Another Homestuck Theorist
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You are Calliope and BYB is Caliborn. This is my headcanon.
Anonymous
But which one of us is Lord English?
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Concerning the Villains
Good evening. I hope you’re all enjoying the weekend. What beautiful weather we’re having up here. Tonight I think I’d like to talk about Lord English and Jack Noir, and what they represent in the comic.
I shall talk about their origins, first and foremost. These two characters both had rather innocuous beginnings; Jack as a bureaucrat who moonlighted as an assassin, Lord English as a temperamental bully. What’s interesting to note is how wildly different their original personas are compared to the godlike beings they would become.
Jack was a Desrsite obsessed with order and protocol. He hated his job, and he hated even more his rulers, but he did his duty and he did it well. His life was a routine. Murderous routine, yes, but a very rigid, very controlled. He even had a certain sense of honor—or, perhaps it is better to call it a thug’s code. Jack always kept a promise, and he always kept a grudge. This much, at least, has not changed with his ascension, but you can see where these traits originated from during his days as a paper-pusher.
Caliborn, on the other hand, is a mad, uncontrollable little imp. He thrived on chaos and disorder, both in how he treated others and how he lived. Remember the way he kept the room he shared with Calliope? Remember the disregard he showed for their personal possessions? How about when he would go out of his way to torment those whom he deemed less than himself, a conceit that Jack Noir would never entertain?
Jack was all business. Caliborn was all passion.
But my, how things changed.
Upon Jack’s ascent, he was finally free to live without consequence. All the hate that was always kept boiling just under the surface, all the rage he felt at literally everything that lived, could finally erupt in meaningless slaughter and thoughtless genocide. When he finally turned into Bec Noir, he became not just a threat to his session, but to existence itself. He had the power and the will to completely destroy reality. And he would never give it a second thought. He is Chaos incarnate.
Lord English is the exact opposite. We do not know now what brought about Caliborn’s ascent, nor do we know what his ultimate goal is. But we do know a few things that are key to Lord English’s role in Paradox Space—and this is where he differs from Jack. Lord English has a role while Jack antagonizes everything that is.
We know that Lord English’s progression through Paradox Space is “sanctioned.” We know that he is a cunning manipulator who never does things without purpose. We know that his plans are as orderly as they are complex. Everything is perfectly timed. Everything falls into place. Murderous psychopath he still is, yes, but he has come quite far from his role as a pesky cyber-bully who couldn’t draw.
He is Order. He is Time. He is Inevitability.
But Jack Noir is no longer bound by Order and Time. He is free from Inevitability. He may be caught in the same temporal web as our heroes, he may be as much a victim of the dominoes that have been so delicately placed, but Jack Noir doesn’t fucking care.
His Chaotic nature is why he’s so dangerous and why he may, at long last, be a threat to Lord English. His purpose as a game construct is to work against Inevitability, to go against the order of Paradox Space, no matter what. Every player who plays Sburb must, at some point, depose of Jack Noir or risk their session being ruined. But our Jack Noir wasn’t deposed, he was given omnipotence.
Lord English is certainly more powerful than Jack, but he is also bound by the very thing that makes him powerful. He could not break free if he tried. How can he, when he is already here? His actions are already laid out before him, his plans are already in motion. He has no choice but to see them through. His very nature is forcing his hand.
Now, a lot of people wonder which of the kids will have the “final showdown” with Lord English. Will it be Jake? Dave? Will it be Calliope?
I’m not sure. I find it hard to believe that the showdown will belong to any one hero. But I can say this beyond any shadow of a doubt:
Jack’s freedom from Inevitability will help bring about Lord English’s downfall. Not only is it what he was made for, but his thug’s code won’t allow for anything less. After all, one iteration of Jack already claimed dibs on Lord English’s life. It’s only a matter of time before that promise is kept, one way or another.
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*dons reading daggers*: homestucktheorist: I feel that it should be said that I have nothing... I feel that it should be said that I have nothing but respect for bladekindEyewear. He’s a brilliant young (old? ancient? timeless?) man and I love his writing. I think it’s weird that people are saying that I don’t like him? Or his theories? I get the sense that some…
Yes I did read your reply. It was very well written and you raised many good points, far too many for me to enumerate here. However I’m afraid that we will simply have to agree to disagree or perhaps duel to the death. Whichever you find more convenient.
I also have an ask box so now you may send me whatever links you like. And this “you” is a general “you” directed at any “you” who may be reading this. I love talking to people and answering questions and I eagerly anticipate petty arguments with mysterious anonymi.
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You never really reach much conclusions... Anonymous
My goal is not to draw conclusions myself, but to discuss matters I find interesting. In so doing, I hope that whoever reads my blog finds their own inspiration. My intent is to incite curiosity, not to inform others of my opinion.
The thing is, I am not the author of Homestuck. I am merely a fan. Not only that, but Homestuck itself is an incomplete product. I don’t think it’d be appropriate for me to come to a concrete conclusion about anything when there is so little we really know.
