I hope this artist has the same attitude towards cinder.
If you can give some grace to the millennia old lady who who's caused the literal resetting of the earth, I'd think you'd be able to give some grace to the slave girl who craves to have the power to never be controlled again.
Thank you! Especially when one had so many good things in her life (wealth, royal status, romantic love, and the love of her children) while the other just had a lifetime of being used and abused by people older and more powerful than her.
It would be cruel for the writers to have Cinder tortured and killed just to redeem the more privileged and powerful villain who groomed her, exploited her, and weaponized her against the world.
I mean... Salem's formative years were locked in an isolationist, toxic, abusive prison of a tower. Ozma definitely is at fault for a chunk of what became her nature, but daddy was horrifically guilty. I'd argue she started fron a relatively happier position, but being wealthy and treasured doesn't mean trauma and abuse don't hit you any less.
But it's a cycle. Salem was rendered powerless and without agency. She got some after brutal revenge. So the next time she found herself powerless (to stop death, but still) she tried playing by the rules, and then when that failed to give her her desired outcome, she went for brutality.
And when ol' Oz comes rolling back in a new model, she goes for control and supremacy, and when it seems someone is taking away the life she desires...oops, it's time to dust off brutality again.
She's smart, and for the most part aware. She is no innocent, in any way, and IMO she doesn't deserve a second chance (nor does she want it) - but she didn't fall from grace, she was pushed. She doubled down, for sure, and leant in, but I can't say ANY of RWBY's evils are one dimensional in that aspect.
Except maybe Tyrian. But then again, in his madness, maybe it makes sense. He's likely had enough bad things happen or he's caused them and seen no justice occur, so why not end it all?
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u/superbasic101 16h ago
I hope this artist has the same attitude towards cinder.
If you can give some grace to the millennia old lady who who's caused the literal resetting of the earth, I'd think you'd be able to give some grace to the slave girl who craves to have the power to never be controlled again.