Entry Three

Image courtesy of Naughty Dog, Inc. (2013)

We found a couple of infected Firefly corpses Downtown. I guess some Fireflies never even made it to the Capitol base. Well, we shoulda known that wasn’t a good sign…We made it to the Capitol building, but when we got there, the only Fireflies there to meet us were corpses. The entire base is dead. Tess started freakin’ out about needing to continue taking Ellie to the next Firefly base, to help them find a cure. She was bit. Tess was bit by a Clicker. She got infected. The group of soldiers who were chasing after us earlier caught up to us, and Tess sacrificed herself so me and Ellie could get away. She’s gone. But we have no idea where we need to go. Marlene never told Ellie anything, except that she needed to go West. So I guess West is where we’re going. My brother, Tommy, is a Firefly…well I haven’t heard or seen him in years. But he went out West a while back too. I reckon we could track him down, and he’ll help us.

In this entry, we see the Tess operating as a “hermit figure” common across Medieval quest narratives. Hermits, also sometimes referred to as “good men,” usually interact with the questing protagonist to interpret their trials and their futures. Here, Tess is emphasizing the necessity for Joel to continue travelling with Ellie, since the goal for this quest is much more than just a physical journey. She interprets this quest as something that is more important than just a delivery—it is hope for survival, for the well-being and enlightenment of the entire human race. By reminding Joel that there is another aspect to his quest besides just physical travel, she spurs him to action, and in turn, she instills a sense of purpose and belief in Joel that he didn’t have before. Where Tess as a hermit figure deviates from the typical expectations of a Medieval quest narrative is in that she is a prominent figure for the entire beginning—a solid two hours of the game. In most Medieval texts, hermits or “good men” are present at stops in between side-quests, and they don’t travel with the protagonist quester, as in the earliest Grail quest narratives such as “The Story of the Grail (Perceval)” by Chretien de Troyes, “Parzival” by Wilhelm von Eschenbach , and “The Noble Tale of the Sankgreal,” Sir Thomas Malory. Tess actively participates in scouting, giving Joel necessary materials (such as health kits), and many fights with enemy forces and the infected. Her character is also subject to the quest expectation of “needless deaths,” but only partially. If she hadn’t died, then Joel may not have felt the purpose to keep moving forward. He repeatedly questions their quest, often suggesting that they return to the QZ and tell Marlene that the bargain is off. However, there is no way to know for sure; in that way, we must acknowledge Tess’s death is both needless and purposeful. I wanted to include Joel’s retrospective comment to illustrate that Tess’s figure as a “good man” made an impact on him, and aided in orienting him to think critically while he is on this quest. 
Quest expectations/Terms: A "Good Man"; Needless Deaths; Oaths; Adventure;