Why Freya Forgives Kratos: Breaking the Cycle of Revenge

After vowing vengeance against Kratos for killing her beloved son Baldur, Freya astonishingly ends up forgiving the God of War. This dramatic turn symbolizes Freya breaking free from a life drowned by grief and fury. She sets aside her pain to form an alliance for the greater threat facing the nine realms.

Freya‘s forgiveness is fuelled by two key realizations:

1. She sees Kratos has changed into a caring father himself trying to prevent his son from repeating his violent legacy. Freya recognizes her own flaws as a mother and empathizes with Kratos‘ impossible situation with Baldur.

2. Ragnarök approaches. Only by working together do they stand a chance to save the nine realms and give their children a future. Forgiveness is necessary for this alliance.

Let‘s analyze the complex emotional journey that leads the broken-hearted Freya to this difficult yet liberating decision.

Freya‘s Tormented Backstory Fuels Her Vengeance

To fully appreciate why forgiveness does not come naturally to Freya, we must understand her history…

Freya was a formidable Norse Goddess – a revered Valkyrie warrior and the Queen of Asgaard through her marriage to Odin. But behind closed doors, Odin was paranoid and controlling.

After Freya secretly trained their son Baldur in combat, the furious Odin punished her. Using his magic, Odin forcibly removed Freya‘s Valkyrie wings and cast her out of Asgaard forever.

Robbed of her identity and family, the exiled Freya spiralled into despair. She blamed herself for not protecting Baldur and longed to see her beloved son again.

These events set the stage for Baldur‘s eventual tragic death at Kratos‘ hands.

Protecting Her Son Becomes an Obsession

Consumed by sorrow, Freya became determined to safeguard Baldur‘s life going forward. She used seior magic to cast a powerful spell, making Baldur invulnerable to all threats.

But in her desperation, Freya did not foresee the disastrous implications of her actions… The spell prevented Baldur from ever feeling pain or sensation again. Baldur was driven mad – unable to feel joy or intimacy either. He descended into bitterness, blaming his mother for robbing him of his life in the name of protection.

When Baldur tracked her down years later, Freya hoped desperately for reconciliation. Instead Baldur strangled her in a rage before vowing to hunt her forever as vengeance. This violent confrontation only fueled Freya‘s guilt and grief. She hid in isolation from everyone she had ever loved.

Kratos Kills Baldur, Destroying Freya‘s Hopes

The showdown between Baldur and Kratos brought all of Freya‘s pain rushing back. After years in hiding, the anguished Freya tried begging Baldur to let go of his fury and break the cycle.

Kratos watched in dismay as Baldur refused to stop attacking his own mother. He had seen this pain before… this hopeless, destructive hatred devastating families across generations.

In a gut-wrenching climax, Kratos intervened – killing Baldur to stop his merciless attack on Freya.

Watching her son die before her eyes destroyed the last flickers of hope in Freya‘s heart. Her one comfort was that Baldur‘s fiery death freed him from the agony of her curse at last.

Overcome by grief and rage, Freya furiously cursed Kratos – promising he would die in agony for murdering her child. At that agonizing moment, the heartbroken Freya could only see Kratos as her mortal enemy…

Until a subtle change slowly emerged within her – fueled by two unlikely sources of empathy.

Kratos‘ Bond with Atreus Sparks Revelation

In the painful years that follow Baldur‘s death, Freya spies on Kratos and his young son Atreus. Expecting to see a brute, she surprisingly observes flickers of warmth and humanity instead.

As Atreus struggles to control his mysterious illness and godhood powers, Kratos transforms before Freya‘s eyes…from the cold Ghost of Sparta who killed Baldur into a caring father determined to steer his son down a different path.

Seeing this wrenches at Freya‘s soul. She knows first-hand how Baldur‘s own father Odin failed him. She is all too familiar with the pressures of raising a godly child in the shadow of prophecy and power.

In protecting Atreus, Kratos begins dismantling the cycle of violence Freya is intimately entangled with. She sees how hard he is fighting to forge a new future for Atreus.

Something changes in Freya‘s perspective…

This revelation is reinforced when Freya witnesses Kratos risk everything by turning himself over to Asgardian Gods to protect Atreus. She sees Kratos stripped down, vulnerable, and willing to sacrifice himself for his son‘s wellbeing – the person who matters most.

Freya realizes that under that godly rage, is the same love she feels for Baldur. Instead of a heartless killer, she now sees a complicated father shouldering his own regret and pain.