Think of this blog as a celebration of the comic and all the brilliant storytelling found therein. I invite you to join me in my celebration, if you so desire; to talk about Andrew Hussie’s techniques, characters, and world; and I hope that you take at least something out of it.
I love you all.
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I feel that it should be said that I have nothing but respect for bladekindEyewear. He’s a brilliant young (old? ancient? timeless?) man and I love his writing. I think it’s weird that people are saying that I don’t like him? Or his theories? I get the sense that some are looking at my first post as a challenge of sorts. I just wanted to offer an alternate take on a theory that is currently very popular in the community. I’d be remiss if I didn’t share my thoughts, as I am a shameless egoist.
Homestuck is a wonderful story and it nearly drives me to tears to see it inspire such curiosity and brilliance in its readers. Whatever “theory” you support, whatever ideas you find more agreeable, there is one thing that is certain: we are all celebrating a work of modern art and I am grateful to be a part of such a magnificent fanbase.
That said bladekindEyewear you are wrong as shit and I will kill you if you say another word against me YOUF UCKING PIFEC OF SHIT
No just kidding. I love you dearly.
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Concerning Cherubs
Good evening. I hope you’re all doing well on this sleepy Friday. Tonight I’d like to discuss Cherubs a bit, as related to the latest update, [S] ACT 6 ACT 5 ACT 2. This isn’t any kind of speculation, I just want to gush.
Just what are Cherubs? Strange skeletal creatures living in centuries of isolation; hulking beasts that know nothing of love; mystical beings that eat nothing but candy, sparkle dust, and raw meat; whose children are schizophrenic; whose adults wage wars rather than copulate; whose entire lives are dictated by rigid and mysterious rules that must be followed to the letter.
Before I begin, I’d like to just take a brief moment to admire Andrew Hussie’s world building talents. Trolls are, let’s face it, a phenomenon. What other fictional race has captured the young hearts and minds of fans so quickly and with such a visible impact on internet culture? Everything from their appearances, to their romantic philosophy, social castes, and even their manner of speaking turns wild the imagination of anyone young and young-of-heart.
But I personally feel that the mysterious Cherubs eclipse Trolls. Never before have I found myself thinking about such an absurd yet threatening race. As wonderful as Trolls are, they’re basically just temperamental humans with more complex social traditions. Cherubs are… just so very, very much more.
What makes Cherubs so fascinating in my opinion is how starkly alien they are. Both mystical and horrific, tragic and jolly. A young Cherub is forced to live a life of isolation and bifurcation. They live by rules they don’t understand, without culture and care. They fixate on mysterious objects not only ancient, but powerful, whose paths through the history of their universe are as circuitous as they are vital to the state of existence. To mature, to come of age, they must reconcile two distinct personalities that have warred inside themselves for their entire lives and find a peaceful middle ground, after which they are free. They give me the sense of lonely titans wandering the universe in search of… what, exactly? What does a Cherub live for? But there is so much we don’t know. Calliope/Caliborn is the only Cherub we know, and they are hardly typical. All we know is that what Caliborn did is a prime example of what not to do.
This latest update has piqued my curiosity the most. Where was this place Jane had transported herself to? Was this just some plane of existence in which Cherubs hung out? Was it some kind of Cherub home world? Was it just a gag, Mr. Hussie?
There appeared to be Cherubs in this realm—some with green cheeks and white wings, others with red cheeks and black wings—being transformed into Lil’ Cal-like beings by Jane’s SUCKER. One wonders if Lil’ Cal is in fact a representation of a Cherub’s “trickster mode.”
But this got me thinking. What if all Cherubs had JuJus like the SUCKER? What if the reconciliation of a Cherub’s two halves was rewarded with this tool of unlimited power? What if the “Trickster Cherub” is in fact the final evolution of these mysterious and capricious aliens?
What a transformation. Cherubs spend their adolescence as schizophrenic skeleton monsters who know nothing of love, but when they are finally able to put that inner-conflict behind them, when they finally find peace within themselves, they use their JuJu to transform themselves into beings of infinite joy and color. It’s an inspiring thought, and I eagerly anticipate elucidation.
No wonder Caliborn stunting his reconciliation with Calliope was such a monumental tragedy. It kept him a monster forever.
And the most important question of all: Why doesn’t Lord English have wings?
WELL HUSSIE? WHY DOESN’T HE?????
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Good evening. I’ve heard a lot about Aspect Inversion lately, in both the Tumblr and Reddit Homestuck communities. It seems a lot of people are super gung ho to the max about this theory and its implications for our non-God-tiered players, but I feel that a lot has been taken out of context and built upon nothing more than (innocently) mistaken supposition.
For those who don’t know, the theory of Aspect Inversion is one in which a character switches their mythological role through various circumstances. It was hinted at in the comic itself here:
UU: it is certainly possible that we may have common groUnd with oUr ancestors when it comes to oUr aspects, and the way oUr abilities reveal themselves to Us. i coUld not rUle this oUt.
