🔗 Share this article

Hollow Knight: Silksong continues the unique narrative style from the original title, scattering bits of lore and character growth in various corners. When you piece it all together, the transformation from a seemingly simple start to a profoundly important conclusion is striking. Much like the overall experience, the story is more ambitious and better executed than its predecessor, built upon a powerful core concept and a significant revelation.

However, the word "Almost" is crucial. There is a central flaw: the creators seem unable to decide about whether the protagonist is Hornet or the player.

Editor's Note: The following discussion contains major plot reveals for both the regular and secret conclusions of Silksong.

The Pilgrimage of Hornet

The quest begins with the protagonist imprisoned in a cage. A group known as the Weavers captured her on the bidding of the deity Mother Silk, from whom Hornet is partly descended. After breaking free, she joins a band of travelers and begins her ascent. Her path takes her from the hellish depths littered with bones and corpses up towards the Citadel, home to Pharloom's corrupt religious caste. Along the way, she observes the hardship and pain endured by the exploited masses in the name of religion—laborers who toil unto death, dissenters imprisoned for their beliefs, and more.

Lace and the Central Conflict

Lace, also born from the deity's own silk, is likewise ascending to the Citadel. Her plan is to revive the deity, exact revenge on the corrupt clergy, and seize control. The protagonist's interference complicates matters. In the regular conclusion, she takes over from the deity. In the secret finale, Hornet locks away Mother Silk, confronts the dark entity, frees Lace, and sees Mother Silk give herself up so they may go free.

Thematic Foundations

Silksong is, at its heart, a tale of journey. It is inspired by ancient spiritual journeys and morality plays, with a critical look at organized religion. The protagonist's path—descending into darkness, navigating a purgatorial layer, and rising toward revelation—directly parallels the classic epic poem. That literary work follows a fictional Dante through the afterlife on a journey of enlightenment, which is the essence of Silksong.

One can even draw connections to the Stations of the Cross, albeit rearranged. The heroine is arrested and stripped, faces judgment, suffers a grueling climb, and is temporarily entombed in the abyss. In essence, the game invites contemplation on religion, spirituality, and transformation, all of which are vital for understanding the finale.

Backstory of the Weavers

Delving into the mythology of the ancient race reveals that the religion and way of life previously upheld by the deity has turned toxic. Her children abandoned her teachings, and a group of power-hungry clergy seized control the Citadel, twisting its doctrines for their personal benefit.

The protagonist, as a part-Weaver descendant of the deity, was pre-ordained to obey her commands, willingly or not. Thanks to her upbringing by Herrah, she was kept away from the internal conflicts and encouraged to be independent, which is why the deity captures her at the start—to force her to fulfill her inherited duties.

Endings and Meanings

If Hornet defeats Mother Silk in the regular finale, she takes her power and becomes a new god. The fact that this is not the good outcome indicates that the kingdom's problems would persist—Hornet would have merely replaced one corrupt deity for another. By resolving all conflicts, players unlock Act 3 and the ideal conclusion.

Like any significant journey, this one concludes with enlightenment. The protagonist's realization is that she can now live free of the Weaver taint in her blood and choose her own path. Her rival, recalling that love triumphs, liberated from her single-mindedness, will presumably restore the kingdom in a better image. In the true ending, faith is abolished, and everyone is free.

As a end of the journey, it is an exceptional piece of meta-storytelling that fits seamlessly into the inspirations it draws upon. It tells players that the sole path to a better society is to show compassion. Rarely do titles use interactivity to convey this theme so powerfully, and the creators deserve praise for this innovative approach.

A Central Dilemma

Despite the strength of its final message, the development team struggled to support this message throughout the game and, more importantly, to tie it to the adventure's heart: the heroine.

The moral might be for the player, but the narrative is about Hornet. When a narrative features a main character who speaks and thinks independently, she must be the primary subject, and her actions and growth should convey the themes. Even in allegorical works, the main character's purpose are usually clearly defined to avoid confusion.

Yet, Hornet does not grow or evolve on her quest. Her only goal is to return home. The conflict between free will and fate only surfaces in the climactic battle and some hidden lore. If players tick every box to reach the true ending, an supporting figure comments on her kindness, but he is addressing the player, not her.

Lack of Character Development

This method would have worked in the first Hollow Knight, where the protagonist is a blank slate. She, however, is a defined character, a focused warrior with a set objective. If she is made to choose actions against her nature—such as aiding the helpless—there should be some resistance. One would anticipate her to grumble, act gruff, or at least respond. A simple grumble when initially assisting, later expressing concern that her aid might help, would work.

When initially requested to help the weak bugs of Pharloom, Hornet responds with apathy, treating it as a low priority. Even if the user decides to assist, she forms no bond with any of them. There is no transformation, no evolution of viewpoint. It is remarkable that the user would show such care, but not the heroine. The game provides little justification to think she would.

Wasted Character Potential

The protagonist's dialogues with characters like the Caretaker were the ideal chance to flesh out her character and reinforce the themes without obvious explanation. Most of these end up being merely ornamental, just filling space. This issue stems from both the characterization of the heroine and the random placement of the supporting cast.

One character is essentially a lovable, doddering old fool—there for flavor but playing no crucial part. Others, like the certain NPCs, represent different ideologies contrary to the establishment, a idea that aligns with the message but is never developed.

Aside from key figures, one of the few NPCs with a thread through the entire game is a specific character, thanks to a tragic romance. While compelling, it leans heavily on a problematic cliché and feels separate from the main narrative. Taking it out would have no effect on the protagonist's arc or the primary theme.

Hornet as a Passenger

The seemingly random distribution of focus makes side stories feel unfinished and added hastily. The largest error, however, is that Hornet is portrayed as a passive participant in almost every situation. The few times she speaks up, her remarks are uninspiring, such as offering clichéd advice to another character. Even more direct remarks on oppression and free will would have linked her more closely to the game's concepts. Instead, she is merely a passenger—in the backseat of her narrative.

Respect Amid Critique

Despite these problems in storytelling, there is still great admiration for what the developers accomplished. Rare titles blend so many inspirations into a collection of ideas so powerful and complex that they are built directly into the in-game world. If the next project from the studio is larger and improved, one can only hope that those enhancements include the fundamentals of storytelling as well.