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The Witcher 2What does the LadyBird mean in the Epilogue ???(110 posts)(110 posts)
(110 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted June 15, 2011
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227: I'd agree with that if not for the fact that it occurs right after Letho tells you all about what happened to Yennefer. Besides that, Triss is nearby and Ciri was barely mentioned in the story.

It's not the strongest connection, but that was definitely the explanation that I enjoyed the most. More than likely the devs chose something intentionally vague with a number of different possible interpretations and added it in to get people talking :)

I do like your explanation, but there's something about the prominence of that scene that suggests a deeper meaning to people like me than just "something innocent in a world of sin." Maybe that's all it is, but the depth of field in the part where it's just Geralt's eyes watching the ladybug begin to take flight seemed really suggestive of something... else.
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Mv.c9: Maybe that was the point all along, to give everyone their own interpretation, I did read what Adokat said, and I agree on it Partially.

It could be anything, but like you (227) I also look for something really related to the story, in the WHOLE witcher story killing was never even once mentioned to be a bad thing, geralt never felt shame for what he did, all the choices he made or you made for him, he was happy with it, happy about slaughtering the nilfgardians, killing the kedwenis, never said "oh why I killed, then I should stop killing" it was never something that was considered now we need to stop.

Witcher is there to kill monsters, but as he mentioned in "The Witcher 1" -- while talking to abigail for the first time and when she said about the swords (steel for human and silver for monster) -- geralt responds they are both for slaying monsters, one the real monsters and one for killing monsters humans have become.

Maybe i also misinterpreted Adokat's saying again, but I hope i didnt. but what i meant is that "something innocent in a wold of sin" is a bit unlikely but not impossible.

EDIT: ADOKAT I just saw your post (it was posted before i made this post so i didnt see) and I agree with you -- almost entirely.
hehe cool. Just some minor clarification for my personal interpretation of the ending. I agree with you that I don't think Geralt feels much guilt or shame over the [i]act [/i of ]killing in general. However, I don't think he enjoys being drawn into the world of kings, sorceresses, and their plots, and the killing of humans that frequently entails. However, that's the life he leads, and try as he might, he-unlike the ladybug- can't fly away.

At least in my game, I saw Geralt as being disgusted with all the infighting, backstabbing, and intrigue among the nobility. In the process of chasing the Kingslayer, he basically became one in the process. He's sick of having the choose the lesser evil. That's why, for me anyways, it was so satisfying to have a drink with Letho and then just walk away.


BTW- you line about Geralt's conversation with Abigail made me remember the coolest line at the *spoilers-duh* end of the first game, where Geralt goes to give the coup de grace to de Aldersburg, who knocks away Geralt's steel sword. Geralt draws his silver sword, and Aldersburg exclaims 'That sword...is for monsters.' Without a word, Geralt plunges the sword into his chest. Badass.
Post edited June 15, 2011 by Adokat
Posted June 15, 2011
Here catching and releasing a ladybug grants you one wish , well people make a wish when they do not so sure that it works tho cause my wishes back then never really happen hehe
Post edited June 15, 2011 by Forsaker
Posted June 15, 2011
I legit thought the ladybug was Phillipa. Geralt doesn't look too happy to see it and she can morph into an owl - so why not ladybug as well?
Post edited June 15, 2011 by dnna
Posted June 15, 2011
According to Wikipedia and some other sites the Ladybug is a bringer of luck.

In my country a Ladybug is called Marienkäfer because in the mediaval times this bug was consecrated to Holy Mary because of it usefullness in agriculture (one bug eats about 150 plant lice a day) it was believed to be a present of Holy Mary.

Is this true for the english folks here, is the Lady in Ladybug the Holy Mary?

A Ladybug is believed to be a bringer of luck, protector of children and healer of sicknesses.

There are Ladybugs with seven black points on them those seven black points stand for the seven virtues of Holy Mary and are believed to protect from witches and bad luck.

It also is believed that killing a Ladybug or even ousting it away will bring doom upon ye.

(Sorry for my not so good english I can do better but alas I feel lazy today)
Post edited June 15, 2011 by passionata
Posted June 15, 2011
A few moments ago a ladybug landed on my window, might be the same that Geralt released ;]. Anyway i dont know the real meaning, but i remember from my childhood that You can not kill ladybugs, and if You spot one, You have to do the very same thing that Geralt did with it.
Posted June 15, 2011
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Yakkuz: The same here. Would be nice to know what is associated to it in Poland :D
Well, in Poland it's also considered as a symbol of good fortune and happy moments to come. In pagan religions (at least from the area of pre-medieval and medieval Poland) it was also associated with sacredness (in folk Polish and Russian there is a term God's little cow) It's also believed that if you catch and keep (or kill) the ladybird, misfortune and bad luck is going to haunt you. So all this might be connected with Geralt finding his final peace in the next chapter of his adventures.

However, there's one thing I discovered, which makes the whole thing really interesting.

Not many people know, that the ladybird is also a symbol of desire. At first this English word strangely got out of my mind and I couldn't recall it to put in this reply, so I looked up in Polish-English dictionary. And I discovered, that there's another word for "desire" in English.

