Spirit animals explained (spoilers)

[Roach]

There is a indian Totem at the school dormitory, right? Indians believed in spirit animals. That transparent doe is Maxines spirit animal, It is transparent because it is not set firmly in time same as Max. But when she choses at the end (sacrifice Chloe or Arcadia Bay), you can see that Max either has necklase with a doe on her neck (at funeral) or you can see group of does (alive - in flash and bones) in the ruins of the town. Because the fate/time is firmly set at the end. Chloes Spirit animal is that blue bird you keep saving - same as Max is trying to save Chloe. That blue butterfly is Rachels spirit animal and it also symbolises the butterfly effect (Rachel started it in those bathrooms as her best friend Chloe was murderer, so her murder can be solved and Jefferson can be stopped). It lands on the basket at the end as a symbol of corrected timeline and as a reunion of Rachel and Chloe. Hope it helps :) (Im non english speaker and of course this is only my interpretion, feel free to discuss)

[Lykeios]

Originally posted by ManlyMan:

As far as I remember all of them were figured out a while ago.
Max - Doe
Chloe - Blue jay
Rachel - Butterfly
Jefferson - Owl
Frank - Dog
Prin. Wells - Hawk
Samuel - Squirrel
Probably missed a few but this is what I remember.

yup! :D

[Roach]

Originally posted by ManlyMan:

As far as I remember all of them were figured out a while ago.
Max - Doe
Chloe - Blue jay
Rachel - Butterfly
Jefferson - Owl
Frank - Dog
Prin. Wells - Hawk
Samuel - Squirrel
Probably missed a few but this is what I remember.

Yes, Thank you for pointing out other characters spirit animals, totally forget on them :D

[ZephyrLuxx]

I saw it this way (more spoilers, obviously :p ):

Doe = Max
Samuel even comes right out and says it. Why would the writers make such a big point to say it if that weren't the case. It's also a motife that is repeated over and over again in things like Max's clothing. Plus, it symbolizes innocence and fragility. Jefferson talked about Max's innocence.

Butterfly = Chloe
It's even the same color as Chloe's hair. A color that we can see she always liked when Max jumps further back in time. The butterfly also appears just when Chloe came back into her life. It appears on Chloe's casket. Chloe's tattoos incorporate blue butterflies. Butterflies also symbolize a metamorphosis, and Chloe has gone through huge changes. Including the death of her old self in a way.

Blue Birds = Rachel
Rachel is dead. The constant imagery of the trapped blue bird wanting to be free. I think that's Rachel's spirit wanting someone to find her body so that she can move on. The blue bird as a spirit animal symbolizes freedom and a flamboyant nature. Rachel was obviously no shrinking Violet. She is constantly described as a strong (if reckless) character. Add that to her wanting to get out, go to LA, etc. Plus Rachel is always pictured with a blue feather earring.

For others:

Bunny = Kate
The bunny is soft, sweet, mild mannered, somewhat fragile and vulnerable. A prey animal. Kate is pretty much all of these things. She's like a frightened bunny through most of the story.

Squirrel = Samuel
Samuel is a pretty squirrelly guy. :p Fits him anyway.

Some people have said the Owl for Jefferson. I could agree with that. Owls have that "scholarly and wise" connotation, but have you ever seen one go after a mouse? Yikes! Hiding in the dark, always watching...

I don't necessarily think that every character in the game has a spirit animal. But I think they were sort of obvious with some of the symbolism for certain characters.

[tomix9tomix]

Victoria-Cashmere Goat (Joke)

[ZephyrLuxx]

Originally posted by tomix9tomix:

Victoria-Cashmere Goat (Joke)

ROFL! Love it!

[Roach]

Originally posted by ZephyrLuxx:

I saw it this way (more spoilers, obviously :p ):

Doe = Max
Samuel even comes right out and says it. Why would the writers make such a big point to say it if that weren't the case. It's also a motife that is repeated over and over again in things like Max's clothing. Plus, it symbolizes innocence and fragility. Jefferson talked about Max's innocence.

Butterfly = Chloe
It's even the same color as Chloe's hair. A color that we can see she always liked when Max jumps further back in time. The butterfly also appears just when Chloe came back into her life. It appears on Chloe's casket. Chloe's tattoos incorporate blue butterflies. Butterflies also symbolize a metamorphosis, and Chloe has gone through huge changes. Including the death of her old self in a way.

Blue Birds = Rachel
Rachel is dead. The constant imagery of the trapped blue bird wanting to be free. I think that's Rachel's spirit wanting someone to find her body so that she can move on. The blue bird as a spirit animal symbolizes freedom and a flamboyant nature. Rachel was obviously no shrinking Violet. She is constantly described as a strong (if reckless) character. Add that to her wanting to get out, go to LA, etc. Plus Rachel is always pictured with a blue feather earring.

For others:

Bunny = Kate
The bunny is soft, sweet, mild mannered, somewhat fragile and vulnerable. A prey animal. Kate is pretty much all of these things. She's like a frightened bunny through most of the story.

Squirrel = Samuel
Samuel is a pretty squirrelly guy. :p Fits him anyway.

