A Possible Significance of the Name “Diana” in Rule of Rose? (Part 1)
Posted by PokerNemesis in Plot Structure & Story, Symbolism
Masq, a frequent comment-writer on this site, has been writing analyses of the names of Rule of Rose characters, both here and on her blog-site Withered Roses, looking for possible meanings relevant to the game.
I think that there is possibly an important significance of the name “Diana” that Masq has overlooked.
In Roman mythology, the goddess Diana was very protective of her virginity.
According to the web-page: Subjects of the Visual Arts: Diana
The Greek Artemis, or Roman Diana, is the goddess of chastity. She exemplifies and protects virginity…
Diana, guardian of purity, is also pictured fighting Venus, goddess of sex and desire, or with her followers resisting lascivious satyrs. Diana is a militant enforcer of same-sex seclusion amongst women.
The story of Diana and Callisto, in Roman mythology, might have some relevance to the story of Clara in Rule of Rose. Clara may have been made pregnant by Hoffman. Callisto was made pregnant by Jupiter:
…the ashamed maiden tried to hide her state but was eventually discovered when disrobed at the pool. The pregnancy was taken as a betrayal of the vows of chastity, and Diana angrily expelled Callisto.
The scene at the end of the “Mermaid Princess” chapter of Rule of Rose seems to show Jennifer, Meg, and Eleanor witnessing Hoffman molesting Diana. The response from the orphans to this sexual assault on the “Duchess” of the Aristocrats may have been an important factor in the eventual “disappearance” of Hoffman.
For blog-posts relating to the possible molestation of Diana, see:
“What is Hoffman Saying As He Paws Diana?”
“As Hoffman Pawed Diana, Where Was Jennifer Really?”
“Killing Hoffman’s Fish: Is There Possibly a Hidden Motive?”
~
For blog-posts relating to the sexual relationship of Clara and Hoffman, see:
“The Frightened Princess Mystery”
“Clara Naked in Hoffman’s Bed”
~
For Part 2 of this series:
A Possible Significance of the Name “Diana” in Rule of Rose? (Part 2)
~
Entries (RSS)
I did get the “Chastity” part, actually. I never heard this stuff bout Callisto though. Interesting. Sounds like the Vestals. Too bad there is no direct connection between Callisto’s vow of Chastity and Clara… But speaking of Vestals and vows of chastity… in the Roman mythology/religion, when a vestal was found to have broken her vow, they burried her alive. Apparently, it was against their religion to spill the blood of a vestal. Just something I remembered reading this.
Maybe her grudge against Jennifer has nothing to do with Wendy. Maybe she doesn’t like her because she look like a boy. (Laugh please.)
hahaha,iam laughing
It sounds a little simple of an explaination but perhaps the fact that Callisto and Clara share some similar letters is enough of a hint to link the two? It’s a very tenuous link though
I’ve noticed the similarities between Diana the goddess and Diana the character.
Heh… here’s a thought…
Diana Goddess of the Moon was a hunter. Maybe this explains “trapping” the animals?
Another important myth would be the one of Actaeon. In one version of the myth, Actaeon hides in some nearby bushes and spies on Diana and her nymph attendants as they bathe. When Diana notices him, she changes him into a stag, and he is torn apart by his own hunting dogs. In one version of the myth, he is allowed to live permitted he never speaks, but he acts on impulse and answers when one of his hunting party calls his name. In another version, he is lost in the woods and accidentally sees her. I believe the first version is the most appropriate in regard to our Diana… especially if you think of Actaeon’s dogs as childlike figures turning on him and tearing him apart.. much like the orphans do to their once-beloved Hoffman.
FiliusMartis wrote:
It is an interesting idea.
Expanding on this theme, I’m going to write a Part 2 to this blog-post.
…I thought it was Artimis that got caught in the bath…
“You’ve dared to spy on me, Hunter… now lets see you tell the tale!” or something like that when she turns him into a dear…
They are two sides of the same myth… but yeah… I’ve never heard it coincided with Diana…
Diana is the Roman name for the Greek Goddess Artemis.
I know this.
I merely stated that I had never seen Diana’s name tied with this myth (the one written out above).
But I have seen several versions with Artemis, lady of wild things, who is also in the myth of Orion…etc, etc.
I love mythology. You’re not likely to beat me in this one.
Perhaps I’m leaving this at the wrong spot, please forgive me. I’m still new to this site and its’ comment system.
Through the real “Diana-intensive chapters”, I can’t help but feel that Diana and Mr. Hoffman were left out of some volume of a present day Charles Dickens novel. If dear Charlie were here to write, I’ve always felt his works would still reflect that seedy, disgusting underbelly of public institutions: schools, orphanages, hospitals, etc. Child molestation would be no different to him than his lamented label blacking. Just another way for some higher power to get what it can out of a weaker party.
Although… did the Diana of mythology not have wicked mood swings? Tangle with her, feel the wrath of the gods? Savvy?
I’ve not yet finished the game, but I have this feeling that our dear Diana will soon show a temper to match those fiery tresses!
tipsywench asks:
Yes, indeed. That will be my focus in the Part 2 follow up to this post.
Hmmmm. I know this is unrelated to this blog post, but it does relate to Diana, and I couldn’t find another post that relates to this subject…
I was wondering if anyone knows the significance of the “bandage” or “wrap” on Diana’s left (from our point of view) upper thigh.
I’m new here and never played the game, but became fascinated by the game the first time I saw the game play for it, and hope to get it soon ^^
To chaoticxbubbles:
I can’t recall anyone here bringing this up, but I always thought of it as another hint Hoffman is molesting Diana. It would be strange and unusual to get a wound that far up the thigh by accident and when people do have injuries there (particularly girls), it is normally a sign they are being abused. Unless it is a wrap, in which case it could just be fashionable or something. But I think it’s a bandage.
I don’t know what PN’s theory is though, so I’d love to hear it.
Welcome, chaoticxbubbles!
That topic will probably eventually become part of my new “Mysteries From the Advertising” series of blog-posts, as the bandage is only found in the E3 promotional video (also used as the pre-game video), and appears nowhere in the game itself. Did the author(s) of the game also write that scene? Or did the scene only come into existence because it has a big advertising impact? I don’t know.
I’m not sure if anyone’s posted about this yet, but I’ve been wondering this since I first read this post.
Maybe that thing about Diana and Callisto could have something to do with why you never see Clara with the other orphans? At least, I’m preet sure you don’t see them together. But, like they find out that Hoffman’s been doing this stuff to Clara and that she doesn’t really try to do anything about it, so they exclude her from the RCA (if she was a member before).
There is definitely some way in which a barrier has been set up. We see this reflected as a physical barrier built in the hallway between the cabin of Clara on the airship and the cabins of the orphans.
astonishing television camera for just a novice…
[...]Rule of Rose Mysteries » A Possible Significance of the Name “Diana” in Rule of Rose? (Part 1)[...]…