Characters RWBY Salem Discussion

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gjjones Musician/Composer Since: Jul, 2016

Musician/Composer

Aug 13th 2022 at 1:37:39 AM •••

I tried trimming the Motive Decay entry down since we don't need that much plot summary and it might be a Wall of Text. Rather than reverting it back to the previous version (as it would violate the Edit War policy), I'm discussing it here. Here's how it currently looks:

Motive Decay: Salem's original motives were to reunite with her deceased beloved one way or another, followed by spiting the Gods in retaliation for depriving her of that with Complete Immortality. After she fully attained her original goal due to Ozma's resurrection, she set herself and Ozpin up as gods among the second iteration of humanity. Then she supplanted the second human race with a Master Race. In the present, Salem's motives have yet to be explicitly confirmed, but Ozpin believes her end-goal is a Suicidal Cosmic Temper Tantrum.

Any ideas on what we can do to trim it down?

Edited by gjjones He/His/Him. No matter who you are, always Be Yourself. Hide / Show Replies

Wyldchyld (Old as dirt)

Aug 13th 2022 at 2:31:00 AM •••

That content isn't plot summary, all of it covers how her goals have changed over time. That's probably why you're having trouble trimming it down any further, it's all relevant (although the claim she supplanted humanity is wrong; she wanted to, but Ozma turned on her before she could even start to carry out that particular plan).

The question is whether Motive Decay is the right trope in the first place. It's supposed to be how a character that used to have complex goals has been reduced to a Flat Character who no long has any reason for doing the things they're doing. That is not what's happened to Salem. Her goals may have changed over time, but she has a reason for everything she's doing, and the goals have changed because her reasons (priorities) have changed. Also, we only know her goals have changed over time thanks to flashbacks, so her current goals haven't changed at all, we just know from flashbacks that her goals have been different in the past.

I'm not convinced Motive Decay is the right trope for what's going on with her. I think it's a shoehorn.

Edited by Wyldchyld If my post doesn't mention a giant flying sperm whale with oversized teeth and lionfish fins for flippers, it just isn't worth reading.

gjjones Since: Jul, 2016

Aug 13th 2022 at 2:41:12 AM •••

Perhaps. For what it's worth, I brought it up on the "Is this an example?" thread.

Edited by gjjones He/His/Him. No matter who you are, always Be Yourself.

Wyldchyld (Old as dirt)

Aug 13th 2022 at 2:45:18 AM •••

I think that's a good idea. I've added my thoughts to that thread.

Edited by Wyldchyld If my post doesn't mention a giant flying sperm whale with oversized teeth and lionfish fins for flippers, it just isn't worth reading.

Wyldchyld (Old as dirt)

Jul 6th 2022 at 9:46:30 AM •••

Satanic Archetype: previous discussions here and here.

The previous discussion proposed waiting until the end of Volume 8.

Since Volume 8 has ended, new discussion begun here.

If my post doesn't mention a giant flying sperm whale with oversized teeth and lionfish fins for flippers, it just isn't worth reading.


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Discussion Characters / RWBYSalem