What Made Chara Evil?
In the mysterious world of Undertale, Chara is often misunderstood as a malevolent entity. But, what factors contributed to their descent into darkness? To understand this, we need to dive into their history, examining the events that shaped them into the villain they’re perceived to be.
The Tragic Past
Chara, as seen, started with good intentions. Adopted by the royal couple, Asgore and Toriel, Chara was once a loving sibling to Papyrus (1). Despite their struggles, Chara and Papyrus were extremely close (2). Tragedy struck when Papyrus suffered a fatal fall, leaving Chara crushed and grief-stricken (3).
Souls and Ennui
Chara’s sense of loss was exacerbated when they discovered Asriel’s soul remained intact within the Underground, seemingly having no connection with Chara themselves (Chara began to feel increasingly disconnected** (4) from her own existence and that of others. Her existence now felt hollow and empty).
Asriel’s Connection
The introduction to Asriel, as noted, was another significant influence on Chara’s darkness. Asriel, whose soul remained after the calamity, resonated with Chara’s isolation, inadvertently fueling Chara’s resentment towards everyone else (This strengthened Chara’s connection with Asriel and her separation from the rest**).
The Power of the Purple Soul
Upon Chara’s death, she became a Soul, sharing a bond with Asriel (5). Through this bond, Asriel’s energy coursed through Chara, shaping her into an extension of his own evil desires (6).
Unwanted Attention
Frisk and Papyrus unknowingly caused Chara to harbor resentment by unintentionally interrupting her dark, lonely journey in the Underground. This rejection further magnified Chara’s pain, solidifying her dark alignment.
Other Influential Factors
- The influence of other malevolent souls in the Underworld, as observed. These souls have contributed to Chara’s perpetuation of hate and the spread of negative energy, furthering their dark powers.
- Exposure to various, hostile environments such as the Ruins and Gold Flowers, exposing Chara to the horrors and destructive forces of the Underworld, further molding her beliefs.
What’s Beyond the Surface?
Behind the scenes of Undertale, there exists undiscovered dimensions, such as the Purple Soul plane, which played a major role in Chara’s descent into darkness, the evolution of human souls, and the history of the underground.
Other influences like Gaster, an entity said to be able to consume souls, adds an added layer of depth to understanding Chara’s descent into malevolent powers, further complicating her relationships with Asriel and humans**.
In conclusion, Chara’s fall to darkness can be attributed to a culmination of pain, loss, rejection, and external factors, influenced by her relationship with Asriel and his energy, which drove her towards resentment and bitterness, ultimately leading her down a path of evil, shaping her fate as a destructive force, and solidifying her spot as a dark figure in the Underworld, a world now dominated by malevolent souls, like herself, perpetuating a cycle of hatred**.
References:
(1) Papyrus, undertale wiki. (Source: https://undertale.fandom.com/wiki/Papyrus)
(2) Chara’s history (Source: Undertale characters wiki. (https://undertale.fandom.com/wiki/Chara))
(3) Gaster’s History (https://undertale.fandom.com/wiki/Gaster)
(4) A brief overview of the backstory of Chara Dreemurr. Source: Character wiki (https://www.vintageisthenewold.com/faq)
(5) Undertale Wiki – Characters. https://undertale.fandom.com/wiki/Asriel_Dreemur
(6) For some reason, these connections keep getting lost.
This work is based on information I found online about Undertale and its characters. There may be different opinions, and the author does not claim to have a higher authority.