The reason why the previous hollow knight failed

[TheBrightKing]

Today im posting the reason of why the previous hollow knight failed in his task to contain radiance, pretty much everything is explained in this segment of this video:

https://youtu.be/4lRSwbILKTA

3:10 and pause on that dialogue

We are going to bring some light into the reasons why the hollow knight failed and why you (MC) can successfully contain radiance forever, using this dialogue that pretty much explains everything.


Lets divide it and explain each fragment:

"I implore you, usurp the vessel"

I think its pretty clear shes asking you to take the place of the previous hollow knight

"Its supposed strength was ill-judged"

It was not as strong as they thought, it was pure at the beginning, but he was weak and easily influenciable, so so anything could end that pure nature. Any thought could make it into his mind.

"It was tarnished by an idea instilled"

That idea is the idea of saving hallownest that the king instilled on him unintentionally.

"But you. You are free of such blemishes"

You have not spent time with the king you dont know who you are nor your purpose, thats why you are truly pure.

"You could contain that thing inside"

You can just contain radiance and she would not show up since you are pure and you dont have anything that radiance can use to grow inside you.

This is for those lost with the lore, some people might have realized this some time ago, anyways, if you have questions feel free to ask them

[FoxSpirit]

"That idea is the idea of saving hallownest that the king instilled on him unintentionally."
I don't think there was any hint what that idea could be. Also, I think that idea was instilled during it's creation. Because the description goes,

No mind to think
No will to break
No voice to cry suffering

In this perfect emptiness of the mind the Radiance can not take hold. It's trapped in perfect darkness. Per that definition, I don't think a being created that way can actually be tarnished. So I think that sliver of an idea got into it when the original Hollow Knight was created. Nut noone realised that because he seemed so perfect. Eventhough Hollow Knight caried the very source itself in it, took the Radiance a long time to get a foothold. So he was obviously still very good but... not the truly permanent solution they had hoped.

[TheBrightKing]

Originally posted by FoxSpirit:

"That idea is the idea of saving hallownest that the king instilled on him unintentionally."
I don't think there was any hint what that idea could be. Also, I think that idea was instilled during it's creation. Because the description goes,

No mind to think
No will to break
No voice to cry suffering

In this perfect emptiness of the mind the Radiance can not take hold. It's trapped in perfect darkness. Per that definition, I don't think a being created that way can actually be tarnished. So I think that sliver of an idea got into it when the original Hollow Knight was created. Nut noone realised that because he seemed so perfect. Eventhough Hollow Knight caried the very source itself in it, took the Radiance a long time to get a foothold. So he was obviously still very good but... not the truly permanent solution they had hoped.

It could not be during its creation, tjey discarded thousands of vessels to fin one that was pure that was perfect, also it spent a lot of time with the king, when you see him go out of the abyss with the king hk is clearly young but in the statue and in the egg its an adult vessel.

It can actually be tarnished and white lady says so, she also talks about his strength, probably his strength to not be influenced anything.

Also: "our pure vessel has ascended" thats whats written at the door of the abyss, i seriously doubt they were mistaken about that.

And taking into account the white lady saying it was tarnished and the time he spent with the king thats probably what tarnished him.

Btw why do i think the idea of saving hallownest is that idea?

The seals, the only playthrough were they explicitly say you must save the kingdom (when you have the void heart), if you replace the hk, a seal (the seal of hornet) is placed in the door so you can be replaced by opening that seal.

The only playthrough they dont explicitly say you must sacrifice for the kingdom the egg closes without leaving any seal, it cant be opened anymore, you will not need replacement since you are pure.

Thats why i think thats the idea that tarnished him