inbarfink:One of the things I see people often forget about Undertale’s Pacifist Route is that

inbarfink:One of the things I see people often forget about Undertale’s Pacifist Route is that it’s… inherently Defiant. In a way, more so than the Kill Everything Route. Flowey is the only person who will gloat about it so explicitly but… a lot of people in the world of Undertale kinda believe this is a kill-or-be-killed world, or at least that this is a world where some problems have to be solved with violence. Pacifist Frisk is basically the only person to say “No! There has to be another way!!” and then goes ahead and proves it.I know a lot of people are inspired to do their Pacifist Run by Toriel, and I think that this is very heartwarming - but it’s important to remember that she didn’t believe that a Pacifist Run was truly possible herself. She doesn’t like that idea, she thinks it’s a horrible thing, but she still believes this is the truth about the world.That’s why she’s so overprotective, after all. In her mind, a battle can only end with a monster killing Frisk or with Frisk forced to kill the monster. Both equally undesirable outcomes. Her only solution is to stay by Frisk’s side as much as she can and scare away monsters with the threat of physical violence.That’s why the combat tutorial is a bit obtuse when it comes to giving out MERCY. Toriel never explicitly explains how the Sparing mechanic works because she doesn’t really believe that it’s a good idea. A Froggit has to sort-of explain it instead. The player needs to kinda figure it out themselves to show that they are really committed to giving out MERCY and capable of thinking a bit out of the box for it. And the whole Boss Battle with her… Sparing her is basically about proving to her that non-violence IS worthwhile. She can only see two outcomes; either her showy-but-mostly-harmless fire attacks will scare Frisk back into safety - or Frisk IS strong enough to kill her thus proving they can FIGHT in the many battles there are to come. If you deliver the fatal blow to her, she is at peace with her death, because she feels that it’s an indication that Frisk might be able to survive what comes their way. Because “being able to kill” is the indicator for strength and survival in her mind. When you succeed at Sparing her, you prove to her that this is not the only form of strength. That your own Determination and conviction for non-violence is stronger than her desire to keep you in. You prove to HER that there is another way out of this fight outside of killing her. So there might be a way out of the Underground without killing anyone too. And it works, although Toriel is still clearly worried that this little nonviolent child is still doomed.And the whole thing with Asgore’s plan (which also includes Undyne’s motivations, and every monster who aides with it by attacking Frisk) is that it relies on the idea that killing humans is the only way the Monsters could ever go free, the only way the Underground could ever have hope, the only way any of their loved ones could every be happy. And the same kinda goes the other way around. People who actually know about the Barrier works, know that the only way Frisk could ever get free themself is by killing Asgore. Either Asgore kills Frisk to let the Monsters go free, or Frisk kills Asgore and lets themself be free. Monster or human, freedom can only be won via violence. It’s kill or be killed.Meanwhile, Mettaton wants to stop Asgore’s plan, and again, can only see it stopped in a violent struggle. Frisk isn’t a good enough fighter to stop it, and so they should die to give their SOUL up to Mettaton, who will become strong enough to kill Asgore so that he won’t kill the humans. Heck, Asgore’s and Frisk’s deaths are also part of Mettaton’s plan to become a famous Star.(Not to mention, Asgore doesn’t see himself as deserving of Mercy. He sees death as the only suitable punishment for what he has done. So again, violence as the only solution anyone sees.)Really the only major characters who do not see violence and killing as an answer to their problems in some way are Sans, Alphys and Papyrus.With Sans, really the only reason why he doesn’t see violence as a solution to his problems is because he doesn’t see ANY solutions to his problems anymore. He’s not a pacifist, he’s just totally passive and lazy. And of course, the one time he DOES actually get up and does something proactive, it’s when he FIGHT in the Genocide Route. Believing that even if he can’t actually kill the Human messing around with the timeline, he can at least use violence to annoy and frustrate them into submission. (And ironically enough, knowledge of Sans’ super-powerful boss fight probably motivated more people into the Kill-Em-All Route rather than stopped them).Alphys uses lies and deception instead of violence. Again, she still believes any encounter between Asgore and Frisk will end with one of them killing each other. And the only way she found to avoid it is to create an elaborate web of lies in the vain hopes that it could convince Frisk to not get into contact with Asgore. Her non-violent approach is very conflict-averse. The only way she finds to resolve the issue of Asgore and Frisk both forced to kill the others for their goals is to simply prevent any sort of meeting between them at all.Papyrus is really the only not-Frisk Pacifist in the cast. But a lot of it is due to characters leave him ignorant of some of the killing-related ultimatums in the game (he doesn’t know capturing Frisk means killing them and he doesn’t know Frisk needs more than a Human SOUL to pass the Barrier). He’s a sweetheart and I love him to death, but he’s an example of Pacifism that’s really dependant on naivete. Unlike Frisk, who knows what kind of no-win situations they get into and sticks by their (empty) guns regardless. Also, despite his goals being as humble as just wanting more friends - he can only see the prestige of the Royal Guard as the way to get there. That is, in a way, a value given to Violence. (See also: his inability to understand he’s not accepted into the Royal Guard DUE to his kind and nonviolent personality, rather than a lack of power).The world of the Underground IS fun and whimsical and full of quirky and fun people. But many of these people also believe that violence and\or killing are necessary to achieve their current goals. Most of them don’t like that idea, most of them HATE this idea - but that is still what they believe. This is the kind of world Frisk falls into. And it’s purely a result of their own personal conviction and ideals that they manage to prove them all wrong. Prove that they are determined and clever enough to figure out a way out of every “kill or be kill” scenario the Monsters around them see as inevitable.  Prove that they can find a way to fulfil the Monsters’ goal without them having to kill Frisk or anyone else. Even if it means defying time and space and facing down a God of Hyperdeath to do so.That is what it meant to be a Pacifist in Undertale, it’s not apathy, it’s not conflict-aversion, it’s not naivete, it’s defiance. -- source link

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