Final Fantasy X: Analysis of Yunalesca's Speech

Just gonna post an analysis of my favorite dialogue in FFX: Yunalesca's speech. But uhm ... before I start:  If you are playing FFX and haven't heard the name "Yunalesca" yet, then you probably shouldn't be reading this essay because I'm basically gonna spoil the whole game.


I decided to dissect Lady Yunalesca's speech because when I first heard it I went kind of daaaaaaaaamn. But after losing quite a few times and having to go through that 5 minutes speech again and again and again and again and again, I actually got to absorb her words and I realized that her speech actually makes quite sense. A tad psychopathic maybe, but it still makes sense. It is beautifully phrased (kudos to the storyteller, scriptwriter and voice actor) but most of all it artistically conveys the paradox of human nature, which I find so, so fascinating.


I'm adding analysis and random thoughts as I go. If you want the analysis part of Yunalesca's speech only, scroll down until you reach the first picture.


Gatekeeper in priest's outfit: Journeyer of the long road, name yourself.
Yuna: I am the summoner Yuna. I have come from the island of Besaid.

When Tidus and his crew reached Zanarkand, the emotional momentum was already building up from the moment he walked into Zanarkand and "Someday the Dream will End" blasted out in the background. That song was literally the saddest shit I've ever heard because of the context: Tidus had finally reached back to his home, which is in absolute ruins, and Yuna was about to throw away her own life in her attempt to bring the Calm to Spira. On top of it all, Tidus and Yuna were doomed to meet an end to not only their travel but also their romantic relationship, which just makes everything 13 folds worse because ROMANCE IS TRAGIC OK. But most of all, it was because I was as much as part of the journey as everyone in the cast were. The idea of finally reaching the end of it almost made me bawl my eyes out. 

Plus not having to listen to that hippy battle theme every time I fought a monster was really relieving. I really liked how the game would smoothly transition into the battles without changing the background music. Listening to "The Dream Will End Someday" made me feel so empty and hopeless and it captured the atmosphere perfectly. It made me miserable as hell. Good job, Nobou. 

It's called "Someday the Dream will End."
If the title alone isn't depressing enough, I don't know what is.

As you Tidus proceeded to enter deeper and deeper into Zanarkand, more hidden secrets, or more accurately, memories, became unveiled. 


Wakka: Looks like the Farplane.
Auron: Close enough.


Zanarkand ruins is filled with pyreflies, the unique phenomena in Final Fantasy games that is dispersed from the body after death. The pyreflies either remain in their translucent, non-threatening state, or turn into the more dangerous forms of fiends and undeads, depending on the dead person's extent of acceptance of his/her death. The latter resulting in the tiresome endless fighting that extends the 20 hours game to full blown 80 hours+ gaming on your part. The pyreflies, although existing throughout the game, has never had such a big role until at Zanarkand, where its appearance gives the place an eerie and almost spiritual atmosphere. I mean, you're basically surrounded by souls of dead people. And not to mention, Auron died here. So this is his Farplane*. 

But the most important part of pyreflies is that they react to memories and recreate events from the past.
*it's also the farthest place on Spira's square plane map. So Far Plane hahaha  :D


Auron: This dome is filled with pyreflies. It's like one gigantic sphere. People's thoughts remain here. Forever.


Past summoners who have walked the exact same path, past guardians who have experienced the same fate: last moment dolorous but hopeful statements exchanged between summoner and his/her guardians, all resurfaced from the dark into sight and perfectly enhanced the expectations of what were to come.  

But most heart-breaking but fascinating of all: Auron's memories.

It's easy to forget that that Auron had already once gone through the exact same journey as Yuna is going through, although we do get reminded of that like once or twice. The reason being because he KEPT EVERYTHING TO HIMSELF THAT MOTHAFU...

Anyway, so we get to witness part of his memories, which is amazing. Considering that he's always been such a quiet and mysterious badass, actually getting into his head, like visually, is just fascinating. However, the fact remains that he knew what was going to happen all along but he never thought it was necessary to divulge it, which partly explains why he's so annoyingly calm all the time because, well, he's already experienced it. 


Auron: Yuna... We're here.
Yuna: The hall of the Final Summoning.
Auron: Go. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Speaking of getting into heads, let's get ahead with the analysis. 


(first of all, credits goes to Auronlu's Collection for the whole dialogue. You didn't think I'd be listening and jotting down the whole speech while playing the game, did you?)

Yuna:  Sir Auron! Everyone!

The first secret is unveiled! The original fayth of the Final Summoning is dead!

