Raiden Shogun's role in Genshin Impact positions her as a significant antagonist whose actions cause widespread suffering and oppression. While her motivations are rooted in a desire for eternal stability rather than pure malice, the devastating consequences of her decrees align with how "evil" is often perceived in fictional narratives.
The Raiden Shogun's Role as an Antagonist
The Raiden Shogun is a pivotal figure in Genshin Impact's narrative, notably serving as the central antagonist of Chapter II of Genshin's Archon Quest. Her role extends further as a major antagonist in Act II of Raiden Ei's Story Quest, where the complexities of her governance and personal beliefs are further explored.
Key Aspects of Her Antagonistic Role:
- The Vision Hunt Decree: This decree aimed to confiscate all Visions from the people of Inazuma, stripping individuals of their ambitions and dreams. Its implementation led to immense suffering, widespread fear, and rebellion across the nation.
- The Sakoku Decree: This isolationist policy severed Inazuma's ties with the outside world, preventing trade, travel, and cultural exchange. It stifled Inazuma's growth and trapped its citizens within its borders, contributing to a stagnant and oppressive atmosphere.
These actions, despite being driven by the Raiden Shogun's understanding of "Eternity"—a state she believed would prevent the loss and decay she had witnessed in the past—had profoundly negative impacts on her people. Her unwavering pursuit of this absolute ideal, without regard for individual freedom or well-being, is what makes her actions antagonistic and, in effect, harmful.
Motivations Versus Consequences
It is crucial to distinguish between the Raiden Shogun's core motivations and the actual consequences of her rule.
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Primary Goal | To achieve "Eternity" for Inazuma, believing it would protect her nation from the transience and loss she experienced with her past friends and sister, Makoto. |
| Methods Employed | Imposition of the Vision Hunt Decree and the Sakoku Decree, leading to oppression, confiscation of fundamental rights, and isolation. |
| Consequences | Widespread suffering, rebellion, economic stagnation, loss of hope and ambition among citizens, and a rigid, unyielding social structure. |
| Perception | While not driven by malicious intent to cause harm, her actions are undeniably oppressive and detrimental, classifying her as an antagonist whose rule brings about a state of injustice and despair. |
The narrative explores how Raiden Ei (the true Archon, who manifests through the Raiden Shogun puppet) becomes detached from her people's suffering due to her pursuit of an unchanging ideal. This detachment and the resulting tyranny are what largely contribute to her portrayal as a villainous figure from the perspective of the Traveler and the people of Inazuma.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while Raiden Shogun's motivations are complex and born from a desire to protect Inazuma from the ravages of time and loss, her methods and the subsequent impact of her rule are undeniably oppressive and harmful. Her role as a major antagonist in the story stems from these actions, which lead to significant suffering and opposition, effectively positioning her as a force aligned with "evil" in the context of the narrative's conflict.
