Chapter Text
Introduction
In the mythos of Bloodborne, a classic gothic horror video game from Fromsoft released in 2015, few things are ever outlined explicitly in the text. Playing this game while trying to piece together the story felt rather like an exercise in literary analysis - which should come as no surprise, given how heavily the game draws from Lovecraftian horror and other classic touchstones. This is why I believe it is so crucial to understand the literary, historical, and cultural context Bloodborne exists in to get a full appreciation for and understanding of the story. However, these theorycrafting discussions at times seem to neglect that key aspect. The purpose of this essay is to recontextualize Bloodborne’s story as it relates to the mysterious character of the Doll. I will be drawing on classical literature, the historical context the game references, as well as the modern context that Bloodborne was released into.
Content Warnings
Due to the nature of Bloodborne, the content of this essay will include references to the following topics.
Misogyny. Victorian era misogyny. Domestic violence. Marital rape (mentioned). Genocide. Xenophobia. Drug use. Trauma. Death & Death of children. Suicide (mentioned). Abuse apologism. Homophobia & Lesbophobia (mentioned). Abuse.
Please take care if any of these sensitive issues are particularly upsetting or triggering for you.
A Note on Controversy
Within certain circles of Bloodborne online communities, many aspects of the Doll’s existence, purpose, and relationship to other characters are hotly debated. I cannot pretend to be some neutral divine arbiter of truth, nor can anyone else. I, like everyone, have my own opinions. While the content of this essay as it relates to the lore will inevitably contain my own interpretation, the facts of history, culture, and literary precedent are not so malleable. While you by no means must ascribe to every argument I make here, I believe it is ignorant at best to dismiss the relevance of context when analyzing any piece of media. I will be as thorough and transparent as possible in citing my sources. With that in mind, let’s begin.