Rhiannon Hendricks
In the Fate/Stay Night anime, Saber is the love interest of Shirou Emiya. She is a powerful warrior who acts with independence and loyalty. In the Unlimited Blade Works episodes of the anime, Saber is seen wearing a wedding dress. This scene has been interpreted in various ways. Some viewers suggest that Caster, whose real identity is Medea, forced Saber to wear the dress to humiliate her and as a symbol of her desire to make Saber her slave. Others argue that the dress symbolises Saber's virginity and her love for Shirou. The scene has also been criticised as fanservice, used to portray Caster's overconfidence and sadistic inclinations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Caster's Real Identity | Medea |
| Saber's Character | Main love interest in Fate/Stay Night and the first anime adaptation |
| Saber's Dress | Symbol of virginity and desire to succumb to sexual pleasure |
| Saber's Lover | Shirou Emiya |
| Caster's Motivation | Betrayal and loss of innocence in her early life |
| Caster's Intentions | To humiliate Saber, make her a slave, and force her to betray Shirou |
| Saber's Resistance | High magic resistance allowed her to resist the power of a command seal |
| Caster's Overconfidence | Did not use a second command spell despite being able to |
| Saber's Fate | Unclear if she will end up with Shirou or return to the world to pursue justice |
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What You'll Learn
Caster's obsession with Saber
In the story, Caster, accidentally summoned by a serial killer, initially only sought to spread murder and terror. However, his motivation drastically changed upon seeing Saber, another servant. Mistaking Saber for Joan of Arc reincarnated, Caster began calling her Jeanne d'Arc, refusing to acknowledge Saber's attempts to correct him. This obsession with Saber/Jeanne d'Arc led Caster to take bigger risks, even battling his fellow servants. He repeatedly tried to convince Saber to abandon her righteous ways, arguing that only cruel actions were suitable for their world.
Caster's obsession went as far as kidnapping and sacrificing children to amass power, believing that he could free "Jeanne" and restore her memories, which he thought God had taken away as punishment. This frenzy of devotion to Saber/Joan of Arc led Caster to torture Saber, hoping to make her lose her mind and succumb to sexual pleasure while remaining a virgin forever. He wanted Saber to become his slave and betray her master, Shirou, out of her own free will, rather than by force.
Despite his efforts, Caster failed to defeat Saber and turn her to his dark path. Ultimately, Saber delivered the final blow to Caster, ending his life.
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Caster's past trauma
Caster's real identity is Medea, a figure with a history of betrayal and loss of innocence. Her past trauma involves being forced by Aphrodite to become Jason's lover using her powers. This is similar to how Caster wanted Saber to betray Shirou and become her slave out of her own volition, without using a Command Spell.
Caster's obsession with Saber stems from an error in Caster's identity, which occurred before the Fourth Holy Grail War. Caster mistook Saber for Jeanne d'Arc, or Joan of Arc, and after losing to Saber, Caster's rage shifted, intensifying their obsession with Saber.
The wedding dress that Caster forced Saber to wear was meant to humiliate Saber and symbolize new vows of servitude to Caster. The white dress also represented Saber's virginity and Caster's desire to have Saber succumb to sexual pleasure while remaining a virgin forever. This desire may have stemmed from Caster's own past trauma of losing her innocence and being forced into a relationship with Jason.
Caster's actions towards Saber, including the use of the wedding dress, were also interpreted as a display of Caster's overconfidence and sadistic inclinations.
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Symbolism of the wedding dress
The wedding dress is a highly symbolic garment, steeped in cultural, religious, and societal traditions. While the specific motivations behind Caster's actions towards Saber remain ambiguous, the wedding dress serves as a potent symbol with multiple interpretations. Here is an exploration of the symbolism associated with the wedding dress:
- Purity and Innocence: In Western cultures, particularly since the 19th century, white wedding gowns have been associated with purity and grace. This symbolism extends beyond Western cultures, as in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, white is also used to symbolize purity, innocence, and cleanliness during wedding ceremonies. The color white reflects the traditional association with a bride's virginity and innocence, as referenced in the dialogue of the Visual Novel.
