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BMDennis
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Birth of the Forsaken Explained
I had a lot of fun making Birth of the Forsaken and I actually got the idea for it after singing Hans Leo Hassler’s “Verbum Caro Factum Est” for the first time. I thought the translation of the song fit into the Forsaken storyline perfectly. Now, after having shown the film to some friends I have been a little confused with the response I have gotten. Some found it disturbing that I used a Christian scripture in connection with undead creatures, and others found it terribly ironic, delighting in what they thought was an obtuse mockery of Christianity. But neither could be furthest from the truth. In fact, I believe that the storyline of the undead Forsaken fits in with Christian theology fairly well, and that it isn’t a mockery at all, but rather an allegory. Since allegories are flawed in and of themselves, a correlation between the Forsaken and Christianity is hardly perfect, but I found enough of a resemblance to warrant me making the film. Let me elaborate.
Unless I am mistaken, the basic outline of the Forsaken plot goes as follows: Arthas became the Lich King and released his plague upon the lands of Azeroth, killing the human populations and turning them into undead zombie creatures. In a brief moment of weakness, Sylvanas, a Night Elf that had been corrupted by the plague, managed to free her mind from the hold of the Lich King and regained her free will. She then went about and freed the minds of other corrupted humans throughout Azeroth and banded them together. This new race of beings, neither human nor zombie, called themselves the Forsaken. The Forsaken regained their free will but remain true and loyal to Sylvanas, forever in debt to her for freeing them from the Lich King’s grasp.
Here is how I believe this is an interesting allegory of Christianity. When mankind fell and rejected God, we were forever doomed to be slaves to sin and death as Satan’s children, just like the humans of Azeroth (though against their will) were forever to be slaves to Arthas. But God found a loophole in the system. In order to free us from Satan’s bonds he had to become one of us, and likewise, Sylvanas was, at first, just another undead zombie. God therefore came to us in the form of Jesus, his son, becoming wholly man (and yet wholly God). Jesus died and rose again, only then being able to bridge the gap between God and mankind, and then elected us unto salvation. The elect became Christians, just like Sylvanas went about the lands freeing zombies from Arthas’ grasp, who in turn became the Forsaken. Jesus could never have saved us if he had not become human, died and rose again, and Sylvanas could never have freed the Forsaken had she not been undead at one time herself. Do you see where I am going with this?
Obviously the allegory is not perfect. Sylvanas is a vengeful Elf that not only wants to defeat Arthas but all of human kind, eventually mastering the Horde too and becoming a sort of demi-god, whereas Jesus is himself God and isn’t amassing Christians to wage a war of any kind. Also, some may argue that Christians still have free will while the Forsaken do not. I would argue, however, that the Forsaken do indeed have free will and merely follow the Dark Lady out of obligation (while Christians follow Christ out of love). I will refer the reader to a certain quest that starts in the Undercity and sends one out to Hillsbrad Foothills near Dalaran to kill a few rogue Forsaken who had stolen a jewel that belonged to Sylvanas. If you kill the named female mage named Belamoore in the top of one of the buildings in the small camp near Dalaran, she drops a book. In it you will find her recollections of the Forsaken men that showed her the jewel, and she recalls that they were warm, caring, and very human-like, hardly mindless, vengeful, evil zombies bound to the Dark Lady’s every whim. I therefore believe that the Forsaken are redeemable, but are swayed towards vengeance and evil due to all that has happened to them and the hatred and disdain shown to them by the Alliance. Belamoore's Research Journal
I think picturing Christians as Forsaken is interesting and fitting, for Christians should recognize above everyone how flawed they truly are. Mankind is weak, easily led into temptation, and evil, and Christians find themselves in the same lot. The difference is that a Christian should realize how evil he truly is and pray for humility. Likewise, only the Forsaken look the way they are; they are evil creatures and they look evil. But the Humans and Night Elves (especially) are hardly “free from sin” themselves. If you simply read the many books that dot the world of Azeroth, you will find countless recurrences of evil humans waging evil wars upon themselves and other races, and Night Elves wielding evil magics for some selfish and unholy goal. The Dwarves too have done their fair share of evil in the world; the Burning Steppes and Searing Gorge would still be green and lush if it weren’t for them. I do believe that only the Gnomes are free from any blatant crime. Therefore the Forsaken are no worse than anyone else, but are simply more honest, appearing the way they actually are. Of course, it would be better if they not only appeared evil but attempted to renounce evil, repent and change. Sadly, I think the Forsaken are taking another path. I expect a split amongst the Horde in a subsequent game or patch. Perhaps a third playable faction will appear in the near future, with the Forsaken splitting from the Horde. Who knows?
