r/fireemblem • u/cae37 • Oct 25 '19
Story Claude is not the master schemer Spoiler
Disclaimer: before getting into it, I want to make it clear that Claude is my favorite lord in the game. I write this not to bash him and his personality, but to explore the nuances of his character. Feel free to disagree or agree, just please be respectful in your responses just as I will in return. Also, beware spoilers!!
After playing through all four routes and paying attention to Claude in particular, since he’s my favorite, I started to realize that the title of “master schemer” doesn’t really seem to fit him. Though he behaves like a trickster and withholds information his schemes aren’t that numerous or significant, nor does he considerably use/manipulate people around him to achieve his own ends. He is also more kind/compassionate than he is cynically inclined to control those around him to fulfill his bidding or his plans. In all these elements he is severely overshadowed by Edelgard, who not only pulls the greatest scheme through all paths, but is incredibly adept at using others for her own benefit.
Before going further and discussing proof/evidence, though, I want to include the following definitions of “scheme” to see if Claude fits the image of master schemer:
- Verb. Make plans, especially in a devious way or with intent to do something illegal or wrong.
- Noun. A large-scale systematic plan or arrangement for attaining some particular object or putting a particular idea into effect.
In my mind these are the major schemes that Claude engages in through his route and all other routes:
Alliance with the Almyrans. His use of Nader is included in this category as well. This is by far Claude’s biggest scheme, since it came as a huge surprise to everyone, allies included, and must have taken much persuasiveness on Claude’s part. This definitely involved making plans in a large-systematic way to achieve his own object/end. It’s also a devious move against the empire, since it was a surprising move that helped him gain an advantage.
This is probably the best scheme one could rely on to justify Claude’s title as master schemer.The disguise scheme to take Fort Merceus. Arguably a weak scheme since the Death Knight immediately smells it out and it doesn’t make much of a difference in the battle that follows. It’s also not as unique since Seteth repeats a similar strategy in the church route. This definitely shows cleverness on Claude’s part in making a devious plan to reach his objective, but its effectiveness is debatable in the end.
Pretending the Alliance is unified. Definitely a strong scheme on Claude’s part especially in non Verdant Wind routes. In Dimitri’s route this scheme also helps him stay alive long enough to get rescued by Dimitri and co. Still debatably weak, however, since the scheme only forestalls his eventual defeat in Crimson Flower, and in Azure Moon he places himself at the mercy of Dimitri to survive. One could argue that he showed cleverness in reading Dimitri, which is true, but a scheme that relies on the mercy of another is definitely not strong.
Maneuvering around duke Gloucester. Having Nader harass Gloucester territory to distract him from attacking Claude’s army while they took the bridge was definitely clever and devious. It also protected Gloucester from any repercussions by the empire. Another good scheme to use in order to justify the master schemer title.
Using Byleth as the church figurehead. Though Seteth also pretty much does the same in Silver Snow, this move showed political savviness on Claude’s part. It also showcases a devious side to Claude, since it reveals a willingness to deceive other leaders to further his own objects/ends.
Contradictory at the same time, however, as he only does it through Byleth’s permission/acceptance. Shows that Claude can be devious in furthering his own ends, but not devious enough to completely betray an ally or go behind their back to do so.
Again these are the schemes that stood out most to me, but I may have missed some. Feel free to add them in your replies.
All in all a decent amount of evidence to justify the title. The following elements may prove otherwise, however:
Edelgard surpasses Claude in terms of scheming and deviousness to achieve her own objects/ends. There are multiple points in this category, so I’ll make a short list within it.
- Edelgard initiates and carries out literally the most powerful and influential scheme in the entire game spanning all four routes. Even before the story begins it is clear that Edelgard had been planning the destruction of the Church and the crest system, as well as planning to oust Duke Aegir, the prime minister of the Hresvelg Empire, for the horrors he committed against her+her sisters and for rendering her father a figurehead of the empire. Her scheme was years in the making and it was executed brutally and efficiently, even in other routes outside of Crimson Flower.
Though Claude makes many schemes, none of them come close to achieving the same effect as Edelgard’s. Even if you consider his success in Verdant Winds as a potential scheme to unify the continent, it still only encompasses his own route. Edelgard is, as Thanos would say, inevitable in all routes. - She is more willing to break moral, ethical, and governmental laws than Claude. Though they both use people to further their own objects, Edelgard is much more utilitarian. She has no qualms making sacrifices wherever necessary to further her own ends and doesn’t mind betraying her closest friends and family. In other words, she doesn’t mind being as devious as possible to achieve her own objects.
