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Post by strayvalkyrie on Jan 30, 2009 22:58:33 GMT
Here's an interesting question that's been haunting me ever since it snuck into my head a few days ago.
Cloud is a unique name, and we can all understand the theme behind Cloud Strife's name as far as game goes.
But how about we share and/or discuss a little insight as to why, you might think, Cloud's mother named him Cloud?
I know this is a very broad, open-ranged topic. For the life of me I can't find any particular information about Cloud's mother. But let's express our opinions and views given the meager, practically non-existent facts we know of her from what we've seen.
Me, personally? Well, I've already admitted to not having any information about his mother at all, except for the fact that she raised Cloud alone (is his father -ever- mentioned in any of the games? I know he's mentioned in a novella, right? Or did I get that wrong?), and raised him in a small town called Nibelheim, where everyone, apparently, outcast poor little Cloud.
I'm just shooting in the dark here, but maybe because clouds signify something to look forward to. Hope, if you will. Behind every cloud, no matter how dark or dreary, there is always a sky, sun and/or moon waiting. Signifying something beyond the present.
I could try and put it a little more articulate than that, but my words fail me at the moment. So, discuss! What do you think, personally?
Shameful Plug: This may or may not have an impact on a piece of fiction I'm thinking of writing. >>
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Kisara Strife
Turk
AVALANCHE Rebel
Because he can't be dead ... T_T
Posts: 2,576
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Post by Kisara Strife on Jan 30, 2009 23:21:42 GMT
(gonna sound retarded, but I'll give it a shot) Well maybe his mother was aware of the restrictions in life choices that came with living in a small, secluded mountain village like Nibelheim. Maybe she wanted him to go far away and try to suceed; the clouds over Nibelheim eventually move on ... maybe she wanted Cloud to move away or have choices in life; hence the whole SOLDIER thingy. Good question btw.
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Post by strayvalkyrie on Jan 30, 2009 23:27:50 GMT
Oohh, that's a nice assumption. I hadn't thought of anything like that before. That makes me think that if that would be the case, maybe she felt trapped in poor, little Nibelheim. Or maybe she just hoped his name would inspire him to move on, which is what you mentioned. I like that one. :3 And thanks! ^^ It's been hounding me. Although now it's occurred to me that by discussing the reasoning behind his name, maybe a few assumptions to what his mother was like can be made as well. That's kind of exciting.
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Post by NRGburst on Jan 30, 2009 23:31:35 GMT
Uh...I actually think it had a lot to do with the fact that Nomura wanted his name to be symbolic of the conflict he was going through in the first game. Although I'm sure you can imagine loads of good reasons a woman would name her son Cloud.
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Clan Dragoon
SOLDIER Third Class
"Well, since Aerith died, she unofficially got bumped up to 'main heroine' status"
Posts: 639
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Post by Clan Dragoon on Jan 30, 2009 23:52:09 GMT
I think that his mother actually understood the symbolic nature of an "emo" character with the last name of Strife in a video game - and used his first name as an extension to Strife for a parallel against another main character of the series, Zack Fair.
Fair for the "fair weather" expression against Strife...
And Cloud.
Clouds...are not good weather?
Good Weather against lots of Strife....with clouds?
I assume she could see the future and planned his naming out for a character she never met. Besides, why else would she name her b*****d child after such a girly noun?
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Post by kajnrig on Jan 31, 2009 2:35:15 GMT
His mom's a poet, don'tcha know? If you go into Cloud's house during the flashback in Kalm, after the conversation with his mom, you can read all the books lying around, and one of them is entitled, "To My Dearest Son, by Mrs. _______ Strife." And Cloud'll comment that "there's something written on the back... 'In celebration of my son's birth... may all the dreams, courage, and love in the world be yours...'"
...then the Kool-Aid Man tears through the wall, screaming, "OH YEAAAAH!"
EDIT:
And the only real reason anyone can give for why Cloud's name is the way it is is that the creators simply wanted it that way. Anything else would just be up to a fan to decide, based on how they view the world of FFVII.
We wouldn't be able to tell you any reason for his mother naming him Cloud without saying that it's purely opinion.
