The Dishonored Series as Environmental and Social Commentary
Outsider , an ancient and powerful leviathan-like creature , would be such an affront to the natural world that its rules might be upended , enabling a whale to become human .
The game ’ s developers have , perhaps wisely , left the final analysis of The Outsider ’ s nature and true form in the hands of players and subject to debate . In a Twitter conversation , Harvey Smith , one of the creative directors at Arkane Studios , fielded several questions from players about the nature of The Outsider , tweeting , “ He appears almost as he was in life .” However , in that same thread , Smith also states that The Outsider ’ s relationship to the whales is ultimately “ unclear ” when asked if The Outsider ’ s sympathy for the creatures was more a spiritual bond or affinity or something more “ literal .” In considering The Outsider , there is something of Bertrand Westphal ’ s idea that “ the relationship between familiar and fabulous has evolved throughout the history of science . Today , the familiar has prevailed over the fabulous . Originally , the relationship was reversed . All was fabulous , an enormous voice , blank spots on a virtual map ” ( 79 ). Perhaps this is why The Outsider feels the need to walk the world again . However , the game ’ s narrative avoids oversimplifying what happens in the story such that the environmental message is clearly laid out , with a firm sense of good vs . evil . Even The Outsider ’ s actions are not without fault , as he bestows powers on those he finds “ interesting ,” and allows them to use those powers as they will . That being the case , the narrative evades the flaws of some environmental apocalypse narratives that feature a “ warning presented in terms of absolute authority ; the material threat is ‘ evil ,’ and so , by association , are the authors of it ; the consequences of failure to heed the warning are catastrophic , and the danger is not only imminent , but already well under way ” ( Garrard 95 ). Certainly , the game provides a pointed critique of the disparity in social class and
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