The way Henry and Hans confront their phobias in KCD2 is so very interesting.
At the beginning of the game, Hans asks Henry to join him in the water, and even though Henry could refuse technically (he and Hans are good enough friends, even at the beginning of KCD2) he doesn’t. Because he needs to get clean as well, because of duty to stick to his lord like a fly on shit, because he doesn’t run from a fight, etc. So even though he could be in danger if the water gets too deep, he follows without complains. Then when the attack at the pond hits, Henry knows that, obviously, if they don’t swim across, they’ll die. So he sucks it up and clumsily swims away in a panic, focusing on pure survival, using all the tension and energy of his fear and anxiety to come up with a semblance of swimming, even when an arrow hits him mid way. And after all this - Henry is even MORE determined to not go in the water. Even away from a road, in a peaceful place. Nope. His shoulder still hurts from the last time.
Then we have Maleshov. Henry came to save Hans like an angel and prepared their way out like a military strategist. All they have to do is sneak in a tunnel after him and escape. Easy peasy. But no. Hans can’t, because he’s never been good with staying inside for too long - hence why he’s always spending his time outside in Rattay - and he just spent weeks stuck inside with a french self sucker and his anxiety filled thoughts. If he goes into something just an inch smaller, he might actually loose his mind. He’s not taking that risk - for him or for Henry. Not a chance. If Henry tries to gently persuade him, saying he won’t leave his side, Hans appreciates it but doesn’t change his mind. If Henry makes him feel guilty for sabotaging their escape, Hans blows up at him that he’s the nobleman and therefore, Henry must obey HIM. No matter what you choose, Hans will NOT go into the passageway. Unless you knock him out first. Which… in my opinion, makes it a little underwhelming that his fear just disappears during the Italian court escape. Which - is possible ! Phobias CAN be vanquished or disappear magically. It’s rare but possible. But more so often, especially when it’s been there for years and avoided (that’s the key word), it disappearing suddenly when Hans is forced to confront it is… Well. Almost a miracle, as he puts it. Let me explain.
The principle of phobias is that it’s a fear that’s greatly exaggerated, and people avoid the subject of this fear at all cost. So much that their lives can revolve around it (ex : going to work on a bike instead of a bus if you have a specific phobia of closed spaces, even if the road is super dangerous for bikers for instance). And this avoidance only strengthens the phobia. That’s why in therapy, you need to slowly but surely confront this situation - in imagination then in vivo, usually. Because then you realize that… even in this situation, nothing wrong came of it. You’re deadly afraid of spiders ? Well look, there’s one in the corner of the room. It doesn’t move… and no harms come to you. Even ten minutes later. See ? You’re not in any danger. The point is to see that the fear you have is very exaggerated in your mind. Even if you feel in danger, objectively, you are not.
Now, let’s look at Henry’s phobia again. First time he became terrified of water, he almost drowned, fell off a boat and couldn’t swim. He was technically in danger - even though Martin was probably with him and most likely COULD swim (I doubt he’d be daft enough to bring his son near water if he couldn’t). That experience traumatized Henry and he refused to even learn to swim, to get close to deep water again. Then the next time in his life he’s in it, he’s swimming for his life and his lord’s, getting shot by an arrow and barely making it out alive. So his second experience with deep water was OBVIOUSLY very dangerous. That’s two in a row. That proves deep water = danger. Unless someone some day decides to help him confront this phobia, even going with him in the water as a counterphobic element, Henry will remain on his (objectively understandable, although incorrect) idea that deep water = danger.
And now back to Hans again. I assume part of his phobia of closed space is related to his anxiety and self loathing about his duties as a nobleman. He’s very cultivated (hell he speaks at least 4 languages) but he’d rather have fun in his young life than stay inside to study and listen to lectures or hearings. And that’s not to please his uncle, who keeps telling him how useless he is, a blockhead, an idiot for behaving the way he does. He’s not the future lord Hanush would want him to be, and he knows it. That’s why I believe being inside is associated with… well, someone he isn’t in everyone’s eyes. So he does what they see, and stays outside, boozing, whoring, hunting.
Hans then spends weeks forced to remain in a closed space, as a hostage. He does get to go riding a bit - but what’s the point when you know you’ll be locked back inside in an hour or so ? When you can’t even control being stuck inside ? He’s already well on edge when Henry arrives and proposes to go in a tunnel. And here, contrary to Henry, Hans has the power to say no. Not only are they not in immediate danger (like at the pond). But Hans is also a noble - and if he says no, then it’s a no. You can do whatever you want when you’ve got blue blood. And Hans knows it’s selfish, but after being stuck in his phobia, anxiety and self loathing for weeks already, he can’t go a step further inside, or he’ll go mad. He needs to be outside, NOW. He can control it, he can now choose to be out, so he’s getting out.
And then at the Italian court… what bothers me is that it was NOT a safe experience. Sure, Hans got in the tunnel fast (didn’t have time to think and was following the group) and was unharmed when he was in, which could be a good experience to conquer a phobia. But it wasn’t safe per say. There was a terrible explosion - that reminded him of ANOTHER time he was stuck and helpless in his fear in Nebakov. Not to mention, they all almost died. Especially Zizka, the Devil and Henry, who were left behind. I honestly don’t think Hans registered this - he was way too focused on the fact that he was in a passageway himself, which is comprehensible. Because I doubt he would have been so calm if he even thought about the fact that Henry might be dead out there. It would have reminded him that yes, indeed, closed space = danger, for him, others and for Henry. Except that’s not what happened. He got in the passageway, there was a horrible sound… and he came out unharmed. He’s alive, he’s fine. And he’s in a passageway. So… it means he can be inside without dying or hurting. And that’s it ! That’s what he needed to come to terms with. As I said, this can happen (needs to happen) to conquer a phobia but it usually takes a while to even get used to the idea. It’s rarely magically gone like Hans’s case. Still, good for him.
Conclusion : we’ve witnessed a resolution for Hans’ phobia and KCD won’t be complete until we see one for Henry’s. Oh and until he and Erik have a final duel and Hans gets married of course.
