Decoding Oblivion: More Than Just a Game Title – It’s a Whole Vibe
Have you looked at “Oblivion” and felt uneasy? I have. It holds weight, full of mystery. Bethesda chose well with this title for their Elder Scrolls game. “Oblivion” goes beyond its sounds. It reaches into philosophy, spirituality, film, and video games. Let’s explore its meanings.
Oblivion’s Face: The Symbols We See
In Elder Scrolls, symbols abound, whispering to observant minds. Oblivion has its own.
- The Daedric Symbol: When you think of Oblivion, you picture that spiky symbol. It stands for chaos and malevolence beyond Mundus. It visually represents Oblivion’s dangerous nature in the game.
- The Heart Icon: That heart icon in Oblivion isn’t about love. In older versions, it shows fatigue or exhaustion. It’s more like “my character needs rest,” not romance.
Spiritual and Philosophical Trips Down the Oblivion Rabbit Hole
Oblivion isn’t mere pixels; it delves into deep concepts. Get ready for some existential ideas.
- Eternal Oblivion: The Big Sleep: Ever wonder what follows death? Eternal oblivion means consciousness stops existing. No afterlife, no rebirth, just darkness. Heavy concept, isn’t it?
- Oblivion as the Outer Void: Space…the Absence of It: Within Elder Scrolls lore, Oblivion serves as the “Outer Void.” Picture a place where space does not exist. It’s that mind-blowing void from which everything emerges.
- Spiritual Oblivion: Forgetting Who You Are: Forgetfulness isn’t merely misplacing keys; spiritual oblivion involves losing your true self. It’s like cosmic amnesia, unaware of your inherent consciousness. Pretty profound.
- Oblivion’s Curse: The Unforgettable Burden: Here’s a paradox! Oblivion’s curse means being unable to be forgotten. Picture being eternally remembered, whether you wish for it or not. It’s a twisted immortality.
- Oblivion in the Bible: Death as a State of Non-Being: Even the Bible mentions oblivion. Job 3:18 discusses prisoners at rest, not hearing oppressors. Some interpret this as death equating to oblivion and non-awareness. Something to ponder.
“Oblivion” the Movie: Not Just a Game, But a Film Too!
Wait! “Oblivion” isn’t only a game; there’s a 2013 sci-fi movie starring Tom Cruise. Let’s see how the film plays with the idea.
- The Tet: Evil AI with a Resource Grab: Meet the Tet, a menacing alien AI in the movie. This tetrahedral station seeks to eliminate humanity and hoard Earth’s resources. Classic evil plan but with a twist.
- Sally: Mission Director or Alien Imposter? Melissa Leo plays Sally, the film’s mission director. The Tet copies Sally’s look and voice. It’s cosmic identity theft.
- The Hidden Truth: Tet’s Real Estate Grab: Protagonists Jack and Julia uncover the Tet’s nasty truth. It’s not friendly; it aims for resources. Jack and Victoria? Clones of astronauts from a prior mission.
- Human Survivors and Clone Confusion: BAM! Human survivors appear unexpectedly. Julia falls from the sky in a pod. Those “Scavs” are human rebels, not aliens. Jack is a clone of a Titan mission commander.
Oblivion Game Deep Dive: Characters, Quests, and Hidden Gems
Back to our beloved game! Oblivion is filled with memorable characters and epic quests waiting to be discovered.
- Sally (The Tet) as the Big Bad: Remember Sally from the movie? The name also represents the vile Tet in the film’s graphic novel. If you’re curious about evil in “Oblivion,” Sally/The Tet is your answer.
- Molag Bal’s Demands: Lion Pelt, Please! Want to talk to Daedric Prince Molag Bal? Bring him a lion pelt. It’s for experienced adventurers (level 17+). Don’t come unprepared.
- “Green Emperor Way Where Tower Touches Midday Sun”: Cryptic Clues Ahoy! Oblivion loves its riddles. To locate Mythic Dawn’s shrine, solve this clue: “Green Emperor Way Where Tower Touches Midday Sun.” Hidden in books – typical Tamriel intrigue.
