Naughty Dog's The Last of Us tackles many complex themes, including the role of forgiveness in human relationships. In Ellie's world, there are no legal or social structures to formally serve justice, so it is up to everyone to come up with their own sense of right and wrong. Ellie chooses to hold onto grudges and get even in the name of justice, and it repeatedly brings her nothing but misery. By the time she learns to try forgiveness, she has lost far too much.
The recent release of The Last of Us Part 1 has allowed gamers to experience Joel and Ellie's epic journey once again. Although the story is primarily focused on Joel, players do get to see Ellie's personality blossom, and the feistiness and stubbornness that define her are on show. Through Joel and Tommy, she witnesses the redemptive power of forgiveness, though she fails to learn the necessary lessons in time.
Ellie and Her Grudges
Gamers are introduced to Ellie in 2013's The Last of Us. Although she is very special, due to her immunity to the infection plaguing humanity, in many ways Ellie is just another girl. She enjoys adventure, is courageous, and she has a strong sense of loyalty toward those she loves. Unfortunately, she is unable to enjoy her childhood because dystopian society ensures plenty of tragedies visit her. From a young age, she is exposed to a lot of death, though she learns to find a sense of safety in Joel, who slowly but surely becomes a father figure to her.
In The Last of Us Part 2, gamers are exposed to a version of Ellie that is a bit older. She is well and truly her own person at this point and is no longer in need of Joel’s guardianship. In Jackson, she has had romantic relationships, forged friendships, and created a life for herself which does not require Joel. Although some things have changed about her, her core personality remains the same, and she is as stubborn and feisty as ever.
Much attention is given to Ellie and the way she reacts to situations. Many instances make it quite clear that Ellie is someone who takes offense easily, is slow to forgive, and craves revenge if she feels she has been wronged. This aspect of Ellie is shown during the first few opening scenes of The Last of Us Part 2 when Ellie is approached by Seth, a resident of Jackson who makes sandwiches for her in an attempt to apologize for a homophobic comment he made. Although Ellie is understandably hurt by Seth’s words, it is noteworthy how her fury is not dampened even when Seth is expressing reticence and offering an apology.
Another of these moments occurs during a flashback which takes players to an earlier time in Ellie’s life. As Joel leads Ellie to a birthday surprise that he has planned for her, Ellie begins guessing what the surprise may be. One of her guesses is that Joel may have brought her "6th-grade teacher wanting to apologize." Even Joel is aware of the needlessness of carrying a petty grudge for that length, and he advises her to not let people rile her up like that.
Ellie's Search For Justice
Many unfair things happen in Ellie's life. Her loved ones are constantly snatched away from her, including Riley, Sam, and Henry, to name but a few. However, Ellie is a survivor, and she refuses to ever allow herself to become a victim. Instead of feeling sorry for herself, she is motivated to find some form of justice in the world. In the world of The Last of Us where police and courthouses are a thing of the past, justice is something one takes into their own hands, and this is something Ellie is not afraid to do.
Ellie's search for justice, rather than bringing her peace, often brings her pain and suffering. This is seen when she bears a grudge against Joel for lying to her, and for preventing her from sacrificing her life to save humanity. She gives him the cold shoulder, causing a massive rift in their relationship. Though Joel attempts to patch things up with her, Ellie rejects him, even though it breaks her heart. Though Ellie's rage is understandable, it is also clear that her grudge is agonizing her.
Before Ellie and Joel have the chance to ever mend their relationship, he is viciously murdered in front of her by members of the Washington Liberation Front, who are searching for their own justice. The death of Joel marks Ellie as a victim of a viciously violent and seemingly senseless act of cruelty, and it leaves her hellbent on finding justice. Hence, with Dina by her side, Ellie seeks Joel’s killers out in a quest to ensure they do not get away with their actions. If she does not do it, she fears that nobody will, and the thought of those wrongdoers not facing justice is intolerable. This quest once again brings her no peace, and it instead leads to even more senseless deaths.
Ellie's Struggle With Forgiveness
Ellie's inability to forgive and let go of past transgressions is fueled by her sense of justice. From her perspective, wrongdoers must be punished. However, this way of living proves to not produce much happiness for her or the people around her. Although Ellie's world is dark, she is occasionally shown that forgiveness is an alternative route that can sometimes redeem everyone involved. During her journey with Joel, they stop to seek help from Joel's brother, Tommy. Joel and Tommy had parted ways on a bad note, but they reconcile and rekindle their brotherly relationship.
Unfortunately, it takes a lot of death and disaster before Ellie is finally able to let go of her deepest grudges, and while it isn't entirely clear whether she has fully forgiven her transgressors by the end of The Last of Us Part 2, she has found some way to make peace with the past without seeking revenge. Ellie's insatiable desire for justice shows gamers the important place mercy and forgiveness have in human life. While instinct might convince one to always get even, the road of forgiveness is often the most peaceful.
The Last of Us Part 1 is available on PS5. A PC port is in development.