Why did Kratos cry at the end of God of War Ragnarok?

At the end of his epic Norse saga, the Ghost of Sparta himself – Kratos – was moved to tears while observing a mural of his own history. For long-time God of War fans, seeing Kratos emotionally break down made for one of the most poignant gaming moments in recent memory.

As someone who has followed Kratos‘ journey closely across 9 games over 17 years, I have my own thoughts on the layered meaning behind this scene. Stick with me, and I‘ll explore exactly why Kratos shedding tears is so pivotal.

The Mural‘s Symbolism Hints at Kratos‘ Redemption

Throughout God of War Ragnarok, Kratos discovers prophetic murals left by the Jötnar that provide cryptic glimpses of the future. It‘s revealed that Kratos himself will one day stand alongside his son Atreus over a decimated Midgard in the aftermath of Ragnarok.

The final mural encountered shows Kratos gazing ahead not with customary rage, but quiet purpose – with Atreus at his side mirroring his body language. To long-time fans, this imagery conveys so much symbolic meaning about Kratos’ redemption arc across 9+ games spanning over 200 years of in-universe story events.

Contrasting His Violent Past

Where prior games emphasized Kratos mercilessly killing gods and monsters in increasingly creative ways, this mural presents him in a protective stance over his son. He stands solemn and focused, but not openly violent.

For most of his life, Kratos was singularly focused on vengeance no matter the collateral damage. Now, he prepares to shape a different future working in unity with his son Atreus. The shift represented in this imagery is incredibly telling about Kratos‘ character progression when reflecting on his blood-soaked origins.

Kratos‘ Shifting Roles Over Time

Breaking a Cycle of Violence

Throughout the series, Kratos has been locked in a cycle of violence and lack of control stemming from his rage and desire for vengeance. After brutally killing his own wife and daughter while in a blinded fury induced by Ares, Kratos sought vengeance against the gods of Olympus no matter who suffered in the crossfire.

Now, having found unexpected love and connection with his second wife Faye and son Atreus in the Norse lands, Kratos makes an active decision to break this cycle rather than continue propagating mindless violence. The mural depicts Kratos solemnly accepting the carnage of Ragnarok while standing guard over Atreus – hinting he now fights to protect the new family he has left rather than destroy gods out of hatred.

A Rare Moment of Vulnerability Reflects Kratos‘ Emotional Growth

As a nearly immortal warrior hardened by centuries of regret and trauma on the battlefield, displays of vulnerability from Kratos are exceptionally rare across the series. Yet when studying the mural of his redemption, Kratos completely breaks down and sheds tears – overwhelmed by the rushing catharsis.

For devoted fans, this incredible ending scene carried deep emotional weight precisely because we have so seldom seen Kratos express grief, relief, or any emotion openly. Watching the Ghost of Sparta collapse from this profound moment conveyed just how deeply touching and meaningful the mural‘s message was to him after everything he endured.

Cory Balrog‘s Intent for the Scene

In an interview with GameSpot, God of War Ragnarok director Cory Balrog opened up on his goals for this ending scene:

“We’ve always said Kratos isn’t emotional because he wants to bury trauma, right? He wants to keep the person down. Whenever it surfaces, he just puts it back in the vault…This is too much. This hits too close to the heart. Those floodgates break.”

For Balrog, having the stoic Kratos openly weep made sense as the cumulative response to him seeing his complete redemption arc physically memorialized right in front of his eyes.

Mo-Cap Details Reveal the Process Behind This Moment

The incredible facial animation that sells Kratos‘ emotional ending was achieved through the actor who has physically portrayed him since 2005 – the very talented Christopher Judge. In an interview, Judge revealed that he drew on some of his own life while acting out Kratos‘ tearful response.

"I didn’t expect to feel any kind of way […] So there were real, honest tears. Those were as absolutely surprised as I was. It overtook me." – Christopher Judge

This behind-the-scenes insight into Judge‘s method acting makes Kratos‘ wordless emotional ending all the more powerful.