- The Pale Lady: Vampire in the Shadows: Deep in Oblivion’s dungeons resides the Pale Lady, known as Mina to the jailor. Spot her during “Lost Histories,” part of Thieves Guild quests.
- Unicorn Power! Keep it or Yeet it? Unicorns aren’t mere decoration; you can ride one! In Hircine’s quest, you might have to kill one. Or, refuse the quest, and gain a unicorn instead.
- Rosethorn Manor: Baller Pad of Cyrodiil: Hoping for luxury in Oblivion? Check out Rosethorn Manor in Skingrad. At 25,000 gold, it is the game’s priciest house. Bragging rights are priceless!
- Uriel Septim VII: The Emperor at the Brink: Oblivion begins in 3E 433, during Emperor Uriel Septim VII’s last hours. He sets the stage for the chaos ahead. A dramatic start!
Oblivion’s Game Mechanics and Lore: Under the Hood
Beyond quests and characters, Oblivion’s mechanics and lore deepen immersion. Let’s examine what’s beneath.
- Luck: The Invisible Hand: Ever felt lucky in Oblivion? That’s your Luck stat at work. It boosts skills subtly, favoring your effectiveness in calculations.
- Feather Spell: Lighten Your Load: Over-encumbered? The Feather spell helps. This Alteration spell lowers item weight temporarily, allowing you to carry more loot.
- Pacify Spell: Chill Out, Foes! Facing hostile bandits? Use Pacify. This Expert-level Illusion spell calms enemies, making them back off temporarily.
- Touch of Death: Vampire Vibes (Without the Fangs): Want to be a death-dealing mage? The Touch of Death spell is your answer. With the Spell Tomes DLC, deal 1500 damage using a dagger and this spell effectively.
Symbolism Extravaganza: Elder Scrolls and Beyond
Symbols form the silent language of games and lore. Elder Scrolls overflows with symbolism, as do other games. Let’s decode together.
- Elder Scrolls Logo: Mystery Wrapped in a Spiral:Ever pondered what the Elder Scrolls logo signifies?
- means? It’s a mystery, not obvious like “dragon” or “sword.” Its meaning stays open for interpretation, enhancing the series’ allure. It symbolizes untold tales and ancient secrets.
- Skyrim Logo: Akatosh and Talos Tribute: The Skyrim logo features a dragon symbol. It serves as the Imperial Seal, honoring Akatosh, the Dragon God of Time. It also references Talos, the Septim Empire founder and first Dragonborn. A rich layer of dragon deity symbolism for a Dragonborn game.
- Namira’s Symbol: Bat Signal for Darkness: Spot a bat symbol in Elder Scrolls? That’s Namira, the Daedric Prince of darkness and insects. This bat symbol acts as a banner for those preferring shadows over light.
- Mythic Dawn Logo: Doomsday Cult Symbol: The ominous red dragon symbol belongs to the Mythic Dawn, the cult behind the Oblivion Crisis. Their logo embodies chaos and destruction, bad news for Tamriel. They are not exactly sharing cookies.
- Skyrim’s Shadowmarks: Thieves Guild Code: If you wander around Skyrim and see strange symbols? Those are Shadowmarks, the Thieves Guild’s secret language. They are coded messages for thieves about houses or residents. “Empty,” “safe,” “danger” – stylish symbols indeed.
Elder Scrolls Lore Nuggets: Deeper Cuts
Ready for deeper Elder Scrolls lore? Let’s dive into more concepts.
- The Godhead: Todd Howard’s Dream? The Godhead is the one God in Elder Scrolls. The remarkable theory? The entire Elder Scrolls universe is the Godhead’s dream. Some humorously liken the Godhead to Todd Howard, creator of Elder Scrolls. It’s cosmic meta.
