The best parables of God of War Ragnarok explained

As a game primarily focused on delivering a heart-rending and poignant narrative, God of War Ragnarok is replete with meaningful dialogues and character descriptions. It presents tragic characters, divine conflicts, and a multitude of reimagined Norse and Greek myths and fables, many of which are narrated by the game's protagonists in the form of parables.

Some of these parables receive dedicated time in cutscenes, while others are merely brief anecdotes shared during gameplay. Nevertheless, they all carry wisdom and relevance to the themes and plot of God of War Ragnarok. These simple, uncomplicated stories serve to impart lessons to both the game's protagonist and the player. Although there are numerous profound and engaging narratives to choose from, some are more emotionally stirring than others.

Mimir's Witch Story Highlights the Dangers of Prophecies

God of War Ragnarok revolves entirely around the rejection of the past and the defiance of the power of fate, thus featuring several stories that focus on prophecies and their problematic nature. One such story is narrated by Mimir when Atreus inquires about the details of the Ragnarök prophecy. Mimir recounts a tale of a coven of witches from his homeland who aimed to destabilize the government. These witches crafted a prophecy about an influential Thane and spun tales of his rise to the highest offices. They strategically incorporated certain key details that they knew would come true, in order to make the prophecy more credible.

What unfolds is one of many violent tales in God of War Ragnarok, as the Thane succumbs to the allure of this tempting prophecy, committing regicide and betraying his kin, resulting in numerous casualties. Ultimately, the witches exploit the prophecy to convince the man that he is completely invulnerable, leading to his demise in battle.

This story highlights that prophecies are not as straightforward as those in power claim them to be. In the case of the witches, they did possess some foresight, and many of their predictions came true. However, they twisted and manipulated the narrative to serve their own objectives. This parable also emphasizes how figures of authority can deceive those whom they deem inferior, thus continuing the tradition of God of War Ragnarok in subverting expectations regarding gods.

Brok's Lesson About Form and Nature is a Microcosm of the God of War Story

This example may lean toward being more of a metaphor than a parable, yet it remains a significant and profound narrative element. As Kratos and Brok ascend Svartalfheim to obtain the Draupnir Spear, Brok imparts a brief lesson on the magic of the dwarves. He explains that "dwarven magic focuses on the intangible" and describes it as an interplay between the physical and the metaphysical. To put it simply and elegantly, he states, "The essence of a thing is more important than the form of a thing."

This message is further explored throughout the course of the game, both directly and indirectly, as it is closely tied to the themes of God of War Ragnarok. Specifically, it relates to the notion that a person's soul or intentions are more important than the roles imposed upon them or how they are perceived by society. In the case of Kratos, he is viewed by Odin and other gods as a wild, bloodthirsty killing machine, yet he chooses to reject these notions and becomes a man shaped by love and compassion. He relinquishes the form imposed upon him by his upbringing and surroundings, striving for a more peaceful nature by reinterpreting himself as a benevolent god of war.

The small stories told in God of War Ragnarok are more than mere filler material. They serve the purpose of drawing specific attention to the themes and messages of the game and imparting important lessons. It remains uncertain how the supporting characters will appear in the next installment of God of War, but hopefully, they will also offer some wise counsel.

God of War Ragnarok is now available for PS4 and PS5.