The Biblical Themes in Mass Effect; an Article Series

I have two points about Biblical themes in ME.

1)Its there. I've kept running into people who would even steadfastly deny it, and I can't help but to think they're deluded about that. Whatever their motivation to think or say that, they're wrong.

2)Its not that huge a deal. It's used, but more often for ahem Rule of Cool. Its a source, but Bioware goes whatever more humanistic route they want. It's respected to an extent, but Bioware seems quite comfortable to use even a more 'Antichrist' character or similar to be a hero or something. I think Bioware intends symbolism, but it is often employed in vague and really just 'fun' ways.
When you go down the stairs to first visit TIM as Shepard (Minuteman Station), the wall goes '6, 6, 6' I believe. Obviously TIM isn't going to be a perfect Satan, but this among other evidence leads me to think this 666 may also be intentional reflection of what Bioware is going with aspects of the character. But only *aspects*.


I think you're basically right about Garrus... 'Archangel'. If Shepard is the Lord/God/Jesus/top-end-cult-leader-hero, Garrus is meant to be the barely-optional general that wrestles with that role. He latches to Shepard nearly automatically because he craves that guidance. He tries to lead, himself, but with problematic results because he'll never be as good as Shepard. ME3 steps him back but also more squarely puts him in the 'general' role he may have been destined to have.


We may be supposed to think about whether its a good thing that Shepard provides moral code to Garrus. We basically have to - we're Shepard and this is the story the writers want - but is it right? Or maybe if we didn't, Garrus may have turned out like some guard in Purgatory? Maybe he needed some sort of guide so he wouldn't 'fall'? Maybe the more influence Shepard exerts over the plot of the trilogy, the better Garrus indeed becomes? Maybe it's okay to temporarily override one else's will if it improves them in their situations and outlook, to the point of having a better will at the end of it? Teacher-student relationship indeed.

The games mostly have a central skeleton of a narrative and the stuff with Garrus is always that he's lost, you uplift him even without really meaning to, he follows you, models himself to try to be better and makes his mistakes, but ultimately is a steadfast ally under you that is happy (very happy, in his battle dialogue) to smite your opposition. They didn't pick 'Archangel' there for no reason, nor the usually otherwise soft blues as his color as the trilogy progressed.


And few speak about how he influences Shepard and the player in turn. On one hand, he (more softly than a Grunt, etc) encourages us to embrace the fight, to understand that we gotta get the controller and shoot the enemy, and not just because we want to satisfy some bloodlust (alone). He's an active agent, and that will rub off. He may as well have a large sword in his hand, ready to win a war in heaven. On the other hand, he always at least attempts to justify his kills, and his bending or breaking of other moral code. It's always for a greater good, whether on the personal, or local, or galactic level. He's always taking his direct action because others either will not (ME1) or cannot (ME2) or because they're already gone (ME3). He's doing it for them. Or at least that's what he's telling himself. Even if that might be percieved as a lie by the player (and I personally think we're allowed to see it that way), its the lie that keeps him in some sort of check. It's the lie that allows him to look to Shepard as a model, and Shepard is written to ultimately be someone who tries to save everyone. Garrus is the Archangel that will not break and fall to despair, jealousy, and rebellion. But he will feel all these things, and act on them. Ironically Shepard is revered not because he has a grand plan, but because he doesn't - and so the others lacking grand plans feel sympathetic with him because of his one big goal, to stop the Reapers. If it's important to Shepard, it's important to them, to Garrus. Implicit and total trust.


That all being said, I think little to none of this was intended in ME1 production. I certainly think Biblical symbolism was done since the start, but for many things it wasn't an active decision until later in the series, and Archangel/Garrus is one of those cases.

Part 3 is now out, focusing on Legion as a messianic figure and a discussion of messianic stories and traits in Abrahamic religion and history.

One more week to go, expect the article about Shepard on N7 day...

Technically, with so many links.

I agree.