First of all, it's interesting to note that Yuna immediately calls out Auron before anyone else. I'd like to imagine in my head that she went "OMFG YOU KNEW ALL ALONG DIDN'T YOU WHY DIDNT YOU JUST TELL ME I ALMOST GOT HEART ATTACK YOU MOTHAFUC..." but I doubt that's what went down in her head.  The detail doesn't have much value except that it highlights the importance of Auron in the scene because it shows that Yuna relies on and prioritizes his knowledge. Up until that point he's not really had much to contribute except being cast as permanent member in the battlefield and grunting now and then.


Tidus: Yuna, wait! Auron, you knew this was going to happen, didn't you?
Auron: Yes.
Rikku: Why didn't you tell us!?
Auron: If I had told you the truth, would that really have stopped you from coming?


Asshole.
He got a point, but still ... asshole.

Yuna: This isn't a fayth. It's just an empty statue.

Dome Gatekeeper: (Appearing) That statue lost its power as a fayth long ago. It is Lord Zaon, the first fayth of the Final Summoning. What you see before you is all that remains of him. Lord Zaon is...his soul is gone.
Wakka: Gone!?
Rikku: You mean, there is no Final Aeon?


For those that don't know the details, during the war between Bevelle and Zanarkand a 1000 years ago, the Final Summoning was created by Lady Yunalesca, a summoner from Bevelle who sacrificed her husband Lord Zaon to be her fayth in order to summon a powerful aeon that would destroy Sin. Lord Zaon and Yunalesca were revaeled in a sphere at some point in the game. When Yuna went into the cloister to summon the Final Aeon, she discovered that the statue of the powerful aeon is just .. an empty statue. 

Anyway, the fact that the fayth is gone is obviously a significant plot twist of the game that keeps your mouth open, but it's also significant in another way, which I will come back to later. But do note one thing: the Final Summoning is used to defeat Sin, but it's technically dead from the beginning. 

Gatekeeper: But fear not. Lady Yunalesca will show you the path. The Final Aeon will be yours. The summoner and the Final Aeon will join powers. Go to her now. Inside, the lady awaits. (Makes symbol of Yevon and vanishes)

This is the part where it starts getting interesting. It is quite ironic that the Gatekeeper in Zanarkand makes the symbol of Yevon after referring Yuna to Lady Yunalesca because Yu Yevon is who summoned Sin in the first place, and Lady Yunalesca's Final Aeon is a means to destroy Sin. There's a darker secret hidden behind this, which Yunalesca will partly reveal later in her speech.

The fact that Zanarkand Ruins is a holy place is a giant joke in itself. Holy based on what? Oh right, religion. The religion in Spira purports the idea that machina is evil, but Zanarkand used to be a city buzzing with magic imbued machina. Now that it's become ruins, it's become a holy place? So destruction is the ultimate key to purity?* 

*hint hint  

In fact, the whole Yu Yevon religion in Spira is a giant irony that nobody seems to have realized. They are basically worshipping the guy who put everyone in this miserable situation in the first place. I think this mirrors religion in general. The idea behind religion is always positive—it is empowering, satisfying some kind of personal dilemma, answers the unknown, creates safety and order, etc.—but in the end, it always deludes everyone into losing the understanding behind its creation in the first place because it's such a vulnerable and abstract concept. We have the people of ignorance, those who follow dogmas blindly because they're told to do so *cough Wakka cough* without questioning the truth behind the system, those that take advantage of people of ignorance for sake of selfish power (Seymour and Bevelle), and then we have those who ends up completely destroying the purpose of religion in the first place and turns destructive force into faith. Yunalesca is a prime example of the latter.

While religion often becomes a political weapon and appears as an unreliable judgment, there's still truth behind religion. In fact, there's truth behind every religion—well, maybe except pokemon evolution shit. What religion accurately reveals is not the basis of life and existence of divine powers but the ultimate insight into unconcealed human psychology. Yunalesca's speech is a masterpiece that carries a lot of truth. 

Yuna: Lady Yunalesca. 


Again, the same with previous where she immediately calls Auron: a sign of respect. Kind of like "Your Holiness" because Lady Yunalesca is a sacred High Summoner, residing in a junk pile of a temple. Her interior design preferences aside, Lady Yunalesca jumps straight into her good host mode and warmly welcome the guests before throwing the ultimate bomb at them.

Yunalesca divulging to the cast the naked truth and body.

Yunalesca: Welcome to Zanarkand. I congratulate you, summoner. You have completed your pilgrimage. I will now bestow you with that which you seek. The Final Summoning...will be yours. Now, choose. 
Yuna: ... 
Yunalesca: You must choose the one whom I will change ... to become the fayth of the Final Summoning. [They gasp]

GASP. 

