The Witcher and Feminism

[tk102]

Geralt is basically a male fantasy...

Good post. I hadn't considered it in that way before but it rings true. It's not necessary to get hung up on the direct comparisons of Geralt and James Bond. The point is that they're both embodiments of male "id".

Geralt is the protagonist and we are 100% in his point of view. I think it is safe to say that, in any feminist reading, his sexuality is that of a conquering male, which is a very loaded term in traditional feminist analysis. And not a compliment. I don't think any peripheral elements like variance of strength in supporting female characters or invariance of breast size is going to matter much in a feminist analysis of the game.

Agreed. Women playing The Witcher will experience a primal male viewpoint. Pity there's not an analogous game that offers 1st person perspective as a female fantasy.

 

[ausir]

There are many strong female characters in the Witcher books. Maybe the next game will allow you to play one of them?

 

[petra_silie]

Yes, though I've read only Last Wish and Sword of Destiny so far... I agree with you. Nevertheless women as collectable subjects aka cards is still a bit "cheap". I would like to see women like Keaira (links contains artworks and renders until final) She's hot, she's sexy, she is dangerous and you have to respect her... and she would be a real challenge for Geralt

 

[maki]

@ Flambergius: I had really huge problems with some feminists concering my sexuality. They told me something about being insane and so. They really tried to forbid me this kind of sex because it would be abuse and so. I told them what they could do with this opinion...@ Lenamarie: They're just games, not RL. I'd say Tomb Raider is far worse. A woman with suche huge tits has to wear a bra made of iron if she wants to avoid pain while jumping like Lara...

 

[dc-61]

@ Lenamarie: They're just games, not RL. I'd say Tomb Raider is far worse. A woman with suche huge tits has to wear a bra made of iron if she wants to avoid pain while jumping like Lara...

This i can confirm ..mmm...no, not because i ´am a female with huge "boobs" (niedliches Wort!! ) but in my family is someone who suffers of having such big "front building" !!

 

[desmasic]

He even manages to 'seduce' a fraking goddess...Amazing.Other than that the game is more mature than most people playing the game itself, and I love it.

 

[username_2063713]

He even manages to 'seduce' a fraking goddess...

Although the goddess in question hadn't been laid in a loooong time (unless she's into fishmen), so it probably wasn't that difficult.

 

[katjak.777]

Interesting topic. I also suspect that anyone doing modern gender studies would be more interested in analyzing Geralt than the game's female characters.I'm a woman and consider myself feminist or post genderist, and so far I've been pleasantly surprised by the female characters and Geralt's attitude and relationships with them. I expected MUCH worse. The tarot cards are silly but well, barring a fully adult version of The Witcher, it's hard to come up with anything better. My major complaint is that Geralt's encounters sometimes seem a bit simplistic. There are so many opportunities for banter and flirt and they are only occasionally used. But making the encounters politically correct and realistic wouldn't work either.**SLIGHT SPOILERS*** My favorite one so far is perhaps the Princess in Leuvaarden's party (beginning of Chapter III). She was weird and straightforward and the ensuing cutscene told a lot about her. The waitress at Hairy Bear Inn was also funny, in how she actually turned Geralt down after leading him on. My least favorite relationship moment in The Witcher so far is how Geralt seems to be falling for Shani if you take Alvin back to her -- fortunately the game allows you to be ambiguous when answering Dandelion's silly questions about her. My Geralt is not the type that falls for anyone, at leat not Shani. But I haven't progressed far after that and don't know how things turn out.As to why Geralt is so popular with the ladies... Well, he's sterile, he doesn't carry diseases, he's in top shape, has great stamina in several respects, and a reputation for being good in bed. If you don't have moral issues about casual sex, what more do you need?

 

[germi91]

what more do you need?

Hmm... you reminded me of this scene in Family Guy."Do you like cake?""Yes...""Do you like my ass?""Yes...""Do you want to eat cake off my ass?""...what kind of cake?""Angel fruit cake"

 

[username_2063713]

I think it would be interesting to note who Geralt has turned down for various players. So far I've refused (spoilers) Abigail (given the circumstances, that was not a flattering offer) and the vampires (hideous) after a flat offer.

 

[steelwill]

I always assumed that the women were more sexually aware than in the midevil period and they figure that Geralt provides them some intense orgasms. Even the non-talkable NPC women flirt with you.

Actually I think its medieval pragmatism...every 3rd person is dying from the plague, and Witchers are immune to most diseases...the chicks are shagging the safe bet, Geraltwon't make them sick, or become sick from them. I personally do wish it wasn't quite sooo easy to seduce the women in the game. It tends to make me think less that Geralt is a stud whose really worth sleeping with, and more it makes me think these chicks will lay anything with a pulse.

 

[Hiver.147]

Its a shame they alowed those conquests to be so easy. They would have been much more believable and satisfying if you could fail at some, get some girls angry or miss a specific date after which you couldnt get it on with that girl anymore.

 

[tansheron]

Wow, people (who think women in "Witcher" are easy) really need to brush up on their knowledge of history.Imagine human medieval city. Available entertainments: church, traveling circus (once in a month maybe) and... guess what? Sex! If a guy like Geralt came to town, he would have any woman he wanted even without complex quests like "bring me a trinket".

