The Last of Us is a series that features flesh-eating zombies and ruthless factions of humans attempting to live in a post-pandemic world. However, the main focus of the series lies not with the brutality present in the dystopian society gamers explore, but rather with the complexities of human relationships and how they are affected when emotions are amplified to their maximum. This is seen most prominently through its interrogation of lying, a common though frowned-upon human behavior that has unexpected cascading effects not only on Joel and Ellie but on humanity as a whole.
For any relationship to thrive, honesty is necessary, and for good reasons, lying is widely regarded as immoral. However, Joel introduces complexity to the concept of lying, as it becomes a dark tool in his arsenal, and he uses lying to protect the person he loves most in life. As one would expect, the truth is eventually brought into the light, and the uncovering of Joel's dishonesty causes a chasm in his relationship with Ellie. While it is easy to understand Ellie's frustration, it is difficult to not empathize with Joel, especially if one considers that he may have relied on a lesser evil to prevent a greater evil from occurring. Ultimately, The Last of Us series leaves players with no concrete answers, which is why it remains a constant topic of conversation in the gaming world.
Joel's Lie in The Last of Us
In The Last of Us, gamers are introduced to a dystopian America ravaged by a strange pandemic that turns humans into frenzied bloodthirsty monsters. Following the crumbling of society, life becomes rough for the survivors, and it appears that there is little hope left for humanity. Though most factions are self-serving, using brutality to seek power and control, there are some that still hold out hope for a better humanity - including the Fireflies.
The leader of the Fireflies, Marlene, discovers that the child she is looking after, Ellie, is immune to the infection permeating the species, making her extremely special. Ellie learns of her immunity in a traumatic situation that involves her losing her best friend, Riley. Realizing that Ellie may hold the key to humanity's future, Marlene entrusts the weapons smuggler Joel to transport Ellie to one of the few surgeons who can use her immunity to create a cure.
It takes a perilous journey for Joel and Ellie to reach Jerry the surgeon, and during their trip, they develop a close relationship. They learn to trust each other, and they are eventually able to place their lives in each other's hands. After overcoming many obstacles, Joel finally delivers Ellie, only to discover that making a cure would require killing her. Unable to accept this, Joel goes on a rampage, killing all Fireflies who stand in his way in order to save Ellie, who is unconscious during these events. When she awakes, Joel tells the big lie - he attempts to convince Ellie that the Fireflies had stopped trying to make a cure. Though Ellie does not question Joel's lie, gamers leave with the sense that she might not trust him entirely.
The Consequences of Joel's Lie
In The Last of Us Part 2, Joel and Ellie find relative safety in Jackson, a community where they live with Joel's brother, Tommy. As one might expect, Joel’s lie does not remain hidden forever, and eventually, Ellie desires to know the truth. This leads to her sneaking out of Jackson and making her way back to St. Mary’s Hospital in hopes of finding clues that might tell her what really happened. Although her search is unsuccessful, her subsequent confrontation with Joel leads to him divulging the truth about what occurred the day he delivered her to the Fireflies. Ellie is winded by the revelation, and a seemingly permanent wedge is lodged between her and Joel. Though she loves him, her sense of justice prevents her from forgiving him.
Joel's attempts to reconcile with Ellie are mostly ineffective, and the evidence of the strained relationship between them is both overt and subtle. In Jackson, Joel has a large house to himself, yet Ellie does not live with him. Hence, when walking through his house, one cannot help but notice how the empty rooms scream of Ellie’s absence. Ellie's perspective is easy to understand, as someone who means a lot to her has betrayed her trust. Furthermore, being part of humanity's cure was a way for Ellie to give her tragic life purpose, and Joel took that away from her. Chastising Joel for his dishonesty is almost instinctive, but there are some factors to consider that complicate his position.
Did Joel Make the Right Choice?
Though Joel is hurt by Ellie’s cold shoulder, he does not regret his decision. From the beginning of the series, it is evident that Joel is willing to do whatever it takes to protect his loved ones, as seen by the way he quickly resorts to heinous violence whenever a threat is perceived. Joel's lie is merely a continuation of this behavior, which is likely fueled by the helplessness he felt when his daughter Sarah was murdered in front of him, and he was unable to do anything about it.
Furthermore, Joel's crime of lying seems minor when one considers that the lie was told to shield Ellie from the trauma of his decision, even though he believed it was for her own good. One frequently encounters adults doing this in real life, and children commonly are told lies to protect them from the harsher aspects of life. Evidently, Ellie does not appreciate it, though it is difficult to argue that Joel was maliciously motivated.
Naughty Dog's The Last of Us is a series that stands out due to the moral dilemmas it confronts gamers with. Though the games are linear, gamers have differing interpretations of events, and their views on morality determine how they feel about each of the characters. Throughout the series, gamers are frequently made to think about lying and the harmful effects it has on relationships. However, there is never a black-and-white view of morality presented, and the series leaves gamers questioning whether there are situations where it is appropriate to bend the rules.
The Last of Us Part 1 is available now on PS5, and a PC port is in development.