Yunalesca: There must be a bond, between chosen and summoner, for that is what the Final Summoning embodies: the bond between husband and wife, mother and child, or between friends. If that bond is strong enough, its light will conquer Sin. A thousand years ago, I chose my husband Zaon as my fayth. Our bond was true, and I obtained the Final Aeon. There is nothing to fear. You will soon be freed of worry and pain. For once you call forth the Final Aeon, your life will end. Death is the ultimate and final liberation. Your father, Braska, chose this path. [leaves]


I like how she just fucking leaves afterward.

This little speech segment should've already raised some heads in regards to the questionable nature of the Final Summoning practice. In my head, Lady Yunalesca's short speech sounded something like this  

"So... you want the final summoning?? It's really powerful and amazing, it's the ultimate test of true love. I really recommend it! Don't worry gurl I went through the same thaaaang. I know what you feel. You just need true bond and voila! Just like me! Like, I had my husband back then, and, we were soooo in love so yep we went through the ritual just like that and got the Final Aeon. It's just that simple! All you have to do is to ... sacrificeyourpartnerandthendieafterwards. But I mean, beside that there's really nothing to worry about! Really! Nothing! You'll soon be happy and relieved of pain. Death is wonderful. Yea! Oh and remember your daddy also chose this path also and so should you."  

Apologize if I ruined the scene for anyone, but she's wearing a pretty revealing thong and those unflattering fashionable headbands, so I can imagine her going all Valley Girl in her speech.  


Beside the fact that Yuna needs to choose a guardian to sacrifice alongside herself, everything she says is reasonable and unbiased except the last part: "You will soon be freed of worry and pain... Death is the ultimate and final liberation." This line should've raised some warning signs. But although I found it a bit odd that she'd refer to death as "liberation," she still has yet said anything too psychopathic. If you die, you do indeed get relieved of worry and pain. However, the ultimatum to attain peace was just too much and too sudden to digest.  

Still, I was too shocked by the fact that a guardian needs to die alongside Yuna to think deeper into it. As if sacrificing Yuna's love and future isn't enough; as if completely destroying Tidus emotionally in every way possible isn't enough; as in forcing Auron through a second painful journey, we now need to deprive someone else of his/her future as well?! All for what? The possibility of 10 years of Calm before Sin returns again and force another summoner to go on a heart-breaking journey?

The price is too much to pay. 

Flashback
Auron: Sin always comes back. It comes back after the Calm every time! The cycle will continue and your deaths will mean nothing! 
Braska: But there's always a chance it won't come back this time. It's worth trying. 
Jecht: I understand what you're saying, Auron. I'll find a way to break the cycle. 
Auron: You...have a plan? 
Braska: Jecht? 
Jecht: Trust me, I'll think of something. (Laughs) 

I think this is a significant part of the main characters that isn't highlighted as much in the game, which makes it much sadder. Yes, we know that Tidus has daddy issues and yes we know that Yuna has the pressure of living up to her father, but the fact remains that they've both been deprived of parents. They're both orphans since the very start. 

Some people argue that Tidus and Yuna are like light and day, and thus don't fit together as a couple, but I think they're missing out the obvious point that that is why they fit so perfectly. Among other things, Yuna's name means "moon" in Okinawan, to oppose Tidus, whose name means "sun". This is also represented in their respective Moon and Sun Sigils used to power their Celestial Weapons. Yuna and Tidus were meant to be opposites, but if you look behind those superficial aspects, they are very compatible. Their growing up were similar. In two different worlds and cultures, maybe, but they grew up by themselves, without parents, exposed to the head-light, with one purpose in life: to live up to their deceased fathers.   


The guardians had at that point pretty much made up their mind.

That's why Auron's sudden memory outbreak of Lord Braska's interaction at that exact point was significant. It helped fuel the idea of a paradigm break. 

Especially with the sacrifice of Yuna's and Tidus' fathers. Repeating what has already been done is useless and idiotic. The method is obviously not working, and as Tidus once exclaimed dumbfoundly in the beginning of the game to the Crusaders when they proudly presented their league's purpose:

"What,you've been fighting eight hundred years and you still haven't beat [Sin]?"

Auron: And the cycle went on. 

Can you hear the pain and regret dripping from this statement? He carried on this journey alongside his friends with hope and faith, only to have the illusion of salvation shattered by the reality of doom. Deaths lost in vain in attempt to achieve a dream that can't be actualized. 