...but frankly, I like it better that way. Momma Cloud's a poet. Word.
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Post by Moira Rose on Jan 31, 2009 10:51:03 GMT
I think I like the idea that Cloud was named because clouds are one of the most heavily used weather phenomena in poetry, prose, drama, you name it. Clouds change colour quickly. And once they do, they affect everyone who sees them. Who feels sad when it's about to rain? Or happy? There is a change in emotion there yes?
Just a stab in the dark. And yes, I agree with Kaj. Cloud's mother is a true poet.
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Post by Woodster on Jan 31, 2009 11:56:40 GMT
Maybe she read it in a book and liked the name (it was some main character or something)... It does happen! *Is living proof*
*ponders* It is strange though, especially as all the other characters have vaguely normal sounding names... Oh! Maybe she was a hippie!
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Post by Sylla on Jan 31, 2009 16:08:53 GMT
Because she had a rather odd sense of humor, of course.
... NAW I'M JUST KIDDING. I actually think it's because, for the briefest of instants, Cloud's mom channeled Nomura's spirit, foresaw all the angsty shee-at he was going to have to go through... and then the odd sense of humor kicked in. So she gave him a humorously appropriate name.
(No, don't take this post seriously. Really. It's just me being silly, and everyone else's already come up with perfectly valid theories.)
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Post by Woodster on Jan 31, 2009 16:16:00 GMT
Are we talking in a Jonny Cash way here? Like with A Boy Named Sue? 'Cos that sounds like a perfectly plausible explaination to me! ;D
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Kisara Strife
Turk
AVALANCHE Rebel
Because he can't be dead ... T_T
Posts: 2,576
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Post by Kisara Strife on Jan 31, 2009 21:03:55 GMT
Hehehehe, I love that song! And now I will forever think that Cloud's dad left and decided to bestow his spikey-haired son with the unusual name, lol! ;D
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Post by VulcanElf on Jan 31, 2009 22:20:11 GMT
I like that thought about clouds moving on.
Another thing about clouds is that they look like whatever the observer thinks they look like, and the same cloud is different things to different people. And, well, I don't think I have to go on at length here about Cloud's identity issues.
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Post by Lunatic Belle on Feb 1, 2009 22:30:58 GMT
I read about Clan's explanation (the weather-thing), too, I think it sounds reasonable. But why his "mother" named him.. maybe she liked the name? There's a German actress named "Wolke", German word for cloud.
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Post by strayvalkyrie on Feb 2, 2009 4:57:27 GMT
Wow, there are lots of interesting theories here! I like them all, they're inspiring me liekwhut (insert secretive, conspiratorial cackle here). Is it really true that in the game she had all sorts of books lying around? Does anyone know what disc this is on? I could totally use this. I find myself thoroughly enjoying the notion of Cloud's mother being a poet, book-type person. It seems to fit, in a fanwish way. I think we all understand the reasoning behind his name when Nomura chose it. I just think it's interesting to try and delve into the characters themselves a little more, especially given the very small tidbits (practically non-existent) of info we have on his mother. Surely everything we assume is all just insightful speculation on our part, but it's fun.
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Post by Rain Misoa on Feb 6, 2009 21:11:59 GMT
There are already interesting theories here so I can't add much.
I believe that Cloud's mother was one who enjoyed nature and all living things. (She just seems to be that way, in my opinion) This could most likely go hand-in-hand with her being a poet. I believe, more than anything, that she was a dreamer. Perhaps she looked into things more deeply than anyone would have. Perhaps to her, the clouds hold a symbolic meaning of liberation which she longed for her unborn child. Or maybe she held great expectations of him; she wanted him strive for what he wanted in life.
OR she wanted him to be exactly like a cloud. Clouds are sometimes mellow and beautiful to gaze at. Other times, they can be violet and even strike death. Okay, maybe this one is stretching it a bit but then again, I'm just stringing ideas together.
Whatever the case may be, I believe that Cloud's mother had a unique sense of things which lead to the bizarre choice for the name of her child. In my opinion, I believe she chose the perfect name. I mean, can you imagine what it would be like if we had to call him Bob?
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