Why Marcus is the only character in Arcane stuck in a state of penance | An Arcane video essay

[@JPWrites]

Do you think there's a way Marcus could have made things right? If so, how?

[@HxH2011DRA]

Letting Vi free would have been a good start

[@lilacpen8678]

@@HxH2011DRA She was responsible for theft and destruction of property, and who knows how many injuries. She would've gone to jail anyway, but he made sure to keep her off Silco's radar and lied to him to keep her safe. He's made a lot of mistakes, obviously, but that's one I can't fault him for.

[@itsblitz4437]

@@lilacpen8678 not to mention Caitlyn got her free, which I didn't see Marcus talking to Caitlyn about it, funny the show didn't touch on that.

[@Dilligff]

@@itsblitz4437 That's because Caitlyn did it on her own with forged documents after she'd been put on leave following the bombing. Marcus didn't find out about it until the pleasant little chat Silco shared with him and his daughter. His only encounter with her following that was on the bridge where he was about to shoot her. So technically he was going to talk to her about it but didn't get to the _bullet_ point of his discussion before being rudely interrupted by the impromptu fireworks display Jinx sent to celebrate his unexpectedly early retirement.

[@highsun76]

He should've pulled the ring off that grenade.

[@Dilligff]

A lot of people also missed out on the 'running gag' with his character. He always struggled with his ego and his desire to be 'important' in some manner. He fails every time. The writers give a glimpse of a potential depth to his character with his admiration for Grayson and his love of his daughter, and then let it go dormant. When Jinx asks Vi if it was Marcus that took her, Vi responds with "I don't know. It doesn't matter." When he dies on the bridge his final words are cut short. After his death, Silco only refers to him as 'the late sheriff' instead of saying his name. Silco even points this out as well when he asks him, "Imagining yourself a hero? One final act to make yourself the martyr you've always seen yourself as?" An act that Marcus plays in his head, but doesn't actually carry through on. It becomes all the more ironic that the man who was always doomed to be forgotten, played such a pivotal role in how many of the events unfolded.

[@JPWrites]

I didn't pick up on this, but it's so true! Even his dying words, which arguably would be the most important thing he ever had to say, get cut off.

[@terrace15]

It's interesting to me how Marcus' vision of killing Silco comes in the form of a suicide bombing. You could explain it through it being the only way as Silco is just too powerful for any assassin to escape after the deed, and killing Silco would expose Marcus' corruption on top of it, but I think there's more. Perhaps this scene is an expression of Marcus' self hatred as well? I think he feels frustrated that he is unable to find the strength to take action and sacrifice his position for the greater good. At this point, he's been stuck enabling criminals for several years. He must've had countless opportunities to stop what he was involved in, but he was never able to make the difficult right decisions, even though he wanted to deep down. In many ways, the whole mess is all his fault, and I think he knows it. The tragic thing is that his self hatred wasn't even able to overcome his impulses. He dies a slave to not just Silco, but to himself as well.

[@mudshrooze]

I hear from many people that they hate Marcus. Or they were glad he died. I dont get that I feel deeply for this tragic man stuck I a cycle of self hate, regret, and seemingly no way out. That's actually a common thing in real life for people. People get stuck in loops of self hate, feeling like they deserve the misery. Their are ways to atone and heal but in that mindset its exceptionally hard to see it.

[@marykrashnic4948]

It's funny that a lot of people love Silko, right? Everyone loves characters with a beautiful tragic fate, and no one loves who they would most likely become in such a world. I think Marcus is the most realistically written character, with obvious human weaknesses and selfishness. That's what made him my favorite character.

[@mudshrooze]

@@marykrashnic4948 wonderfully put. It's cool to see this thought process in someone else

[@caseyjp1]

Another video by #schnee touched on this point from a different angle. His take was how good writing can make use of a 'bad character'. In this case Marcus was more of a device to move the plot along rather than deal with his 'issues'...and yet they (the writers) made it very clear that he did NOT like what he had done, but that his character truly was a coward at heart. His death on the bridge gave him no resolution. Sometimes that is the direction to take, as most people die without a neat bow tying up things.

[@JPWrites]

How funny that we both did Marcus videos at the same time - I'll have to check it out!