But fear not, we got a secret weapon. Insert the annoying screeching voice: Tidus.


Tidus: We'll break it! 



While Auron represents the regret and knowledge of the past, Tidus represents the youthful innovation and hopeful dreams of the future. 

Wakka: But how? What, you got a plan now? 
Lulu: If one of us has to become a fayth...I volunteer. 

Wakka: Me too, Yuna! 
Tidus: Tidus: That still won't change anything, you know? You'd bring the Calm, and then what? That won't break the cycle! 
Wakka: Listen... You wanna defeat Sin and keep Yuna alive... You don't want Sin to come back, ya? That is just not gonna happen, brudda, you know? 
Lulu: If you want everything, you'll end up with nothing. 
Tidus: But I want everything! 
Wakka: Now you're being childish! 



And Wakka and Lulu represent the stubborn followers of religion. Unable to steer away from their set paradigms.

Tidus: I don't know, but I have to try. This is my story. It'll go the way I want it...or I'll end it here. 
Yuna: Wait. You say it's your story, but it's my story, too, you know? It would be so easy...to let my fate just carry me away...following this same path my whole life through. But I know...I can't. What I do, I do...with no regrets.

Her soft voice carries strong message in this part of the game. It is easy to follow the same path as what you think is expected of you. Your parents, your peers, your teachers, society .... but at the end of the day, you gotta do what you feel is right (of course, within reason). Nobody has the right to steer your life. Yuna represents the present, with the voices of the past (Auron) and the future (Tidus) on each of her side, she makes her own decision ... with no regrets.

 Religion is a means to an end. It is used to justify and as encouragement to something that your inner self wants. It can be manipulated or used to inspire. After all, religion doesn't exist, it is created.

I need some speech courses with Lady Yunalesca. Her ethos, pathos, logos game is too strong.



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Yunalesca: Have you chosen the one to become your fayth? Who will it be? 
Yuna: Might I ask something first? Will Sin come back even should I use the Final Summoning to defeat it? 
Yunalesca: Sin is eternal. Every aeon that defeats it becomes Sin in its place... And thus is Sin reborn. 
Tidus: So that's why Jecht became Sin. 
Yunalesca: Sin is an inevitable part of Spira's destiny. It is neverending. 
Wakka: Neverending? But...but...if we atone for our crimes, Sin will stop coming back, ya? Someday, it'll be gone, ya? 
Yunalesca: Will humanity ever attain such purity? 
Wakka: Uh... 
Lulu: This...this cannot be! The teachings state that we can exorcise Sin with complete atonement! It's been our only hope all these years! 
Yunalesca: Hope is...comforting. It allows us to accept fate, however tragic it might be. 
Tidus: No!





Auron: No! Where is the sense in all this? Braska believed in Yevon's teachings and died for them! Jecht believed in Braska and gave his life for him! 
Yunalesca: They chose to die...because they had hope.imahri protect Yuna. 
Rikku: Well, I'm fighting! 
Wakka: I can't believe we're gonna fight Lady Yunalesca! Gimme a break! 
Lulu: You can always run. 
Wakka: Hah! I'd never forgive myself--no way! Not if I ran away now. Even in death, ya! 
Lulu: My thoughts exactly. 
Tidus: Yuna! This is our story! Now let's see this thing through together. 
Yuna: (Nods and smiles) 

[They beat the stuffing out of Yunalesca]

Yunalesca: If I die, so does the Final Aeon. And with it, Spira's only hope. 
Tidus: Then we'll find Spira a new hope! 
Yunalesca: Fool. There is no other way. Even if there was... Even if you did destroy Sin... Yu Yevon the immortal would only create Sin anew. 
Tidus: Yu Yevon!? 
Yunalesca: Ah... Zaon... Forgive me... Spira has been robbed of the light of hope... All that remains is sorrow. (Dissolves) 
Yuna: I cannot believe what we just did. 
Tidus: Let's do something more unbelievable. 
Rikku: What? 
Tidus: Destroy Sin. So it won't come back, and without the Final Aeon. I don't know how just yet. But I'll find out.


Wakka: Neverending? But...but...if we atone for our crimes, Sin will stop coming back, ya? Someday, it'll be gone, ya? 
Yunalesca: Will humanity ever attain such purity? 

So Sin is by the purpose of its existence, a holy creature? 

Mind blown, yet?

Sin is a metaphorical representation of people's wrongdoings. Kind of like karma. Sin can never disappear according to Yunalesca because humans have innate greed and many vices. The interesting thing here is that "sins" are something that only humans have. We create the concept of sins out of our morals. Animals do not have the idea of what's right and wrong. The kill each other, eat each other and destroy. They also love, protect and sacrifice.
Animals live based on biological survival only while humans, due to their intelligence and emotional , create choices for themselves. These choices result in the creation of sins and vices.