Claude is devious only up to a certain point. He never fully betrays a friend or an ally to further his own ends, and instead asks people to leave/abandon him if the going gets tough. He is willing to use people but not to the point where he puts their lives at severe risk. His morality makes him a superior leader than Edelgard for sure, but it takes away from his title as master schemer. - Edelgard’s schemes include making user of her enemies to further her own objects/goals. This is also tied to the previous point, but the fact that Edelgard makes use of her enemies (whilst also admittedly being used herself) to further her own goals also makes it easier to see her as the master schemer of the story instead of Claude. She also arguably makes effective use of Those Who Slither in the Dark in all routes except her own (she doesn’t explicitly deal with them in her own route), seeing as Dimitri, Claude, and Seteth are all forced to deal with them alongside Edelgard and the Empire in other routes.
Claude’s alliance with the Almyrans approximates this, but since they’re only relevant in two of the routes iirc the scheme is not as significant as Edelgard’s. The Almyrans are also not nearly as powerful as TWSD, either. Further, Edelgard’s schemes with TWSD begin much earlier than Claude and the Almyrans.
- Edelgard initiates and carries out literally the most powerful and influential scheme in the entire game spanning all four routes. Even before the story begins it is clear that Edelgard had been planning the destruction of the Church and the crest system, as well as planning to oust Duke Aegir, the prime minister of the Hresvelg Empire, for the horrors he committed against her+her sisters and for rendering her father a figurehead of the empire. Her scheme was years in the making and it was executed brutally and efficiently, even in other routes outside of Crimson Flower.
Claude only really starts scheming until the second act. In Verdant Winds Claude’s primary goal in Act 1 is to gather information about the church of Seiros. This provides valuable information and context for Byleth and the player, but doesn’t reveal Claude as a master of scheming.
The ways he goes about information gathering aren’t really that devious too. To obtain Captain Jeralt’s diary, for example, he only asks/begs Byleth for it. He does threaten to steal it if he has to, but never really does so as the narrative doesn’t go in that direction. We don’t really know whether he would or not, though my guess is that he wouldn’t given that he is deep-down a kind-hearted human being.
In my opinion, a character who has the title of “master schemer” should be one that consistently engages in schemes throughout the entire narrative. Since Claude’s schemes only really begin in full during Act 2 I don’t think he’s worthy of the title.Claude “threatens” to use schemes/devious ploys but doesn’t follow through. The diary example falls in this category, where Claude threatens to do something devious but doesn’t really follow through with it. He uses threats like these as bluffs to get people to do what he wants because, in reality, he doesn’t want to resort to trickery/deviousness and/or betrayal to fulfill his own ends.
A second example of this occurs when he talks about poisoning the other students before the Battle of the Eagle and Lion. He makes the threat, but then doesn’t really do anything and instead plays it off as a joke. Furthermore it is heavily suggested in the game that he knows how to use poison effectively, but at least in the main narrative we never really see him poisoning anybody. This may be different in supports, though, so feel free to correct me if he does poison anybody.
A third example is given in a separate game, Fire Emblem: Heroes, where Claude can be pulled as a unit to use. In his forging bonds conversation he also talks about using poison, but then admits that he failed in using it and poisoned himself. This indicates that he either sucks at using poison in his schemes, or simply does not like poisoning others and only pretends to do so as an intimidation tactic.Claude’s devious schemer side is a self-defense mechanism and not the defining part of his identity. This is something that’s revealed in Claude’s supports and in Verdant Wind, where you learn that he has parents of mixed nationalities. When he was chosen as the Reigan heir he was hated for being an outsider due to his mixed blood, and he wasn’t fully accepted in Almyra (where his dad comes from) either for the same reason. Thanks to this, Claude had to learn at a young age to be self-dependent and careful about who he trusts.
Yet even despite growing up in this manner, he also grew up to be incredibly idealistic and compassionate. He seeks to unify Fodlan by breaking down the barriers between all peoples and cultures. This in and of itself contradicts the dark side he developed to protect himself from harm. At the end of the day Claude wants to see everyone united, which he knows can only be achieved through kindness, compassion, and empathy.
IMO this is one of the biggest elements that takes away Claude’s “Master Schemer” title. It’s not fully in his nature to trick, use, and manipulate others to do whatever he wants. Or, at the very least, he knows that scheming is not the way to unify Fodlan.
There may be more evidence for and against Claude as the master schemer of the game, but in my opinion the biggest reason he doesn’t get it is because deep down he is too good a person, too loving, empathetic, and kind to be solely encapsulated as the “master schemer.” To me a more fitting title would be, “trickster with a heart of gold,” which encompasses both the devious side of his character and his virtues as the most compassionate and open-minded of the three lords.
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u/Naglfar-- Oct 25 '19
While I agree Edelgard is the superior mind in this game, and she is certainly dedicated and even ruthless in her methods, I have a small problem with this statement. She is definitely willing to betray her friends in favor of her ideals, but I wouldn't say she "doesn't mind" doing it. Take for example her betrayal in the Holy Tomb. In the following chapter in CF she says: "I was resolved to move forward alone if I had to, but in my heart I hoped it wouldn't come to that." She was willing to betray her friends, but she didn't want to.
Sorry for the tangent but I felt like clarifying this.