Prior God of War Games Lay the Foundation for Kratos‘ Redemption

Examining pivotal moments throughout earlier God of War games provides useful context to understand the redemption symbolized at Ragnarok‘s ending. We can trace key events where Kratos begins questioning himself and showing flickers of humanity despite his rage.

God of War III: Kratos‘ Suicide Attempt

After bloody vengeance on Olympus leaves Kratos drained and haunted by visions of his acts, he attempts suicide only to discover he cannot remove the Blades of Exile fused to his arms – literally unable to escape his past. This moment confronts Kratos‘ growing horror over his life‘s actions.

God of War (PS4): Kratos Tosses His Weapons

In a key scene, Atreus asks about the Blades of Chaos. Kratos promptly tosses them off a cliff, symbolicly discarding his violent past for good. While their literal return in Ragnarok reopens some wounds, Kratos‘ desire to protect his son avoids falling into old patterns.

God of War Ragnarok: Fearing His Own Nature

After experiencing the uncontrollable rage state known as Spartan Rage, Atreus confronts his father over whether their bloodline is cursed with violence. While Kratos denies any supernatural influence, the conversation shows his fear of propagating trauma onto his son.

Examining Fan Theories Behind Kratos‘ Emotional Response

Let‘s evaluate some of the most compelling fan theories from the God of War subreddit about the complex emotions behind Kratos‘ tearful reaction to the redemption mural.

Catharsis After Finally Breaking the Cycle

By far the most common interpretation, this theory states that Kratos weeps in cathartic release from seeing the violent cycle he has struggled against for so long has finally been overcome in this image. He has found inner peace and purpose as a guardian for his son‘s future rather than instrument of revenge – hence the overwhelming emotion spilling out.

Mourning Time Lost With Atreus

A sadder take notes that Atreus appears roughly the same age in the mural as in the present. Given the Ragnarok events are prophesized as occuring 150+ years in the future, this suggests Kratos may have little time left with his son who will outlive the aging god. His tears may reflect some pre-emptive grief over missed time together.

Regret Over a Life of Violence

Some posit that seeing this tangible image forced Kratos to fully confront his history and extreme body count leading up to this redemption moment. The tears represent his deep remorse upon facing just how much pain and suffering he has caused others for centuries on end before finding wisdom as a father.

A Final Farewell to Rage

Rather than sadness, certain fans take the tears as joyful – Kratos finally letting go of hatred that has defined him for so long. The mural lets him visualize the man he will become by leaving wrath behind for good, leading to overwhelmed, cathartic tears in this interpretation.

In reality, Kratos‘ emotional response was likely influenced by a combination of all these factors – rueful mourning, relief, regret, solace, optimism, etc. But the throughline is clear: after a violent history dominated by trauma, Kratos sees himself redeemed through fatherhood.

The Ghost of Sparta Has Found Peace as Guardian

Across 9 mainline games over 17 years, players have experienced Kratos‘ vengeance-fueled warpath through ancient lands as he brutally and single-mindedly killed gods, monsters, and innocents alike. Yet God of War Ragnarok concludes his story with hope rather than hatred.

Through his profound love for Atreus, Kratos breaks a generational cycle of violence passed from godly father to son. He stands solemn and purposeful while postponing the prophesized apocalyptic battle through trust earned from former enemies. Kratos faces the future not defined by rage, but prepared to do what he must to guard the new family he has left.

And for devoted fans who have longed for Kratos to find peace after decades of regret and trauma…seeing him brought to tears by the tangible representation of his redemption made for a beautiful catharsis. The Ghost of Sparta can finally lay his violent past to rest and forge new purpose.

That concludes my deep dive on the complex emotional weight behind Kratos‘ closing God of War Ragnarok scene! I aimed to provide ample symbolic analysis and fan perspectives on this incredible moment in gaming history. Let me know your interpretation of Kratos‘ tears in the comments down below!