Why do the writers hate Foulques?

[Naunet]

@Belhi: I dunno, while I get where your points are coming from, I don't feel like Foulques was intended to be written in an actually sympathetic way. The dialogue with the Guild leader for each class quest sort of reinforces this idea that Foulques is just some disturbed Duskwight and you (the character) would do well to ignore him. Even his final acknowledgment of Foulques as "tragic" ends up sounding very dismissive. "Oh what a tragic character. He could have been the best of us! But there's no point in dwelling on it, moving on!"

And Foulques is driven by more than just his friends betraying him. Not only did they refuse to confess alongside him, but they also proceeded to insult him with racial slurs and participate in the culture of racism towards Duskwight that very clearly permeates Gridanian culture. Presumably these friends were also lancers, and I doubt they were the only people in the Lancer's Guild who engaged in Duskwight racism - either casual or deliberately targeted. Plus if Foulques's comments and our general knowledge of Gridanian attitudes toward Duskwight are anything to go by, his stint in jail was likely agonizing.

Blaming Foulques for revolting and then having a breakdown is like blaming a puppy who finally bites his owner after being abused for years. And I don't think the story treated that with the respect it deserves. I don't think a lot of the negative social constructs in Eorzea get treated in the way they deserve. :S

[Theodric]

Eorzea isn't a pleasant place. Discrimination and racism isn't uncommon - especially in the more xenophobic nations. I quite like it - though I've always been fond of gritty settings with morally complex characters. There's no need for fictional settings to mirror of modern day morality.

[ElHeggunte]

Eorzea isn't a pleasant place. Discrimination and racism isn't uncommon - especially in the more xenophobic nations. I quite like it - though I've always been fond of gritty settings with morally complex characters. There's no need for fictional settings to mirror of modern day morality.

This is what I was coming to say. I like how SE doesn't shy away from showing how ugly the world really is underneath the glossy, formal-looking exterior.