Humans establish a complex order of behavior in order to organize a civilization where large amounts of people to live side by side without, well, killing each other off.
This order includes mental and emotional orders as well: you should love thy neighbor, you should not steal, you shall not kill .. Sounds familiar?



Lulu: This...this cannot be! The teachings state that we can exorcise Sin with complete atonement! It's been our only hope all these years!
Yunalesca: Hope is...comforting. It allows us to accept fate, however tragic it might be.

Tidus: No!

[Just as Tidus yells and charges, the ghost-image of young Auron reappears and does likewise, brandishing his sword]
Auron: No! Where is the sense in all this? Braska believed in Yevon’s teachings and died for them! Jecht believed in Braska and gave his life for him!
Yunalesca: They chose to die…because they had hope.
[Young Auron gives a horrible yell and leaps, and Yunalesca zaps him. He flies across the room and crumples, then fades away.]

Yunalesca: Yevon’s teachings and the Final Summoning give the people of Spira hope. Without hope, they would drown in their sorrow. Now, choose. Who will be your fayth? Who will be the one to renew Spira’s hope?
Yuna: No one. I would have gladly died. I live for the people of Spira, and would have gladly died for them. But no more! The Final Summoning…is a false tradition that should be thrown away.
Yunalesca: No. It is our only hope. Your father sacrificed himself to give that hope to the people. So they would forget sorrow.
Yuna: Wrong. My father… My father wanted…to make Spira’s sorrow go away. Not just cover it up with lies!
Yunalesca: Sorrow cannot be abolished. It is meaningless to try.
Yuna: My father… I loved him. So I… I will live with my sorrow, I will live my own life! I will defeat sorrow, in his place. I will stand my ground and be strong. I don’t know when it will be but someday, I will conquer it. And I will do it without…false hope.
Yunalesca: Poor creature. You would throw away hope. Well… I will free you before you can drown in your sorrow. It is better for you to die in hope than to live in despair. Let me be your liberator.

Auron: Now! This is it! Now is the time to choose! Die and be free of pain or live and fight your sorrow! Now is the time to shape your stories! Your fate is in your hands!
Kimahri: Yuna needs Kimahri. Kimahri protect Yuna.
Rikku: Well, I’m fighting!
Wakka: I can’t believe we’re gonna fight Lady Yunalesca! Gimme a break!
Lulu: You can always run.
Wakka: Hah! I’d never forgive myself–no way! Not if I ran away now. Even in death, ya!
Lulu: My thoughts exactly.
Tidus: Yuna! This is our story! Now let’s see this thing through together.
Yuna: (Nods and smiles) 
[They beat the stuffing out of Yunalesca]
Yunalesca: If I die, so does the Final Aeon. And with it, Spira’s only hope.
Tidus: Then we’ll find Spira a new hope!
Yunalesca: Fool. There is no other way. Even if there was… Even if you did destroy Sin… Yu Yevon the immortal would only create Sin anew.
Tidus: Yu Yevon!?
Yunalesca: Ah… Zaon… Forgive me… Spira has been robbed of the light of hope… All that remains is sorrow. (Dissolves) 

"Sorrow cannot be abolished. It is meaningless to try." That's true.


Just like how we keep on doing things that make is happy, there will be things that make us sad. The one cannot be without the other.

Usually, when people think of when the unique story of Tidus and Yuna actually starts, they say that for Tidus, it's the moment Tidus gets swallowed by Sin, and that for Yuna, it's the moment she departs from Besaid on her journey. I say nope. The moment Tidus' "our story" starts, is the moment Yuna.  

Why? 

It's a bit curtailed, but in my eyes, the whole game of Final Fantasy X starting from the moment Tidus got swallowed by Sin and entered "future Spira" was simply a build up to the point Tidus reached Zanarkand. Everything in between was just preparations and extraneous–although of course, if you didn't play the whole game, then the climax wouldn't make as much impact as it did. I often say FFX is art because it is paced and sectioned extremely well. Already before you played the game, the whole story had already been displayed to you. 


As Tidus gets up and leaves the crew, only after he first touches Yuna's shoulder and she sorrowfully accepts his departure, to stand on the hill, overlooking the ruins of Zanarkand, and somberly narrates:

"Listen to my story. This may be our last chance."

we have already been told everything there is to know. 

Tidus reach Zanarkand, and he will leave with it.