Misteln Schariac
disclaimer: I donât know her. This analysis is based purely on The Vibe
a lovely reblogger tagged on my âmusing on hoyo womenâ post that they would love to see a similar analysis done with Misteln Schariacâ
Well, I am sick in bed so I had loads of free timeâ and I couldnât possibly say no to the perfect excuse to learn! Before, I had absolutely no idea who Misteln wasâ I left HI3 before she was introducedâ so I did some research and?????
OMG?????
Sheâs so pretty????
She has this sort of childlike, ethereal quality to herâ in a way that isnât like, baby feeling but ancient; if that makes sense??? Idk she gives off this vibe of this tragic, eternal youth who has Seen Some Serious Shitâ that I immediately found very captivatingÂ
(she also reminded me â visually at leastâ of black swan aha)
So I knew I had to try! I am up to the challenge!
So right off the bat, her name.Â
âMistelnâ is the German noun for mistletoeâ I am crazy for plants so letâs dive in from there:
Mistletoe is SO rich with symbolism! In many cultures, mistletoe represents peace, love, and fertilityâthose are some solid, positive vibes. But itâs also seen as a plant with power, often associated with ancient rituals and the cycles of life and death. The idea of âlifeâ comes from how it grows on other trees, as itâs a parasitic plant that sustains itself by drawing life from others.
In mythology, mistletoe plays a role in Norse legendsâmost notably in the story of Baldurâs death, where itâs the one plant that can harm him, making it a symbol of vulnerability and even betrayal, but also renewal and resurrection because of how itâs often used in healing or rituals to bring peace.
(Its also kinda cool because the mistletoe that killed Baldur was saidâ at least in some versionsâ to have been fashioned into a spear.
Even if itâs just a coincidence, it still adds an extra layer to Misteln. The connection between mistletoe as a seemingly harmless thing turned deadly and her javelinâ basically a spear haâ as a weapon she wields despite her desire to protect is pretty damn compelling.
If we think about Baldurâs story, mistletoe wasnât dangerous on its ownâit was how it was used that made it deadly. That could parallel how her corrupting influence isnât inherently her fault, but it still causes harm. The javelin, like the mistletoe spear, can be seen as a symbol of both her power and the unintended consequences of her existenceâa weapon that, much like her, has the potential to protect or destroyâ which is absolutely beautiful astflglglsncbg
Even if this connection wasnât intentional in her design, itâs really cool to think about anyway)
Mistletoeâs symbolism seems really fitting, especially with the idea of life and death intertwined. It makes sense that her name would connect to both protection and destruction. Herâ for lack of a better word, im so sorry i still donât understand how stigmas workâ curse of creating corruption really reflects mistletoeâs dualityâon one hand, itâs a symbol of life and healing, but on the other, itâs a parasite. Her inability to exist fully in reality, causing harm despite her intentions, represents the tension between these opposing forcesâ her accidental harm to others despite her desire to protect and nurture mirrors the toxicity of the mistletoeâs parasitic nature perfectly.
The part about her protecting Alexandra and baby Bronya Zaychik???? Oh, my fucking heart đ. With mistletoeâs link to fertility and life, but her presence bringing death???? The name mistletoe is a genius way to present that delicate balanceâ and I can only imagine the horror she must have felt upon realizing she could be responsible for the death of a child who hasnât even been brought into the world yet.
there is a small tidbit I found that talks about how she helps Alexandra by placing dried cornflowers on her husbandâs grave.
Flowers! My kryptonite!! So naturally, I dug. I didnât expect to really find anything there butâ! I DID
In floriography, cornflowers symbolize deep, enduring love and are often seen as a symbol of remembrance for lost loved ones. Their vibrant blue color stands for faithfulness, and they are sometimes connected to feelings of longing or sorrow for someone who has passed. This makes them a poignant choice.Â
It was only a simple gesture of kindnessâ but sometimes the smallest gestures carry the deepest meaning, even if they seem boring and simple on the surface. The fact that she chose to place dried cornflowers on the grave speaks volumes about her emotional depth and the quiet, tender way she expressed care. Itâs a subtle act of remembrance, a gesture that wouldnât change the outcome, but one that holds immense emotional weight nonetheless.
It reflects perhaps a longing to be remembered or her struggle with the grief and loss sheâs caused. It could be a sign of her newfound devotion to the loving woman who cared for her, mirroring the steadfast love she wishes she could provide but is sometimes unable to fully fulfill.
Even though it was a one-off moment, the cornflowers effectively symbolize how Misteln wants to bring something other than devastation into the world. It shows that, despite her tragic nature, she has a deep capacity for empathy and love, which is something she might struggle to see in herself.
(This rings true as she initially believes herself to be unworthy of the name âSchariacâ, which means âholyâ. It speaks volumes aksckfxmfk)
(i know itâs a stretch tooâ a really big stretchâ but⌠but flowersâŚ)
â
[edit: removed the âHareâ segment because upon further consideration I decided I wasnât as interested in her name
the intended focus was solely on flowers and as such, I felt it ruined The Aesthetic
(the wording also felt clunky and I have been dwelling on it since I wrote it down.)
so to anyone who liked it
I am sorry. flowers must come first]
ââ
Ultimately while my understanding of Misteln is woefully limited, I had a lot of fun with this research! Hell, I might even reinstall the game just so I could experience her story for myself (and fact check too bc this is bound to be mischaracterised a bit haha)
To @herrscherofmagic, I do hope that this stayed true to Mistelnâs story and characterâ and provided the neat insight you were seeking! Tysm for the ideaâ and the excuse to harp on about flowers đ