Some people have said the Owl for Jefferson. I could agree with that. Owls have that "scholarly and wise" connotation, but have you ever seen one go after a mouse? Yikes! Hiding in the dark, always watching...

I don't necessarily think that every character in the game has a spirit animal. But I think they were sort of obvious with some of the symbolism for certain characters.

Damn, and for a moment I was thinking that I was smart :D That is actually a really nice explanation with inviduals traits :) thank you stranger.

[ZephyrLuxx]

Originally posted by ManlyMan:

Originally posted by ZephyrLuxx:

I saw it this way (more spoilers, obviously :p ):

Butterfly = Chloe
It's even the same color as Chloe's hair. A color that we can see she always liked when Max jumps further back in time. The butterfly also appears just when Chloe came back into her life. It appears on Chloe's casket. Chloe's tattoos incorporate blue butterflies. Butterflies also symbolize a metamorphosis, and Chloe has gone through huge changes. Including the death of her old self in a way.

Blue Birds = Rachel
Rachel is dead. The constant imagery of the trapped blue bird wanting to be free. I think that's Rachel's spirit wanting someone to find her body so that she can move on. The blue bird as a spirit animal symbolizes freedom and a flamboyant nature. Rachel was obviously no shrinking Violet. She is constantly described as a strong (if reckless) character. Add that to her wanting to get out, go to LA, etc. Plus Rachel is always pictured with a blue feather earring.

The reason I think that blue jay is Chloe and blue butterfly is Rachel is this.
Blue jays in Native American culture (Something that is also mentioned quite frequently in game) are commonly known as to roam the land of the dead. Chloe is heavily associated with death, with her clothes with the colours and symbols of death.
Also in Native American culture there is a character named "BlueJay" who, much like Chloe, is good natured at heart, but can't help himself from causing mischief and trouble.
Also worth noting Chloe wanted to die at the end of the game for everyone in Arcadia, when BlueJay died he learned to appreciate death, also much like Chloe did.

Butterflies are seen as a symbol of change, and happiness. Rachel was known as a very popular girl in Arcadia Bay and Blackwell, and was pretty much loved by everyone, she basically changed peoples lives in Arcadia Bay.

But hasn't Chloe changed? Chloe literally when through the death of her old self and a metamorphosis into the character that she is when we meet her.

Rachel is pretty much stuck in the land of the dead for the duration of the story. We never know her in life.

Plus, like I said, Chloe has the butterfly tattoos. Rachel wears the blue feather. Wouldn't it make more sense to tie each symbol to the right girl?

And this from a Shamanism website:
"If butterfly finds you and is unwell, hurt or caught, this is an indication that you must stop disturbing the natural design of life and to flow with events in a more gentle and natural manner."
http://www.shamanicjourney.com/butterfly-power-animal-symbol-of-change-the-soul-creativity-freedom-joy-and-colour
Isn't that the lesson that Chloe has for Max, depending on how you choose to let things play out?

And there's this from another website on Shamanism
"Bluebirds are gentle and unaggressive. They do not push or bully other birds, but they are very scrappy when threatened. They have been known to put to fight jays and even larger birds."
That makes me think of how we're told that Rachel put up a fight when she was captured.

It's all up for interpretation. But I definitely see Chloe as the butterfly. Max has more of a connection to Chloe than to Rachel. I feel like the butterfly is too prominent in Max's life to be a character that she's never met.

[Doesnotcompute83]

Originally posted by ZephyrLuxx:

I saw it this way (more spoilers, obviously :p ):

Doe = Max
Samuel even comes right out and says it. Why would the writers make such a big point to say it if that weren't the case. It's also a motife that is repeated over and over again in things like Max's clothing. Plus, it symbolizes innocence and fragility. Jefferson talked about Max's innocence.

Butterfly = Chloe
It's even the same color as Chloe's hair. A color that we can see she always liked when Max jumps further back in time. The butterfly also appears just when Chloe came back into her life. It appears on Chloe's casket. Chloe's tattoos incorporate blue butterflies. Butterflies also symbolize a metamorphosis, and Chloe has gone through huge changes. Including the death of her old self in a way.

Blue Birds = Rachel
Rachel is dead. The constant imagery of the trapped blue bird wanting to be free. I think that's Rachel's spirit wanting someone to find her body so that she can move on. The blue bird as a spirit animal symbolizes freedom and a flamboyant nature. Rachel was obviously no shrinking Violet. She is constantly described as a strong (if reckless) character. Add that to her wanting to get out, go to LA, etc. Plus Rachel is always pictured with a blue feather earring.

For others:

Bunny = Kate
The bunny is soft, sweet, mild mannered, somewhat fragile and vulnerable. A prey animal. Kate is pretty much all of these things. She's like a frightened bunny through most of the story.

Squirrel = Samuel
Samuel is a pretty squirrelly guy. :p Fits him anyway.

Some people have said the Owl for Jefferson. I could agree with that. Owls have that "scholarly and wise" connotation, but have you ever seen one go after a mouse? Yikes! Hiding in the dark, always watching...

I don't necessarily think that every character in the game has a spirit animal. But I think they were sort of obvious with some of the symbolism for certain characters.