 

[maki]

And; Ladies, be honest: who would say "no" to Geralt...

 

[desmasic]

As to why Geralt is so popular with the ladies... Well, he's sterile, he doesn't carry diseases, he's in top shape, has great stamina in several respects, and a reputation for being good in bed. If you don't have moral issues about casual sex, what more do you need?

Most people (according to the in-game comment by Geralt) aren't even aware of Witchers being immune to diseases. So I seriously doubt it that before getting laid those lovely ladies even bother about thinking about every possible statistic about him and analyzing under those 5 seconds.. of dialogues of course.Also, when the game started I was like 'Oh wow, a sex scene that didn't feel awkward.. enough'. Then as the game progressed with Geralt sleeping with every possible hot chick (I think only grannies are the ugly kind in the world of Witcher.. even the dead one's look doable) he had a dialogue with I went from 'Hmm' to 'Wow lame' really fast. Designers completely killed the 'wow' effect of those encounters by bombarding the player with sex left and right.Oh and the 'card' bit I think is just a way to skip the work that would've taken to create every sex scene possible, else they wouldn't have bothered seeing as how the game isn't really for kids (not that they aren't playing it).

 

[hozzmidnight]

I am sure people will have a problem (especially in the US) with the game's take on male-female relations but oh well.Its a game, a fantasy. I love it. The trading card meta-game is brilliant.

 

[darthmael]

Yare yare desu ne...People... What are you talking about in here? And why? I mean - it's just a game, interesting - yes, rather realistic - yes, artfully done - yes, but still a game, a FICTION, blast it! I simply fail to see any logical point in discussion of this kind (look at my signature). Why should feminists care about the game representation of women? It would be the same as sueing the fantasy books author for his ideas. It's all a matter of taste, of personal opinion. If you don't want Geralt having sex with women, make him refuse their offers. Guys, it's just a story which you can go through at your spare time, it's made to help you relax and have some fun after work! So why should someone be getting at the details so much?If you want to continue being picky, you can become a game critic and get paid for that. If you just want to play - then enjoy the game and stop searching for a black cat in a dark room, especially when it's not there. I'm pretty sure The Witcher's creators did not mean anything with all those Geralt&VariousGirls pairings - it was done only to make the game more fun and more real !Maybe you people either don't like the game - but why are you here if it's the case? - or just have nothing to do, so you just having fun throwing random topics around no matter how inconsistent they can be.Come on, relax everybody, and keep playing! The Witcher is a totally marvellous game, and there's no need in making a whale out of the fly.

 

[zippydsmlee]

One could say tis about political correctness I have always found feminism odd, the movement wants to make women eqaul to men but yet when women decide to live life in a way different from the movement (mostly models,porn,strippers,ect) theya re some how demonized as slaves of men or what not.Sure there are women who live their lives "under men" but thats more to do with traditional/cultural issues, once you put gender(race,creed ect as well) aside and look at indavenauls and circumstances even the sluttiest of whores male or female may not appear to be so bad, moralisim and PCisim rush to judge and save others from "life" and rarely see things for what they really are.As for the issue of sex everyone has a lover sooner or later and depending on the era and general morals of the populace even normal people can have 10 before they die, dose this make people sluts if they have more lovers than what the appaerant "norm" is?Having a few lovers dose not make one a whore it merely means life is more complicated that what some say.katjakDespite my other issues with the game the whole sex and relation thing is really not that bad, God of war was well "typical" and from palying the Uncensored version of the whitcher it is more artistic and balanced than GOW was,the only reason the witcher got a edited release in the states is because Atrai didnt want to waste time on running ti through the ESRB, frankly if 2D nudity and breasts on undead things is offensive then why dose castelvina and a slew of other games pass without any trouble, frankly if the ESRB would ave AO'd the whitcher they would have have only shown how irreverent they are becoming, the game is less gory than GOW and has as much if nto less 3D nudity,the card nudity is not even a issue or at least should not be.Petra SilieI find the lack of control options and menu/item bars even more cheap, so he gets a lover and you get to see some of the art from one fo the books or whatnot its a gimmick but no worse than any other cheap gimmick.

 

[petra_silie]

I meant although there are a few women with autority the marority of them are there to be conquered sex wise and you get an artwork card as reward.@Darth'MaelAs long as there is a "sensible" issue as sex involved poeple tend to discuss it. There are already a few topics around here. But if you really want to have a good laugh take a look at this, look for posts from Melirinda ;D

 

[zippydsmlee]

I meant although there are a few women with autority the marority of them are there to be conquered sex wise and you get an artwork card as reward.@Darth'MaelAs long as there is a "sensible" issue as sex involved poeple tend to discuss it. There are already a few topics around here. But if you really want to have a good laugh take a look at this, look for posts from Melirinda ;D

Why dose sex = conquering, most of them are more consequential than "pillaging"...If you sleep with them you get a PG13 art card wif breasts on it,its a gimmick like any other,the only reason why it would be a issue above that is if the indavendaul "questioning" it has issues with sex or nudity.