Anyhow, this is my argument for Birth of the Forsaken. I do not think it is heretical or mocks Christianity in any way, so Christians (of whom I am one of) need not be offended, and anti-Christians need not shiver in giddy rebellious joy.
Last edited by BMDennis, 3/9/2006, 2:06 pm
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3/9/2006, 1:46 pm
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BMDennis
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Re: Birth of the Forsaken Explained
You bet I remember you Morg  thanks for all the help!
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3/18/2006, 1:38 pm
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Incubusion
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Re: Birth of the Forsaken Explained
Just as a random note, Arthas isn't the Lich King. He to is a servant to the Lich King, even after he put on the crown.
The Lich King is Ner'Zuhl, a former orc turned magical item.
Ner'Zuhl was the one who sold out the Orcs to the Burning Legion, turning them into a demonic blood thirsty horde that ravaged their own world before being let loose on Azeroth.
After failing and the inevitable release of the orcs from the control of the Burning Legion, Ner'Zuhl was captured by the Burning Legion and given one last shot at power. During the events that caused the destruction of the world tree, Ner'Zuhl broke free to take completely control over the Scourge.
When Ner'Zuhl was weakenned by a crack in the magical ice containing his soul caused by Illidan, his grip on the scourge weakenned. That's when Sylvanas rose up and freed the Forsaken.
It's probably why they're also in the horde. They share a similar history. Though the Forsaken are decidedly more bitter about their transformation and release back into free will than the orcs.
And that's a little bit of nerdiness. Nice movie.
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3/20/2006, 8:23 pm
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BMDennis
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Re: Birth of the Forsaken Explained
Thanks
But I thought that the Lich King was encased in that crystal that Sargeas put him in. Desiring to have a body once again, he got Arthas to use the sword and then infused himself with Arthas. Arthas, then, ceased to be and Ner'Zhul became Lich King/Arthas/Ner'Zhul.
At least, that is what I gleaned from reading the books in the game.
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3/21/2006, 2:24 am
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Incubusion
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Re: Birth of the Forsaken Explained
The Lich King may have desired a body, but what forced his hand in taking furhter control of Arthas' body was the giant crack in the 'throne' that Illidan created with his attempt to melt Northrend. If he had remained there his power would have leaked out and he probably would have been lost entirely.
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3/24/2006, 4:46 am
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mightymikail
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Re: Birth of the Forsaken Explained
I'm a christian too, and I got the same message that you intended me to get. Just so you know.
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3/25/2006, 11:30 pm
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hermies
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Re: Birth of the Forsaken Explained
i just want to say that you said that the gnomes are the only non evil race. i think that there is one other. the tauren are kind nature loveing people who are very good. the only thing they have done wroung that i have found is the acts of the grim toatom. i do agree with gnome not evil doing thing. the only thing i can think of is dumping nuclear wast killing 80% of the gnomes but that was ment too kill the troggs so its ok
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6/20/2006, 7:41 pm
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Somefinnishperson
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 Re: Birth of the Forsaken Explained
I have watched all Brandon's WoW movies because over everything else I love comedy... But when I saw the Birth of Forsaken I couldn't believe it's the same guy because it was so different (I hadn't watched Hark! Hear the wails back then) to all other of his movies... Yup, it surely surprised me, but actually I think I liked it even more than your comedy movies, tho they crack me up every time I watch them... I myself have always been interested in religions and symbology and I'd say the allegory you've made is genius! Hope you're gonna do movies like this in future too...
PS. Sorry for not voting for Inventing swear Words in Xfire, but don't worry, I voted for Anti-Elf... 
--- "But someone's going to help those people, right?"
"That's not important right now, Stan, now we need to find out who's fault this is."
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10/23/2006, 7:26 am
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BMDennis
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Re: Birth of the Forsaken Explained
hehe, no worries, The Brothers Tauren 2 is hard to compete with 
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10/23/2006, 10:34 am
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Re: Birth of the Forsaken Explained