Why Does Kratos Say "Boy"?
Kratos, the iconic protagonist of the popular God of War video game series, has taken on a new role as a parental figure in the 2018 title God of War. In this title, Kratos is accompanied by his nine-year-old son, Atreus, whom he refers to as "boy". But why does Kratos say "boy" instead of a more affectionate term like son?
The Real-Live Explanation
According to Corey Barlog, the creative director behind the game, the reason Kratos refers to Atreus as "boy" is because the developers at Sony Santa Monica were unable to agree on Atreus’ real name until relatively late in the game’s production. As Barlog explained, "He called him Atreus [as a way] to anchor us to the fact that we [don’t] know his whole name".
Kratos and Child-Speak
Kratos, being a god, rarely interacts with children, and his lack of language to refer to Atreus reinforces the idea that he is struggling to express emotions and connect with his young son. By using the term "boy", Kratos is actually referencing Atreus’ humanity and childlike nature, rather than as a term of endearment or respect.
The Significance
In the game, Kratos calls Atreus "boy" 28 times, which may seem random or insignificant at first. However, the frequency of this term serves several purposes:
- Emphasis: Kratos’ monologue is often interrupted with "boy" to emphasize specific events or emotions, creating a visceral and intense experience for the player.
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Compassion: By inferring Atreus’ true humanity, Kratos is showing us his soft spot for his son – his vulnerability and compassion.
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Contrast to Kratos’ Past: With 27 years of brutal gods-murdering-havoc under his belt (up to the events of God of War III), Kratos hasn’t had much experience with anything so… human. The inflection of "boy" serves to differentiate his past from his newly-discovered paternal instincts
- Foreshadowing: It’s also possible that the infrequency of Atreus’ own responses to Kratos subtly hint at the boy’s growth: at first, he’s silent about it, but as the game continues, so does his understanding of dad-dad-ness
Kratos Isn’t a "Dad of the Year"**
It becomes evident that Kratos isn’t familiar with the concept of fatherhood throughout the game. His interactions with his father, Zeus, were tumultuous to say the least, reflecting their complicated relationship. As a young child, Kratos was already emotionally closed off, and his trauma stems from his experiences as Olympian gods’ son Kratos’ inability to express warmness towards Atreus arises from his own emotional baggage he must confront and learn.
Conclusion
Kratos refers to Atreus as "boy" because it speaks to his struggle to connect with his emotional depth, his lack of familiarity with emotions that come with fathering, and his own complicated past Atreus’ growth & change in the game also provide more context for Kratos.
We hope this article has not only answered your question but opened doors to understanding the complex parental journey of Kratos