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- Asgore in Undertale is often misunderstood, with some viewing him as a tyrant and others as a coward, but these interpretations miss his complexity.
- He is a grief-stricken king who has endured the trauma of war, the loss of his children, and the departure of his wife, making him both a dictator and a tragic figure seeking atonement.
- He breaks the mercy button and fights performatively, showing his desire for atonement and perhaps for death as an escape.
When the topic of favourite Undertale characters comes up, rarely would you ever hear someone say Asgore Dreemurr. When I first played Toby Fox‘s Undertale, he wasn’t even in my top 10. However, after a couple of playthroughs and actually delving into the lore and symbolism of the game, I’d say the fandom’s been very disrespectful to the melancholic King of Monsters.
Tyrannical Ruler Or Spineless Coward?
Asgore is a character covered in misconceptions, and even these aren’t consistent. Some people declare him evil, a tyrant standing in Frisk and the monsters’ way of finally escaping the underground and integrating themselves into human society. Someone so foul that he killed and harnessed the souls of innocent human children, all for seemingly selfish reasons.
Others deem him a spineless coward. A king that’s too afraid of humans to think rationally. Someone who couldn’t save his children, or keep his wife. A king that doesn’t have enough pride to even sit on a proper throne, instead residing in the broken down castle.
Both of these interpretations reduce his character to a husk of what it is. He’s a King who’s seen his people die in war. Someone who’s seen his friends and family be oppressed by people he was compassionate towards. Not only has he experienced grief as a leader, but also as a father, losing both his children. He’s both a coward and a tyrant, but he’s so much more as well.
Scars Of War And A Crown Of Thorns
Undertale talks about a story of humans and monsters going to war, with Asgore being the king leading his people through it. He’s traumatized from not only being a participant himself but also from people dying under his orders. This perhaps made him a bit paranoid, wary of any and all humans. Add to this the death of his child, Asriel, and Toriel leaving him, and any boundaries he had were broken. He vowed to kill every last human, killing every human child that fell underground to harvest their SOULs.
A Merciless King, Or A King Undeserving Of Mercy?
One of my (and many other fans’) favorite moments when playing the game was Asgore using his trident to break apart the mercy button. I thought this was a show of his power, whereas others believed it was because, otherwise, he’d accept mercy immediately. Digging deeper, though, this breaking of the button may mean something else.
Asgore, riddled with guilt for the fallen children, feels undeserving of mercy himself. He views death not as defeat but as a form of atonement, a salvation for his deeds. He almost wants the player to beat him, so he can get punished for his sins. He’s sowed his seeds, and now he’ll have to reap them.
Apart from atonement, there’s another factor. Asgore is a ruined king, haunted by the loss of his children and the love of his life, Toriel. He has witnessed the horrors of war and the oppression inflicted upon his people. His once grand kingdom lies in ruins, echoing the desolation within him. He’s too proud, or perhaps too much of an indecisive coward, to end his own life. Him disabling the mercy button might be a way of him deciding his own deathbed, that he’s finally had enough and can rest peacefully. If he gets killed by someone, he can pat himself on the back and say “I tried my best, at least.”
A Lamenting Father, A Peaceful Farmer
During some attacks, Asgore’s eyes gleam brightly. These aren’t mere design choices, but implied tears – a king consumed by guilt, unable to face his opponent directly. The act of battle itself seems almost performative. He doesn’t fight to kill, he can’t even look Frisk in the eye. This is further backed by him gripping his Trident upside down. He doesn’t want to fight, he doesn’t battle to kill. He’s still used to using this trident as a tool to rake his fields.
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Heya, I’m Asad (Irre) Kashif! I’ve been writing about anything and everything since as far back as I can remember. Professionally, I started writing five years ago, working both as a ghostwriter and writing under my own name. As a published author and a council member in Orpheus, my journey in the world of writing has been fulfilling and dynamic.
I still cherish the essays I wrote about my favorite PS2 games, and I’m thrilled to have transformed my passion for game journalism into a career. I’m a theory crafter for Genshin Impact (and now Wuthering Waves) and have a deep love for roguelites and roguelikes. While I prefer indie games for their distinct aesthetic and vibes, I do enjoy triple-A games occasionally. I’ve also been playing League since season 6, and I main Akali! I have a keen interest in discovering and playing more obscure games, as well as researching forgotten titles. Additionally, I am a front-end programmer who dabbles a bit in gamedev occasionally.
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