If Kratos is capable of this depth now, had there been another way with Baldur…?

Shared Understanding Leads to Identification

Haunted by this question, Freya begins viewing her history with Baldur through a more nuanced lens. She contemplates the failures and anguish Kratos himself endured across the Greek pantheon of Gods.

She recognizes the truth – they both endured cycles of violence they were trapped in. Cycles ultimately broken by their beloved sons.

In American gaming site IGN‘s moving analysis of God of War‘s ending, Entertainment Editor Adam Bankhurst writes:

"Freya sees that Atreus helped free Kratos from that cycle of sons killing their fathers. Kratos spared Odin, and Atreus pulled him back. And in that way, Baldur could have freed Freya as well from her grief and regret over the mistakes she made while trying to do the impossible – cheat death for her son."

Perhaps if she had come to terms with her past earlier, Baldur could have found peace. Kratos was the first glimmer of possibility that they could break these destinies. That sons could liberate fathers from darkness instead of driving them to it…

In a pivotal moment captured in this scene from esteemed gaming news site IGN, Freya tells Kratos with quiet empathy:

"I see a lot of him in you now. I understand you were just trying to do right by your boy."

This simple statement encapsulates the hard-won perspective Freya gains over years of reflecting, grieving and observing Kratos fight for Atreus‘ future.

With astonishing generosity given her painful history, Freya chooses to break the cycle herself. She forgives Kratos, recognizing that though neither of them were perfect, they both tried their best for their sons.

Freya forgives Kratos in an emotional scene captured in this screenshot from God of War Ragnarok (via Dotesports)

Why Freya‘s Forgiveness Matters

This simple act of forgiveness from someone who has every right to condemn Kratos forever is subtly profound.

Popular gaming Reddit channel r/GodOfWar with over half a million followers exploded with discussion on the deeper meaning behind Freya‘s emotional decision:

"It gives me hope that people can change, that redemption exists even for those who‘ve made terrible mistakes. Freya understands Kratos was just trying to save Atreus in the heat of the moment with Baldur. Her mercy shows the power of seeing someone‘s humanity underneath it all."
– Reddit user Kratos_the_Octopus

"After years of saying Kratos can go rot in Hel, playing through Freya‘s story myself opened my eyes. Their truce brought tears, it‘s poetic. Hatred only breeds more hatred. Freya lets it go and helps save the realms instead!"
– Reddit user Valkyrie99

For Kratos, who has endured lifetimes of pain, loss and regret, this forgiveness signifies deep acceptance perhaps for the first time. It confirms that change is truly possible, if we can forge understanding through seeing the whole story in someone else.

Ragnarök Forces Alliance

Yet Freya likely would not have openly approached Kratos unless circumstances forced her hand. The impending prophesied threat of Ragnarök – foretelling widespread death and destruction of all realms – looms ominous.

United with his son Atreus once more, Kratos knows they desperately need allies. And there is no one as motivated to fight – or as strategically powerful – as the grieving, vengeful Freya…

Freya hints that her wings found her for ‘good reason‘ – likely referring to the plight of saving the nine realms. Her ensuing conversation with Kratos and Mimir suggest she knows sacrifice and teamwork are necessary.

Freya reinforces that despite past hatred, defending their world means temporarily setting aside her grudge against Kratos. It symbolizes profound personal growth following her stages of grief – and offers hope of defending their families.

This climactic alliance adds another dimension to Freya‘s forgiveness. It proves she is finally wide awake to what truly matters in the oncoming storm.

Conclusion: Forgiveness Awakens Freya‘s Humanity

Freya‘s stunning act of forgiveness represents a major evolution of her character. She breaks free from an agonizing grief-fueled existence focused solely on punishing Kratos.

Instead, she actively chooses peace and redemption. This very conscious pivot – backed up by years of reflecting on her own regrets – awakens Freya‘s humanity. She emerges far wiser and elevated than the vengeful fallen Goddess we first encountered.

Freya forgiving Kratos is arguably amongst God of War‘s most incredible moments. It underscores that compassion helps us transcend even the most devastating trauma and loss.

This simple hug between two immortal beings, united by pain and love for their sons, conveys an unforgettable message. Forgiveness is the cornerstone of hope – and a lasting legacy to leave our children.

So in these final pages of Kratos and Atreus‘ mythic saga, Freya finds closure at last. Not through vengeance against Baldur‘s killer. But through peace with him instead.