This word is...YEN

O_o

This actually blew my mind :)
Post edited June 15, 2011 by gregski
Posted June 15, 2011
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Adokat: To me, the moment is simply Geralt sparing an innocent creature and letting it fly way (which may have more meaning depending on if you killed the dragon or not). After so much killing, I think he liked seeing something that could just fly away from it all.
Pretty much. The fact that he took the time to send the ladybug safely on its way and allowed himself a private moment to enjoy its beauty merely proves that Geralt still holds on very hard to his humanity.
Posted June 16, 2011
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Adokat: To me, the moment is simply Geralt sparing an innocent creature and letting it fly way (which may have more meaning depending on if you killed the dragon or not). After so much killing, I think he liked seeing something that could just fly away from it all.
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Namur: Pretty much. The fact that he took the time to send the ladybug safely on its way and allowed himself a private moment to enjoy its beauty merely proves that Geralt still holds on very hard to his humanity.
How on earth you have over 2000 rep, you must be a methuselah or something, so I will take anything you say as FACT. and seeing how your a bloodlines fan. I think we have something in common.

but again I specifically proved why that particular interpretation is not accurate.

Here is the LINK to the post: http://www.gog.com/en/forum/the_witcher_2/what_does_the_ladybird_mean_in_the_epilogue/post15

Geralt never considered himself human, in the game it was asked from him over 10 times, and he said "Im not a human." -- the game was NEVER about geralts humanity, he made the choice and was happy with it. never complained as in why didnt i saved triss, why didnt i kill this, or that. he was like -- well i came to save you so i have my reasons and im happy with it.

read the post 15, i think i wrote it better in there.
Post edited June 16, 2011 by Mv.c9
Posted June 16, 2011
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Mv.c9: but again I specifically proved why that particular interpretation is not accurate.

Here is the LINK to the post: http://www.gog.com/en/forum/the_witcher_2/what_does_the_ladybird_mean_in_the_epilogue/post15

Geralt never considered himself human, in the game it was asked from him over 10 times, and he said "Im not a human." -- the game was NEVER about geralts humanity, he made the choice and was happy with it. never complained as in why didnt i saved triss, why didnt i kill this, or that. he was like -- well i came to save you so i have my reasons and im happy with it.

read the post 15, i think i wrote it better in there.
Geralt doesn't consider himself human because he's been mutated into a Witcher, a killing machine. He never said he enjoys killing, it is simply his job. Many people don't enjoy their jobs, yet they still do them. He hardly has any say in the matter.
Posted June 16, 2011
For me, this ladybird scene was the best in the game. After all the killing and often gratuitous violence ar last a moment of tenderness.
This game was the most cruel and murderous game i've ever played- gave me nightmares!
Posted June 16, 2011
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Mv.c9: Geralt never considered himself human, in the game it was asked from him over 10 times, and he said "Im not a human." -- the game was NEVER about geralts humanity, he made the choice and was happy with it. never complained as in why didnt i saved triss, why didnt i kill this, or that. he was like -- well i came to save you so i have my reasons and im happy with it.
Being human and being humane - having humanity - , are two different things. Perhaps the reason Geralt feels the need to repeatedly state he's not human is because most humans around him seem to have all but lost their humanity.

Being a killing machine, in the line of work or while under orders, doesn't necessarily strips away one's humanity but it does make it that much more remarkable when one going through life under such conditions is able to hold on to it.

Definitely a Bloodlines fan btw ;)
Post edited June 16, 2011 by Namur
Posted June 16, 2011
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Namur: Being human and being humane - having humanity - , are two different things. Perhaps the reason Geralt feels the need to repeatedly state he's not human is because most humans around him seem to have all but lost their humanity.

Being a killing machine, in the line of work or while under orders, doesn't necessarily strips away one's humanity but it does make it that much more remarkable when one going through life under such conditions is able to hold on to it.

Definitely a Bloodlines fan btw ;)
Your point makes sense, and I completely understand it. your right.

and about bloodlines, if your a fan, then maybe youll like my upcoming Super mod:
http://www.moddb.com/mods/bloodlines-antitribu
Posted June 16, 2011
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Mv.c9: and about bloodlines, if your a fan, then maybe youll like my upcoming Super mod:
http://www.moddb.com/mods/bloodlines-antitribu
Thanks, it does look interesting.
Posted July 10, 2011
When I first saw the Ladybug i thought it was Phillipa in polymorph and I expected Geralt to squish her :D.

Ive read your opinions and I think the best interpretation is that Geralt is just a nice, gentle person who wouldnt even hurt an insect if he didnt have to.
Posted July 10, 2011
None of the arguments here have proven anything so far. Yes, the ladybird can be a symbol of luck, good times to come, or desire. But to associate those to Yennefer is a stretch. By the way, from the dictionary, Yen seems to have been adapted from Cantonese/Mandarin word "yuen", so ladybird -> desire -> yen -> Yennefer doesn't sound convincing to me.

I agree with what Namur said. Despite all the bloodshed (by his hand and the others around him) and the messed-up state the world is, Geralt can still appreciate the beauty of life and be humane even to the smallest creature. This in itself, is meaningful, and at the very least consistent with the theme of humanity in the books and novels. The scene doesn't need to refer to specific characters (Ciri / Yennefer) in order to be deep (at least not the "deep" as I understand it).
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The Witcher 2What does the LadyBird mean in the Epilogue ???(110 posts)(110 posts)
(110 posts)