Do not forget Chloe's boots. In the concept art, the siggly lines are in the shape of a butterfly.

[ZephyrLuxx]

Originally posted by Doesnotcompute83:

Originally posted by ZephyrLuxx:

I saw it this way (more spoilers, obviously :p ):

Doe = Max
Samuel even comes right out and says it. Why would the writers make such a big point to say it if that weren't the case. It's also a motife that is repeated over and over again in things like Max's clothing. Plus, it symbolizes innocence and fragility. Jefferson talked about Max's innocence.

Butterfly = Chloe
It's even the same color as Chloe's hair. A color that we can see she always liked when Max jumps further back in time. The butterfly also appears just when Chloe came back into her life. It appears on Chloe's casket. Chloe's tattoos incorporate blue butterflies. Butterflies also symbolize a metamorphosis, and Chloe has gone through huge changes. Including the death of her old self in a way.

Blue Birds = Rachel
Rachel is dead. The constant imagery of the trapped blue bird wanting to be free. I think that's Rachel's spirit wanting someone to find her body so that she can move on. The blue bird as a spirit animal symbolizes freedom and a flamboyant nature. Rachel was obviously no shrinking Violet. She is constantly described as a strong (if reckless) character. Add that to her wanting to get out, go to LA, etc. Plus Rachel is always pictured with a blue feather earring.

For others:

Bunny = Kate
The bunny is soft, sweet, mild mannered, somewhat fragile and vulnerable. A prey animal. Kate is pretty much all of these things. She's like a frightened bunny through most of the story.

Squirrel = Samuel
Samuel is a pretty squirrelly guy. :p Fits him anyway.

Some people have said the Owl for Jefferson. I could agree with that. Owls have that "scholarly and wise" connotation, but have you ever seen one go after a mouse? Yikes! Hiding in the dark, always watching...

I don't necessarily think that every character in the game has a spirit animal. But I think they were sort of obvious with some of the symbolism for certain characters.

Do not forget Chloe's boots. In the concept art, the siggly lines are in the shape of a butterfly.

I hadn't noticed that! Good catch.

Originally posted by ManlyMan:

Damn can you give a link to the boot thing? I wanna see this.

Here you go:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B9vSun_IMAECKne.png:large

[Doesnotcompute83]

Originally posted by ZephyrLuxx:

Originally posted by Doesnotcompute83:

Do not forget Chloe's boots. In the concept art, the siggly lines are in the shape of a butterfly.

I hadn't noticed that! Good catch.

Originally posted by ManlyMan:

Damn can you give a link to the boot thing? I wanna see this.

Here you go:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B9vSun_IMAECKne.png:large

Thanks. I have been studying Chloe's clothes for a few months since I am making/bashing a 1/6 custom figure of her. Because episode 5 is out, which means that the LIS forum will die down within a few weeks here, I might post a thread here of a WIP pic of my figure this week.

[ZephyrLuxx]

Originally posted by Doesnotcompute83:

Originally posted by ZephyrLuxx:

I hadn't noticed that! Good catch.



Here you go:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B9vSun_IMAECKne.png:large

Thanks. I have been studying Chloe's clothes for a few months since I am making/bashing a 1/6 custom figure of her. Because episode 5 is out, which means that the forums will die down within a few weeks here, I might post a thread here of a WIP pic of my figure this week.

That sounds awesome! ^_^

I hope you post some pics. I'd love to see the progress.

[Doesnotcompute83]

Originally posted by ManlyMan:

Originally posted by Doesnotcompute83:

Because episode 5 is out, which means that the forums will die down within a few weeks here

This is the saddest part in the whole game.

LOL

[ZephyrLuxx]

Another way that you could look at the butterfly/blue bird thing is that both could symbolize Chloe in different ways. They share the same color, and I've seen authors use that sort of symbolism before, where a character is represented by all animals of a particular color. (Interestingly enough, the other time I can think of when I saw this done was also with the color blue).

But, anyway, if she's symbolized by all blue flying creatures in the game, then the blue bird as Chloe could be a message to Max to free Chloe and let her go, or maybe a foreshadowing of having to choose between that and mass death (possibly represented by the other dead birds). I don't know. I still like Rachel = blue bird & Chloe = butterfly for simplicity's sake. And the fact that they share the same color could be a nod toward how the girls were kindred spirits. But, if you want to make the symbolism more complex you could look at it as Chloe = both.

[tomix9tomix]

Originally posted by ManlyMan:

Originally posted by Doesnotcompute83:

Because episode 5 is out, which means that the forums will die down within a few weeks here

This is the saddest part in the whole game.

That is true, I will miss you all. Have you also noticed that "THE JOKER" hasn't apeared on the fourms since episode 5 came out (or at least I haven't seen him)

[Doesnotcompute83]

Originally posted by tomix9tomix:

Originally posted by ManlyMan:

This is the saddest part in the whole game.

That is true, I will miss you all. Have you also noticed that "THE JOKER" hasn't apeared on the fourms since episode 5 came out (or at least I haven't seen him)

The Joker was here on the 19th and yesterday. He was pissed off with the ending, however.