[@caseyjp1]

@@JPWrites Definitely check out his one minute speed-takes on Arcane as well. He's a new "tuber", but I really like his delivery. 🙂

[@itsblitz4437]

It goes to show a lot of people are making all kinds of videos relating to Arcane.

[@loretohidalgo3533]

Underrated character

[@missy2105]

i really liked how you showed a different character for each stage of penance, such as younger vi for action to atone and then jinx's "bapitsm" scene for absolution. it really highlights that though everyone is going through different things in this show (esp marcus, who i admittedly hate more than silco), it all spirals back to basic everyday principles which is why this show feels realistic, despite the fantasy/steampunk-esque setting

[@ClockMonsterLA]

Assuming Vi now finally realizes that Powder is gone for good, then how can she atone for her failure to save Powder? That path is forever closed to Vi. It seems to me that Vi will be stuck in a state of penance as she chases down Jinx, feeling at least partially responsible for each act of murder and destruction Jinx perpetrates.

[@JPWrites]

This is a great observation - can't wait to see how it's tackled in Season 2!

[@charlesburgess4511]

It's what really makes me like the ending of season one, as the song as one of the many interpretations, can be seen as Vi's despair at realising that her moment of disproportionate anger at her last remaining member of her family (who was herself mentally unstable and needed support) in Act One directly led (at least in her mind) to Jinx's decisions and actions in the finale. All the element of a classic Greek Tragedy.

[@mariahanczewska8109]

Certainly a form of penance, very unpleasant indeed, was that, since making a one deal, he was always accompanied by the fear of whether ( or- when?) Silco would hurt his daughter.

[@itsgonnabeokay9341]

I am a bit late, but there is a very interesting theory about Marcus. In one episode we can see Marcus' daughters drawing of her with him. In the same drawing we can see a female figure flying towards heaven. It's possibly that it was his wife. And if we look at his daughters age, I think it's definitely possible that his wife died not long before the show takes place, which could also explain his attitude and bring even more to the tragedy of his character.

[@nevetstrevel4711]

Great vid!

[@Chayok_Art]

I really feel bad for him..💔

[@artloverivy]

Super underrated channel. I have yet to cover Arcane on mine since I’m overwhelmed by how much there is to say, but watching vids like yours help me form my thoughts for when I eventually do. Got yourself a sub 😊💖

[@JPWrites]

Thank you!

[@HxH2011DRA]

"Sin will become a wedge that allows no escape."- Typhon, the Witch of Pride; Re:zero

[@itsblitz4437]

Wow that is a awesome quote. Reminds me of Attack on Titan where Grisha says "...All I have left for myself is my sins."

[@babufacio_____wczesniejvin2847]

Marus was my fav character. Wanted to be like hes mentor - Mrs Greysson, but he choose wrong person to side with

[@MSOHare1981]

I've been watching your plotting with various outlining methods, have you ever read any of the plotting/character outlining by K.M. Weiland? Specifically, she has outlining your novel, and structuring your novel and they both have corresponding workbooks that have you answer tons of questions in regards to story. I also found the workbook for Creating Character arcs quite helpful.

[@JPWrites]

I haven't - thanks for the recommendation! I'll check them out :)

[@MSOHare1981]

@@JPWrites I wanted to add something when you go through her books sometimes the questions may not have helped me but they helped sparked my own questions that did. In her outlining book it's more for the beginning stages of your story like asking yourself what if this happens, or what do you think is expected in a story like whatever you're writing. Structuring your novel is more advanced for asking things like what is your hook, or what happens in the first act. The Character Arc's book helps you develop your character from the start of the story to the end asking things like What is the lie or truth they believe at the beginning of the story that has to change at the end? What's the thing they want most, or what's their background story? There's about five arcs in her book and she has more on her blog site helpingwritersbecomeauthors which the blogs are free there's also a podcast on spotify.

[@hayrullah1000]

There are weak people all around. Marcus wanted to be successful in front of mentour. But he failed. Because of the act he always stuck in there and made his own pergotory bleeding everyday. But he is too weak and greedy(may be cuz of his daughter). He could kill Cait but couldn't because of the fight he was having inside you can see.