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Contextualizing the Doll

“In the mythos of Bloodborne, a classic gothic horror video game from Fromsoft released in 2015, few things are ever outlined explicitly in the text. Playing this game while trying to piece together the story felt rather like an exercise in literary analysis - which should come as no surprise, given how heavily the game draws from Lovecraftian horror and other classic touchstones. This is why I believe it is so crucial to understand the literary, historical, and cultural context Bloodborne exists in to get a full appreciation for and understanding of the story. However, these theorycrafting discussions at times seem to neglect that key aspect. The purpose of this essay is to recontextualize Bloodborne’s story as it relates to the mysterious character of the Doll. I will be drawing on classical literature, the historical context the game references, as well as the modern context that Bloodborne was released into.”

Here it is! The essay from hell that’s been months in the making. It started out intended as a long post. Now it’s almost 40 pages. I figured a document would be an easier read. This is really a first draft, so to any brave soul who can parse all this, any comments or suggestions are welcome. You can find it here or on AO3!