the end goal of Groa´s prophecy, the reason what Odin believes he was born to do. The grand future of the champion of the Jötanar. In Odin´s mind Atreus chooses to be nothing, but this “nothing” enables Atreus to make his own choices, own road. 

The battle rages on and the All-Father finally falls against the team effort of Atreus, Kratos and Freya. Odin lashes out, saying that all this ruin is their fault and how he could have made things better. Atreus argues back saying that all these horrible things were the result of Odin´s own choices. In a final plea, where the position and the camera angle parallel the decision made by Kratos and Atreus after Baldurs´s death, Atreus asks Odin to become better. To change. However Odin refuses. He needs to know what happens next and he will never change. By deciding to keep onto his nature as hoarder of wisdom and a monster, not altering his choices, Odin represents the anti-thematic message of the game and brings forth his own downfall. The other characters have gone trough a painful metamorphosis to better themselves and they can steer and alter their fate. Odin is doomed into an eternal sleep as Atreus casts a spell on him, removing his soul. 

Kratos hands the container holding Odin´s soul to Freya, showing that this time he will not rob her from the choice relating to life and death. However Freya has learned to let go, this emotion does not control her anymore. However Sindri appears and takes the marble, crushing it and Odin´s soul with his hammer. For the god of knowledge who wanted to know what happens next, who refused to change, this is his end point: a cold oblivion. This conclusion is well crafted since it achieves both the thematic and emotional point. If Kratos and Atreus would have simply killed Odin, it would have gone against Kratos trying to change his ways. However simply trapping his soul could have been too easy of a punishment, so on a emotional level it works that Sindri kills him. Kratos, Atreus and Freya have dealt with their flaws and represent the thematic answer, but Sindri, who is consumed by grief and hatred is at the point, where Kratos and Freya start their journey. It makes sense that Sindri kills Odin. Kratos and the rest survive because they have become better and Odin dies, because he refuses to change.

Conclusion 

The characters have faced the challenges raised by the game and overcome them. Ragnarök did not see the return of the old god of war and his son following in his bloody footsteps. They made different choices enabling them to emerge from the war as better individuals. As the game tells, “fate” is constructed from the archetypes choices, and I´d like to think that they mean especially choices sprouting from their flaws. However if the characters can overcome their flaw they can also choose different choices, changing their nature and altering their fate. Remaking themselves. Fate cannot be altered by focusing on external factors and solely collecting information. You alter it by becoming better you´r self. However saying external elements have no effect is too limiting. Our surroundings and the people around us can mold and limit our choices. They can conceive a sense of self where we feel like only certain choices are available. A person who seems himself as a destroyer makes choices fitting to this role, which in turn strengths this identity. People must also have room and individuals around them, that enable a variety of choices and identities. In this web the burden of choice rests heavy on the characters. 

In the aftermath of Asgard´s fall the game comes to a conclusion. Angrboda shows Kratos and Atreus a final mural depicting a vision from the Giants. It shows that Faye actually destroyed the mural in Jötunheim. She went against her own people to protect Kratos and Atreus. To not let them know their fate, for them to forge their own path. In the concluding moments Atreus shares the task to his father that the son must do: finding the other Giants. This is Atreus´s task alone and he must do it by himself. 

Here Kratos is asked to let his son go. In an earlier dream sequence with Faye, Kratos expressed how after Faye dies the part of her in him rots away as well. However Faye argues against this. In Helheim Kratos said that when Atreus was not around, he went back to his old ways. This decision to let Atreus go on his own journey is the last big choice. Will Kratos let his son go so that he will chart his own path? And Kratos does since he and his son will keep their promise. Loki will go and while pointing at his heart, Kratos says that Atreus remains. This means that even apart they will still be connected to one other, but since Atreus´s name symbolizes humanity, I´d like to think that even if Atreus leaves Kratos will keep trying to be better and hold onto the humanity he has acclaimed. 

This will not go away.