I have been reading tarot cards professionally for about 20 years. At this point, have read over 1,000 clients and I have been interview by the History Channel and several radio/internet shows over the years because of that. I say this not to pat myself on the back but give you some context that I (probably) know what I am talking about on this level.
All that said, I have not seen anyone really talk about the amazing depth and mostly accurate portrayal of Tarot in the game. So I felt a in-depth analysis was in order. As overlooking this was a grave injustice to the developers who clearly put a LOT of thought and effect in the correct associations and its accuracy.
Now first, a little background on Tarot as speaking of context, without it some of the details I will talk about may be confusing to you.
A few quick historical points on Tarot;
Now we got all that context out of the way lets first address the card right outside of your apartment. It is, frankly, the most on the nose card there is. The first card in the Major Arcana, The Fool. Traditionally the fool is represented by a youth blissfully walking toward a cliff, not looking ahead but up to the sky. A knapsack over his shoulder, while a puppy follows him underfoot. Usually holding a flower (rose).
All the cards in the game are near people or locations that are associated with it. And here The Fool is V. The Fool represents beginnings, journey, folly, free spirit, extravagance, youth, new outlook but on the flip side carelessness, ignorance, apathy, fear of the unknown, being naïve, chaos. A perfect representation, and foreshadowing, of where V is heading as he, like the youth on the card is unknowingly heading towards the cliff. The cliff represents symbolic leap into the unfamiliar or esoteric both of which V will encounter on his journey.
Lastly, The Fool also represents the ultimate “Greater Fool”; perfect blend of self delusion and ego to think he can succeed where others have failed. If that does not represent V after the heist job then I am not sure what does. A person told he has a figurative bomb in his head and he simply picks himself up convinced, irrelevant of the facts, he is going to find a way to overcome this apparent no-win death sentence scenario.
Next let's look at the Strength Card, and Panam. As the card is right next to her when you first meet her, clearly associating her with it. Which you will see is very appropriate.
The Strength card is traditionally represented by a maiden with a flowered wreath upon her head, holding open the mouth of a lion. The maiden representing ones higher self (intellect, understanding, spirituality) overcoming, and accepting ones lower self/the lion (carnal desires, wants, giving in to vices). as a whole the card represents power, courage, success, kindness, compassion, libido, healing and on the flip side weakness, discord, abuse of power, disgrace, cowardice, self made obstacles/opposition.
Now the card is rarely about raw, physical strength but inner strength on some level. Also astrologically speaking, the Leo is associated with this card. Putting all that together I feel it is safe to say not only does Panam clearly represent many of these traits but due to her personality she is a Leo, as she fits it characteristic wise almost text book. Her simmering anger just under the surface ready to boil over, her protectiveness of her family and those she cares about or loves, her being very well educated, tactical thinker, self sacrificially brave, once you get past her wall a very sensual, sexual person and she can be, at times, her own worst enemy due to her aforementioned temper. All traits of the card (or/and a Leo) to a T as I described above.
This card also eludes to the possible romance between V and Panam. The flowers on the maidens head is a symbol in alchemy representing male/female union.
This is, after the Fool, one of the most on the nose card associations in my view.
Full article at the link in my sig, thanks for reading.
All that said, I have not seen anyone really talk about the amazing depth and mostly accurate portrayal of Tarot in the game. So I felt a in-depth analysis was in order. As overlooking this was a grave injustice to the developers who clearly put a LOT of thought and effect in the correct associations and its accuracy.
Now first, a little background on Tarot as speaking of context, without it some of the details I will talk about may be confusing to you.
A few quick historical points on Tarot;
- Origins of the word “Tarot” under historical debate, either Italian or Arabic based
- First mention of Tarot as a card game in the 14th century, Believed entered Europe via Egypt
- First documents mentioning tarot is a ban in Switzerland in 1367
- Started out as art/education and card games most notable in and around Italy.
- First recorded use of tarot as divination in a book was 1540
- Carl Jung first Psychologist to attach importance of symbolism as it represented human archetypes
- Psychologist Timothy Leary also suggests Major Arcana represents via archetypes human development/journey from birth (Fool) to death (Death) to ones final spiritual journey (The World).
- Modern Tarot has a direct associations & links to astrology, Kabballah, ceremonial magick concepts, elemental concepts and numerology (we will mainly be focusing on the astrology links for simplicity).
- Some cards simply do not have a outright positive meaning, just as some, symbolically, do not have a outright negative meaning.
- Lastly, the cards in the game are the Major Arcana of 22 cards, a full tarot deck is 78 cards which also include a Minor Arcana, 4 suits, Ace to 10 and court cards. Yes, very similar to today's deck of poker cards, they are cousins. Since the Minors are not in the game we won't talk about them further.
Now we got all that context out of the way lets first address the card right outside of your apartment. It is, frankly, the most on the nose card there is. The first card in the Major Arcana, The Fool. Traditionally the fool is represented by a youth blissfully walking toward a cliff, not looking ahead but up to the sky. A knapsack over his shoulder, while a puppy follows him underfoot. Usually holding a flower (rose).
All the cards in the game are near people or locations that are associated with it. And here The Fool is V. The Fool represents beginnings, journey, folly, free spirit, extravagance, youth, new outlook but on the flip side carelessness, ignorance, apathy, fear of the unknown, being naïve, chaos. A perfect representation, and foreshadowing, of where V is heading as he, like the youth on the card is unknowingly heading towards the cliff. The cliff represents symbolic leap into the unfamiliar or esoteric both of which V will encounter on his journey.
Lastly, The Fool also represents the ultimate “Greater Fool”; perfect blend of self delusion and ego to think he can succeed where others have failed. If that does not represent V after the heist job then I am not sure what does. A person told he has a figurative bomb in his head and he simply picks himself up convinced, irrelevant of the facts, he is going to find a way to overcome this apparent no-win death sentence scenario.
Next let's look at the Strength Card, and Panam. As the card is right next to her when you first meet her, clearly associating her with it. Which you will see is very appropriate.
The Strength card is traditionally represented by a maiden with a flowered wreath upon her head, holding open the mouth of a lion. The maiden representing ones higher self (intellect, understanding, spirituality) overcoming, and accepting ones lower self/the lion (carnal desires, wants, giving in to vices). as a whole the card represents power, courage, success, kindness, compassion, libido, healing and on the flip side weakness, discord, abuse of power, disgrace, cowardice, self made obstacles/opposition.
Now the card is rarely about raw, physical strength but inner strength on some level. Also astrologically speaking, the Leo is associated with this card. Putting all that together I feel it is safe to say not only does Panam clearly represent many of these traits but due to her personality she is a Leo, as she fits it characteristic wise almost text book. Her simmering anger just under the surface ready to boil over, her protectiveness of her family and those she cares about or loves, her being very well educated, tactical thinker, self sacrificially brave, once you get past her wall a very sensual, sexual person and she can be, at times, her own worst enemy due to her aforementioned temper. All traits of the card (or/and a Leo) to a T as I described above.
This card also eludes to the possible romance between V and Panam. The flowers on the maidens head is a symbol in alchemy representing male/female union.
This is, after the Fool, one of the most on the nose card associations in my view.
Full article at the link in my sig, thanks for reading.