Quote Originally Posted by Alleo View Post
But if you see it like that, people will never be punished for their wrongdoings
Eh... I never said anything about not punishing Yotsuyu.

What I am saying is that I don't see why she doesn't deserve redemption.

Criminals are sentenced to jail, not just to punish them, but also to reform them. The two objectives go hand in hand.

But first, there must be mercy. If Yotsuyu's punishment is tyrannically harsh, then it'll only serve to harden her already warped view of society's inherent cruelty.

And it'll also prove the Ascians right: That the way to provoke chaos is to stir ever more fear and hatred, because mortals, in their view, will never be able to rise above their emotions.

At a time when everyone would demand Yotsuyu's head, for all the cruelty she has inflicted, the greatest symbolic act of mercy would be to provide her a chance to redeem herself. Whether or not she sincerely takes the chance is separate from the issue of giving her that opportunity to reform, in the first place.

That's why — contrary to the apparent expectations of so many people here — I think the story would go to a higher level if it decisively demonstrates that the way forward is to make a clean break with the rancor of the past.

I'm also quite certain, at the same time, that this would provoke howls of protest among many in the fan community, if indications here are anything to go by.

It'll just prove a point — to me, if no one else — that most of us are good at talking about justice, about harmony, about peace, and all the good things, without fully appreciating what it means to live a just, harmonious, peaceful life.

The most important parting point that Lyse reflected on, in the concluding moments of Stormblood, is that monsters like Zenos and Fordola are made, not born. It was not just an observation of fact, but also a warning to all who follow, that good people can become monsters if they're forced by circumstances.

Who is the greater monster, truly? The monster at hand, or the society that created the monster? Both sides will no doubt have valid reasons to bear grudges against each other, but the cycle of hate can only be decisively broken if at least one side takes the first step to forgive.

To forgive is not to forget. Yotsuyu and Fordola ought to be made to answer for their crimes. But in return, they should both be given a chance at redemption, however monstrous they were.