- Templar: Knight in ESO: In Elder Scrolls Online (ESO), Templar class resembles a knight. They wield light’s power, causing damage and healing allies. Think paladin, but more focused on sunlight.
- Order of the Hour: Empire’s Old Knights: The Order of the Hour is one of Empire’s oldest knightly orders. These original knights hold rich traditions and likely excel at jousting (though that’s absent in the game).
- Akatosh: Dragon God of Time: Akatosh appears frequently as he holds significance. He is the Dragon God of Time, chief deity of Imperials, and dragon powerhouse. His symbol decorates Imperial banners for a reason.
- Imperial Religion: Ayleid/Aldmeri Influence: Imperial religion stems from Ayleid and Aldmeri roots. Consider it a blend of ancient Elven beliefs that evolved through time.
- Elven Longevity: Elf Lifespan Advantage: Want extended life in Tamriel? Become an elf. Elves live two to three times longer than humans or beast races. Quite a deal for life insurance (if it existed in Tamriel).
- Stormcloaks vs. Imperials: Nord Nationalism: Joining Stormcloaks as an Imperial? Awkward indeed. Stormcloaks favor Nord identity and show limited acceptance of other races, particularly Imperials. The political landscape in Skyrim complicates matters.
- Dragons in Oblivion? Not Really: Dragons don’t appear in Oblivion as we see in Skyrim. If you count Akatosh’s avatar, dragons are largely absent in Oblivion. Wrong game for dragon actions.
- Hermaeus Mora: Knowledge Demon: Skyrim’s tentacled Daedric Prince, Hermaeus Mora, represents the Knowledge Demon. His realm includes forbidden lore and secrets, resembling a Lovecraftian horror. Knowledge comes with costs—and tentacles.
Eternal Symbols: Infinity and Beyond
Let’s shift focus from games to symbols of eternity and infinity, closely linked to “Oblivion.”
- Infinity Symbol: Figure Eight for Eternity: The infinity symbol (∞) depicts boundlessness and eternity. Math enthusiasts and lovebirds cherish it metaphorically—a universal sign for forever.
- Alpha and Omega: God’s Bookends: Alpha and Omega, Greek alphabet’s first and last letters symbolize God’s eternal nature in Christianity. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” declares Christ in Revelation, underscoring God’s infinite presence.
- Viking Immortality Rune: Eihwaz: Vikings had symbols for immortality like the Eihwaz rune. It represents yew trees, symbols for immortality in Norse culture due to unique properties, despite being poisonous. Viking afterlife goals include achieving Valhalla and possibly sprouting into a yew tree.
Oblivion: meaning Simplified
What does “oblivion” mean in simple terms?
- Forgotten State: Fading Away: Oblivion can mean drifting into forgetfulness by the public. Think of a one-hit-wonder artist fading into obscurity after an impactful song. That’s oblivion.
- Lack of Awareness: Mind Blank: Oblivion signifies not remembering or awareness absence. Picture waking from anesthesia feeling completely unaware.
- Complete Destruction: Absolute Annihilation: In its extreme sense, oblivion means total destruction. “Bombed into oblivion” illustrates the stark fate of utter annihilation—not pleasurable.
Bonus Round: Symbolism in Other Games
Let’s check out symbolism in other games, just for fun.
- Resident Evil Logo: Cult Symbol: The Resident Evil logo isn’t random; it represents Los Illuminados, the cult behind Las Plagas worship. It serves as their distorted version of a cross—a delightfully creepy parasite.
- Umbrella Corporation Logo: Shady Practices: The Umbrella Corporation logo from Resident Evil features an umbrella. It supposedly means “protecting under an umbrella,” but reality suggests “dominating from under one.” It hides illegal bio-weapon activities quite effectively.
There you have it. “Oblivion” is a word, game, movie, philosophical concept, and many symbols. It resonates with depth, mystery, and touches on the unknown. Whether battling Daedra in Cyrodiil or pondering existence, “oblivion” is ever-present. Now, I might ponder the Godhead or play some Oblivion.
