Myth Functions of Dragon Age

The Dragon Age video game series is a very captivating modern myth, in my opinion. All four of Joseph Campbell’s functions of mythology make themselves very present in the lore of the Continent of Thedas. As the hero, or champion, of the story, you get to experience these four functions first hand.

The Maker first created the Fade and then the continent of Thedas. The game actually describes the Fade as a metaphysical veil. It is also a space for those who dream and it can only be freely accessed by mages with the assistance of a magical substance called lyrium. This is the metaphysical piece to the game, the spiritual side that is. The all-powerful maker had a presence with the people of Thedas until he turned his back on humanity and will not return until humanity proves worthy. This is where the Chantry comes in, which is a huge influence within all of the nations. They’re the church that spreads the word and the light of the Maker in an attempt to bring about the return of the Maker.

The darkspawn and the Archdemon are the antagonists of Dragon Age. They’re known to be the Maker’s curse for the arrogance of man. The darkspawn were created by going into the Fade, into the realm of the Maker, thinking they could step into heaven by entering his palace in the Fade but instead the Maker punished the people who went into his palace without permission and turned them into the darkspawn. The Archdemon controls all the darkspawn and is essentially like a queen ant or queen alien. The creation of the darkspawn is a cosmological function of this story. The antagonist creates balance in the story. You can’t have a hero if there’s no problem for the hero to commit to.

Andraste’s story in Dragon Age is part of the sociological piece. She brought the teachings of the Maker to Thedas and was eventually burned at the stake by being betrayed by her jealous, mortal husband since she was also the wife of the Maker. When she died, the Maker turned his back on humanity. Andraste built the Chantry and brought about the guidelines of the religion so the Chantry was prepared in knowing the correct methods to bring the light of the Maker to Thedas so the Maker would return. Andraste validates the order and ideas of the culture.

The player in Dragon Age has to become a grey warden to beat the Archdemon and become the champion. The grey warden is the only warrior than can defeat the Archdemon and the blight of darkspawn. The grey wardens have a strong presence with the pedagogical function of this mythology. They have to imbibe darkspawn blood and, if they survive, they are attached to the Archdemon on a different, almost spiritual level. This is the only way to defeat the Archdemon. Ingesting the darkspawn blood is the first right of passage for a grey warden. The grey warden may even dream of the Archdemon so, even if they wanted to lose sight of their objective, they couldn’t. The grey warden is constantly reminded of their goal and will not stop until victorious. Sometimes they even have to sacrifice their own life for the good of the mission.

This is a myth that is ongoing. The story hasn’t concluded and I’m anxious to see the direction in which this mythology goes. For now, the myth going so far in this game is extremely captivating and always has some sense of completion when the game ends because each game takes place in a different nation in Thedas.

Sources:

Piggyback. (2011). Dragon age ii collector's edition. (pp. 244-277). Roseville, CA: Piggyback Interactive Limited and Prima Games.

The four functions of mythology. (2011, March 29). Retrieved from http://www.scholarsofconsciousness.com/the-four-functions-of-mythology/

#DragonAge #Archetypes #Myth