Character Analysis and In-Depth Personality Explanation
Before delving into the character and personality of Lucina, it’s important to re-visit what a ‘Character’ and ‘Personality’ actually are. A personality is the combination of characteristics or qualities that form an individual’s distinct character. Character is the culmination of one’s mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual. From this, we can gather that a person’s traits and quirks are what form their personality, and based on their personality, we can identify a ‘character’.
To start with Lucina, we’ll identify the most obvious aspect of her character first. As it runs in her family, Lucina shares a quality of stoicism and determination. Often this visualizes as a lack of exaggerated emotion outside of fear, anger, and motivation. Because of this, many people assume her character to be ‘flat’ and generic, as the metaphorical mask she wears clouds people’s views of her true character. With a little reading, however, far more traits and quirks sprout
Lucina is particularly mischievous and shows an air of immaturity when prompted by those she trusts and loves. This is seen in multiple occasions; she throws a sparring match against her father, claiming that Chrom “still has much to teach me” as an excuse to spend more time with him. When talking to Female Robin, she spends a plethora of time throwing wild, silly accusations about her pre-conceived notions regarding Robin and her father. So much so, that she becomes flustered. This particular exchange definitively highlights her silliness and susceptibility to flustering.
Avatar: Lucina, I appreciate you wanting to keep the Chrom of this age safe from...harm. But aren't you being overly protective? You suspect even his closest allies...
Lucina: And how do I know you're a true ally? Because of your say-so?
Avatar: Surely you can sense the trust and affection that we have for each other? Chrom and I would never risk our friendship for the sake of some romantic dalliance. When you're older, you'll learn that men and women can be just friends.
Lucina: Are you insinuating I'm naive?
Avatar: Oh, I'm not insinuating anything. I'm flat out saying it. You're acting like a silly, jealous child.
Lucina: Jealous? Is that what you said? So you DO have designs on him! You want him all for yourself, and I'm getting in your way!
Avatar: ARRRGH! Are you even listening?!
Lucina: Of course, I can understand why. Perhaps even forgive you. It's natural that you'd be attracted to such a gallant, wonderful man.
Avatar: Chrom's nice, I suppose, but I've never thought of him as gallant. ...Or wonderful.
Lucina: What are you saying? You don't think he's gallant?! You think he's just NICE? But you're with him all the time! How can you be so blind to his incredible charms?! How dare you not be attracted to him! It's beyond insulting! If you don't start falling for him soon, my true anger will show its face!
Avatar: Er, I thought you DIDN'T want me to fall in love with him.
Lucina: R-right! I do! ...But I don't. But... No, wait. I do. J-just stay away from him, harpy!
In addition, Lucina demonstrates a silliness comparable to Owain when altering Falchion’s name to “Pointy Demonspanker” in hopes of meeting her cousin’s approval.
With her silliness highlighted and acknowledged, we can now delve into her more dominant trait of excessive, almost naïve care, responsibility, and consideration. Indeed, stoicism may be a part of Lucina, but beneath that lies a very caring and responsible, yet ‘workaholic’-like woman. She often lets her duties dominate her everyday life; burdened by the goals of protecting her father, altering the future, meeting her crew’s expectations, saving lives and inspiring the people. These all weigh on her every day, yet she seldom broods about and optimistically goes out of her way to help. As seen in her conversations with Tiki and Brady, she will blindly go about her good deeds amidst her working mind in hopes of bonding and inspiring her troops. Despite this, many people note her susceptibility to over-working, her risk of injury and her risk of falling ill, and indeed, that is one of her character flaws.
Speaking of character flaws, Lucina does have her fair share. Often, main characters, especially those in JPRGS, fall subject to the ‘mary sue’ syndrome. Meaning, the character in question is always likeable, never fails, and is ludicrously overpowered.
With these key points in mind, let’s identify what keeps Lucina from being a Mary Sue. She, as stated above, is a workaholic, and often disregards her own health in order to help others. This is inherently fine, if not self-detrimental, but in various supports – such as Inigo – she exhibits frustration and pushes Inigo away, who is simply trying to help her. This behavior can clearly be seen as a culmination of stress and work boiling to a breaking point.
She also has her share of confidence and pride, if a bit subdued. She does not often display this trait, but a few notable scenarios make this clear. When speaking with Tiki and Kjelle, for example, she acknowledges and uses her strength to her advantage in order to prove her point or get her way. In the case of Tiki, she claims her strength, while unbefitting of her appearance, is more than capable of doing the tasks Tiki was unsure she was capable of. This demonstrates a bit of confidence, and she also boldly challenges Kjelle over a battle of morals. Never once does she doubt her capability against Kjelle, despite the daughter of Sully being one of the strongest warriors in the army.
Lucina also fails, in accordance to the story and against her goals. For all intents and purposes, anyway, SHE fails, even if the situation ultimately changes due to someone else’s influence. For example, she fails to save Chrom from Robin’s betrayal again, she fails to prevent the return of Grima, and she fails to protect Tiki in the Future Past scenario. Her character, too, is not universally accepted. Severa is a strong example of people not instantly fawning over her. In their Hot Springs conversation, Severa exhibits intense jealousy and distaste for Lucina, showing that she has not yet won over everyone’s hearts. In addition, while Tiki eventually warms to her and offers her elderly advice, there are hints of disapproval from the Manakete regarding Lucina’s audacity to claim Marth’s name, as well as her push to parade Tiki through the streets. Even though both are eventually quenched and resolved, this too proves that Lucina does not instantly win over people, as additionally evidenced by her internal dilemma of winning her people’s trust.
With all of this in mind, we can now fully identify Lucina’s character and personality. She is ambitious, charismatic, courageous, dependable, with a light streak of deviousness. She struggles to be gregarious and extroverted, has an air of naiveness, but is very intelligent, industrious, reliable, and sympathetic. While she may not be bubbly and optimistic, she aspires to be such and carries and intense care for her people. She often hides her silly, carefree, goofy side, but these too exist among her pantheon of personality traits.
As a character, Lucina is a person who puts others first. All her goals involve saving the lives of others, and going as far as neglecting her own health. She is an agreeable, understandable, and caring person, but she struggles with her inner doubt about the intensity of her aspirations. Beneath her stoic mask lies a fun-loving, carefree girl who also boasts a great work ethic and intense skill.
Put in another way, Lucina is very reminiscent of older FE characters. Whereas most of Awakening is defined by its’ colorful, outwardly archetypal and easily perceivable cast, Lucina lacks what some may call a “trope” at first glance. However, just like the best classic and contemporary FE characters, she has depth beneath the surface. She is childish, oblivious, naïve, but also incredibly scarred, stressed, and vigilant.
Below are some links to what I consider to be great instances of what I like about Lucina.
https://youtu.be/EjtbXxlRHYo?t=4m25s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgf5TLGvaB8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuAyF1pVLGk
https://kantopia.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/17translate.jpg?w=818&h=1253
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXIAicD65EA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLL0CfnbfLc
also, word of advice for ANY FE character in ANY FE game: look at their supports, I guarantee you they will always be better in their supports than in the story, OR the supports will elevate their story depictions to a higher level