- Social Status and Wealth: Historically, wedding attire was closely tied to social status and wealth. Brides from wealthy families often wore rich, bold colors, luxurious fabrics, and elaborate designs, showcasing their families' social standing. In contrast, brides from lower social classes typically wore their best church dress or more modest gowns, reflecting their financial means.
- Rite of Passage: The wedding dress signifies a transformative rite of passage, marking the end of singlehood and the beginning of a new commitment and partnership. It represents a spiritual journey towards wholeness and a new phase of maturity and womanhood.
- Regal Perfection: The wedding dress often evokes a sense of regal perfection, akin to the magnificence and beauty associated with a princess or a queen. It symbolizes the aspiration of the bride to feel exalted, special, and goddess-like on her memorable day.
- Personal Expression: In modern times, the wedding dress has evolved to become a statement piece, allowing brides to express their individuality and make their own choices regarding color, fabric, shape, and style. It is often a manifestation of a bride's dreams and aspirations, reflecting her desire to feel special and unique.
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Caster's overconfidence
Caster, whose true identity is Gilles de Rais, also known as Bluebeard, is a major antagonist in Fate/Zero. He is a Caster Class Servant of Uryu Ryuunosuke in the Fourth Holy Grail War. Caster is a tall, muscular figure with shoulder-length hair and large, fish-like eyes. His skin is pale and sickly, and he wears a long black robe. Caster is almost completely devoid of morality and takes great pleasure in torturing and murdering, especially young children.
Caster's obsession with Saber stems from his initial life, where he fought alongside Joan of Arc, and his alignment is Chaotic Evil. He believes Saber to be Joan of Arc, even after she reveals her true identity. Caster's infatuation with Joan of Arc, or Jeanne d'Arc, is well-known, and he wished to resurrect her with the Holy Grail. He is utterly convinced of his mistaken belief about Saber's identity, and even plans to capture her and force her to remember her 'true' past. This delusion is so strong that even after being defeated by Saber, he continues to believe that she is his beloved Jeanne d'Arc.
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Fan service
In the case of Caster making Saber wear a wedding dress in Fate/Stay Night, there are several interpretations of this scene, and it is debatable whether it constitutes fan service. Some viewers interpret the scene as a means of humiliating Saber, forcing her into new vows of servitude to Caster, and symbolising her virginity and desire to succumb to sexual pleasure. This interpretation is supported by dialogue in the visual novel, which reveals Caster's true identity as Medea and her motivation for wanting to put Saber in an embarrassing position.
Others argue that the scene serves a narrative purpose beyond fan service, providing insight into Caster's overconfidence and obsession with Saber. It is suggested that Caster could have easily defeated the protagonists with another command spell but chose not to, believing her victory was assured. This interpretation highlights the nuanced portrayal of Caster's character and her motivations, which may have been unclear in the anime adaptation.
The scene in question, inspired by an ancient Chinese myth, also contributes to the development of the romantic relationship between Saber and Shirou, which is a central plot point in the Fate franchise. Saber's character in Fate/Zero bears a striking resemblance to Mark Twain's portrayal of Joan of Arc, which may have influenced Caster's devotion to her.
While the wedding dress scene may have visual or suggestive elements that could be interpreted as fan service, it also serves a narrative purpose, advancing the plot, character development, and thematic exploration in the anime adaptation of Fate/Stay Night.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several theories as to why Caster made Saber wear a wedding dress. One theory suggests that Caster, whose real identity is Medea, wanted to humiliate Saber and make her a slave. This theory is supported by the fact that Medea experienced many betrayals and had her innocence taken from her at a young age. Another theory suggests that the dress symbolized Saber's virginity and her desire to succumb to sexual pleasure while remaining a virgin. A third theory suggests that Caster, as a Saber fanatic, was overconfident and wanted to show off her power over Saber without having to use another command spell.
The wedding dress could symbolize Saber's love for Shirou, a reborn king, and her willingness to make a wish on the Holy Grail to be with him again.
Saber wears the wedding dress in episodes 13, 14, 17, and 18 (or season 2 episodes 1, 2, 5, and 6).
The wedding dress was inspired by an ancient Chinese myth.
Yes, one theory suggests that Caster, believing Saber to be Jeanne d'Arc (Joan of Arc), saw her as a child and wanted to make her vow to serve Caster until death.