UU: bUt there is always more to examine.
UU: for instance, a hero of life and a hero of doom have aspects as different as can be.
UU: bUt if their classes are different enoUgh as well, that is, one active and the other passive, remarkably there is a chance they coUld end Up with very similar abilities!
UU: player abilities may also manifest in ways in defiance with their aspects if they are heavily resistant to their trUe calling. or, if corrUpted in some way by an oUtside inflUence.Kind of vague, isn’t it? But so very, very tantalizing. The implications are quite profound, and many of them are explored thoroughly in bladeKindEyewear’s own theory blog. You can’t navigate his site for less than a few moments before stumbling upon an extensive and thought-provoking analysis of Aspects, Aspect Inversion, and their potential role in the story.
Indeed, it is from bladekindEyewear that I find the inspiration to write this article myself. See reblog. You see, while he is a talented and passionate theorist, I don’t think he’s necessarily going down the right track.
The lynchpin of the “Bladekind Aspect Theory” is the line from the aforepasted dialogue wherein Calliope implies that a player’s powers can manifest in defiance of their aspects if they are heavily resistant to their true calling, or if corrupted by an outside influence. The prime example used by Bladekind is the supposed inversion of Rose when she went “grimdark.”
According to Bladekind, because Rose was both heavily resistant to her true calling and influenced by the Horror Terrors, she inverted her class from a Light player to a Void player. This is backed up with the fact that any who attempted to spy on her via Trollian found her blacked out, similar to any who try to spy on Roxy.
With this example taking the lead, it’s logical to assume that each Aspect has an opposite pole, and that perhaps even their Classes have opposites of their own. This is further backed up by another tidbit leaked by Calliope when she discussed Active and Passive classes.
But is this really what happened? Is it truly so simple? Does it take such little effort for a character turn from a Seer of Light to a Mage of Void?
I think that this is a very linear way of thinking for too nuanced a concept. One has to understand that these Classes and Aspects are a matter of fate. They are not just the determining factor of one’s abilities in Sburb, they are the definition of that player’s role in the perpetuation of existence; chosen before their reality came into being by the temporally cyclical providence of Paradox Space; etched not just in stone, but in the very fabric of their Universe. This is not something that is idly switched back and forth depending on how a character feels emotionally.
Consider Rose, who is the only character to have “inverted” in the entire comic. As a Seer of Light, her powers are thus:
ARADIA: as a knower of all fortune she can see the circuitous path that will lead to the most favorable outcome for everyone
Rose Lalonde is, was, and always will be, a Seer of Light—this is her role, her destiny, and there is no changing what is already woven into the fabric of Paradox Space.
When she went grimdark, her powers were clearly manifested in defiance of her Role—take note my labor to avoid saying “inverted”—due to the influence of the Horror Terrors. She did not become a Mage of Void when entering into contract with the Horror Terrors. She was still a Seer of Light. But her powers were twisted and mutated by the dark pact to which she agreed and instead of seeing all fortune, she became blinded to it, and in so doing blinded others to the same. This also led to the near downfall of their entire party. After all, she, John, and Dave all died around this time. This is less an inversion and instead a total shut down of a fundamental aspect of her being.
That’s aspect with a lowercase a.
This is all just as Calliope said. A player’s powers can often manifest in ways that are similar to another Class and Aspect. Rose was a Seer who, if you’ll pardon the hyperbole, closed her eyes. The Light went out. This can easily be interpreted as a power of Void, but it wasn’t. Not really. A dim light is still light, indeed. Nothing about Rose’s destiny changed.
As for the black tentacle spooky bullshit that was coming out of her wands? That is easily attributed the inherited powers of the Horror Terrors, which are as mysterious as they are magical. This has nothing to do with her Aspect or Class. This was just regular ol’ magic, which is clearly real and always has been.
I will stress this again. The only part of Rose’s “inversion” that was related to her Aspect was the inability for others to see her, similar to a Void player. And yet still it was the power of Light, however corrupted, that manifested during this change.
Besides, “going grimdark” is not a common event. It is not a game mechanic in Sburb. Rose’s case was special. In fact, any case in which a player may find themselves resisting their role could be considered a special case. That’s the beauty of the mythology of Homestuck. Each adventure is unique despite sharing a common template, and the ascent to one’s realizing their full potential is rife with struggles and doubt. It would ruin the importance of their personal destiny if they switched sides every time things turned bleak.
Aspect Inversion is a cool idea, don’t get me wrong. It’s certainly fun to think about and it’s cool to think of what would happen to our heroes if they ended up turning into badguys. But it simply does not jive. On technical level, it is grossly misinterpreted from the source material and is in no way supported by anything shown in the comic thus far.
On a philosophical level, it defies everything we have learned about our heroes as individuals. “Classes” and “Aspects” are too integral to who they are and who they are meant to be. The strength of a player may waver, and their faith may wan, but who they are as a person will never change.
It’s actually a pretty heart warming message. Let’s all contemplate it.
(via bladekindeyewear)
