Some of the most iconic characters in video game storytelling come from the Final Fantasy franchise. In 1997, Squaresoft delivered us a character behind the greatest spoiler in video games: Aerith Gainsborough. As the deuteragonist of Final Fantasy VII, her role cannot be understated in the game’s central narrative. In the years since, her legacy has only grown, and further games in the FFVII universe have expanded on her function and character. Be warned, this article will go heavy into the spoiler territory of most games under the Final Fantasy VII banner. If you still don’t know about Aerith, this is your last chance to play the games for yourself.
The Legacy of the Cetra
In Final Fantasy VII, the planet was once populated by beings known as Cetra. They were magically gifted and in tune with nature, being faithful stewards of the planet. Lesser beings would eventually emerge as well, including those who would eventually become the humans of the modern day. The Cetra would slowly die out, until but a small number of purebreds remained wandering the planet. Meanwhile, humans would grow and begin to abuse the planet that the Cetra tried to protect. The Cetra dwindled until only one remained, and humans became the dominant species of the planet.
Ifalna was the last survivor of the Cetra. She lived far out in the wilderness, in a small village surrounding the Icicle Inn. She eventually encountered a scientist known as Professor Gast, who had come to learn about her on behalf of the Shinra Electric Power Company. Having grown to control most of the known planet, Shinra wanted to unlock the knowledge that the Cetra, also called Ancients, had of a place called the Promised Land. Shinra wished to abuse this power for themselves and use it to become the dominant force of the whole world. Professor Gast, however, resigned from Shinra to instead learn from Ifalna on his own.
Early Loss
Ifalna and Professor Gast would fall in love. Living together in the cold and snow, they had a daughter. This half-Cetra is Aerith. However, Shinra would not tolerate Gast’s betrayal. They arrived, discovering what he had done, and were delighted to find two test subjects instead of one. Led by Shinra’s new head of science, Professor Hojo, Gast was killed and Ifalna was taken with the young Aerith to Midgar, Shinra’s headquarters. There, the two would be kept locked away. Shinra’s President believed that the Cetra would only lead them to the Promised Land willingly. Ifalna, however, was subjected to repeated painful tests by Hojo.
Ifalna would eventually escape with Aerith, and the two would try to leave Midgar. Ifalna was ill, however, weak from Hojo’s many tests. Aerith watched her mother collapse and begin to fade away. She was found by a local woman, Elmyra Gainsborough, to who Ifalna entrusted Aerith. Elmyra was waiting for her husband to return from war and was happy to have someone to keep her company. Aerith was saddened at her mother’s death, but grew to love Elmyra and took on her last name. Shinra knew where Aerith was, but let her stay within Midgar’s slums until she came of age and could lead them to where they wished to go.
A Tragic Ending
Aerith Gainsborough would grow into a lovely young woman, and would eventually encounter Final Fantasy VII‘s protagonist Cloud Strife. They would develop a friendship and a budding romance before they were drawn into conflict. Cloud is a rebel against Shinra, and Aerith tries to help him in his struggles. However, she would end up recaptured by Shinra. Cloud and his friends rescue her, but in the process learn about the villain Sephiroth and his designs against the planet. Aerith had been taught by Ifalna to follow her instincts to guard nature and the world itself from evil.
Aerith would travel with Cloud’s group for a time before the planet revealed to her something important: She had to use her gifts to save the planet. Ifalna passed down to Aerith the White Materia, a special source of magic that only a Cetra could use to protect the planet and use its power against evil. Aerith found her way to an ancient city of her people and prayed to the planet, using the materia’s power. As the group caught up to her, however, tragedy struck. Sephiroth descended from the skies and killed Aerith, sending the White Materia into the waters nearby. The group was heartbroken, but it was too late: She was gone.
A Big Deal for Gaming
The rest of Final Fantasy VII’s story would play out with Aerith no longer as a party member. The group would ultimately defeat Sephiroth, and Aerith’s soul from within the planet would use the White Materia to stop Meteor, the world-ending calamity that Sephiroth sought to cause. Despite the ultimate victory of the party, Aerith Gainsborough’s death left a sad pall over the party and gamers. Losing such a kind and caring character was the first real incident of loss many young gamers had to deal with. Much like other films or books that introduce youth to the idea of grief, Final Fantasy VII was remembered for taking that leap with Aerith’s character.
Aerith would of course be explored in some of the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII, media that took place around the original game. Crisis Core would explore her past and her relationship with Zack Fair, a close friend of Cloud’s. The pairing between them has become quite popular, and in many respects more appreciated than her potential relationship with Cloud. In the film Advent Children, her spirit lingers to try and help Cloud move on and also helps him undo the damage left by Sephiroth and JENOVA in the wake of their assault on the planet. Aerith’s continued influence on the sub-franchise was always there.
Big Jumps with Remake
When Final Fantasy VII Remake was first announced, people wondered how such a legendary tale could be adapted. With the spoiler of Aerith’s death being one of the most well-known in gaming history, could the moment still have an impact? The first of the Remake trilogy seemed to offer us a chance for an even larger story. Time travel shenanigans abound, and it seems that Sephiroth is influencing the timeline and trying to change things. Aerith, for her part, was also receiving information about the timeline and seemed aware of her future. Regardless, she powered on, focusing on stopping Sephiroth despite the potential for her to die once more.
In Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, the fated moment of her death came with a shocking twist: Cloud appeared to save her. Flashes of visions, however, showed us that something more was going on. Were we seeing alternate realities or something darker? It seemed possible that Cloud, in his usual place as an unreliable narrator, was lying to himself. While we don’t yet know for sure, it seems as though Cloud may have tricked himself into believing he saved Aerith. We do not see a full recreation of her death scene from the original game. It is unclear how this plot point will resolve in the final part of this trilogy, but it is certain to be heartwrenching.
Conclusion
Aerith Gainsborough is a character who cannot leave player’s heads. While many of us had long since gotten over her death, the Remake trilogy has made it all the more painful and real. Theories abound about what really happened in Rebirth, but it is certainly not to be the happiest of endings. Aerith stands the test of time as a character who teaches us about loss and how to move on. Her connection to the game’s world and story makes her fascinating and lovable. As new players find her delightful and charming with the advent of remakes and re-releases, it is clear she is a character that will not be forgotten anytime soon.
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