Why is Caster Obsessed with Saber? An In-Depth Character Analysis
As a longtime Fate franchise fanatic, I‘ve always been fascinated by Caster‘s twisted obsession with Saber during Fate/Zero. At first glance, it seems confusing for him to fixate on her so intensely. Delving deeper, however, reveals a complex web of mistaken identity, historical devotion, and madness that makes their relationship utterly compelling.
The Core Reason – A Case of Misdirected Passion
In short, Caster is obsessed with Saber because he believes she is the reincarnation of his beloved idol, Joan of Arc. His passion and reverence for Joan as her devoted subordinate in life transferred onto Saber through delusion. Let‘s break down the key evidence around this phenomenon:
- As the 15th century French military commander Gilles de Rais, Caster served under Joan of Arc‘s command against England in the Hundred Years‘ War
- He became enthralled with Joan, considering her the living embodiment of purity and looking to her as France‘s holy savior
- After Joan‘s death, accounts suggest Caster descended into bizarre acts of violence and heresy as he tried fruitlessly to resurrect her
- Summoned as a Servant in the 4th Holy Grail War, he immediately recognized Saber‘s identity as King Arthur – but deliriously mistook her for his former leader reborn
- Throughout Zero, he behaves as if Saber is Joan incarnate, attempting to claim and idolize her at all costs
So in essence, Caster‘s obsession stems from psychological projection fueled by madness. His saintlike reverence of Joan transformed into a desire to possess Saber upon failing to distinguish reality from delusion. Pretty mind-blowing character depth!
Adding Historical Context – The Real-Life Inspirations
Both Caster and Joan of Arc were real 15th century figures – providing even richer foundation to analyze Caster‘s motivations regarding Saber.
Joan of Arc was a peasant-turned-military-commander famous for leading French troops against English forces at Orleans as part of the Hundred Years‘ War. Hailed as a religious icon who reported receiving divine visions, she was eventually captured and burned at the stake for heresy at 19 years old.
| Joan of Arc Key Facts |
|---|
| Lived 1412-1431 |
| Began leading French armies against England at 17 |
| Credited with lifting the Siege of Orleans in 1429 |
| Executed for heresy by England in 1431 at age 19 |
| Posthumously declared innocent and canonized as a saint |
Whereas Gilles de Rais was appointed as Joan‘s right-hand military strategist and escorted her into battles. Some historians characterize him as developing an intense fascination with Joan bordering on romantic infatuation. After her death, Rais‘s life spiraled dramatically:
- Descended into murderous violence and heresy, molesting, torturing and killing potentially hundreds of peasant children
- Claimed he committed atrocities in an alchemical bid to resurrect Joan, summon demons, and access supernatural power
- Eventually executed for heresy, murder, and witchcraft
As these profiles illustrate, both figures exhibited religious zealotry driving them into perilous territory later in life. This adds grim context toward analyzing Caster‘s actions in Fate. His magical efforts to control Saber likely parallel de Rais‘ dark experiments to raise the dead and contact mystical entities.
Tracing Caster‘s Descent Into Delusional Madness
Across Fate storylines, Caster‘s perception of Saber as Joan reborn intensifies from fascination into dangerous obsession the more power he accrues:
Fate/Zero
- As Ryuunosuke‘s Servant, lacks mana to materialize often, but observes battles involving Saber
- Comments on her "downfall in the final moments" – referencing Joan of Arc‘s execution
- Clearly recognizes her as embodiment of England‘s legendary King Arthur
Unlimited Blade Works (2014)
- After obtaining massive mana from draining residents at Ryuudou Temple, appears openly before Saber
- Claims "she has descended once more to cleanse evil" – convinced she is Joan
- Leverages Rule Breaker to neutralize Saber‘s contract with Shirou and abduct her
- Inflicts magical torture on Saber to brainwash her into becoming his Servant
This evidence suggests that an abundance of mana allowed Caster to amplify his delusion that Saber is Joan reincarnated. His actions follow a dark trajectory – first admiring her from afar, then using force to make her his own.
So Why Does He Obsess Over Her?
Analyzing Caster‘s backstory against his Fate plot arc highlights layered reasons for fixating madly on Saber as his resurrected holy idol:
- As a Servant, maintains devotion to Joan of Arc carried over from his physical life
- Strong capacity for magical energy makes him cunning and dangerously delusional
- Goal of winning Holy Grail War drives him to amass legendary heroes like Joan as his Servants
- With endless mana feeding his warped mind, confuses Saber more intensely as Joan reborn
- Compulsion to possess her likely connects to both romantic obsession and god complex
In short, Caster‘s not-so-wholesome motivations converge in his shared history with Joan of Arc and growing mystic power. This breeds a toxic conviction that Saber is Joan returned from the grave – which he must secure as the ultimate trophy.
Similarities to Other Fate Characters
Caster is far from the only Fate figure with an intense fascination for Saber. Analyzing these dynamics sheds further light on why she specifically incites such crazed reverence:
- Kiritsugu Emiya – Summons Saber as devoted Servant during Fate/Zero based on notion she is the strongest, "closest being to the Throne of Heroes"
- Kirei Kotomine – Becomes consumed with interest in Saber, seeing her rigid selflessness as contradiction representing the complexity of humanity
- Gilgamesh – As Fate‘s original epic hero, is captivated by Saber‘s status as King Arthur and seeks to add her to his "collection"
- Shirou Emiya – Driven by survivor‘s guilt to become an ally of justice, is inspired by Saber‘s devotion to her people through self-sacrifice
Common themes here are Saber‘s status as an unattainable heroic icon representing impossible ideals. As someone who defied gender norms of her time to rule as an elegant warrior-king, she intrinsically draws fascination and even distorted desire from those seeking to capture that greatness.
The Takeaway – A Shakespearean Tragedy
At his core, Caster embodies the classic tale of a mighty leader brought down by two fatal flaws – ambition and obsession. His reverence of Joan of Arc transformed first into a bid for mystical abilities to resurrect and summon her, then a despair-fueled descent into violence when those efforts failed.
Summoned as a Servant, Caster‘s delusion, capacity for evil, and desire to collect glorious spirits collide in his belief that Saber is Joan reincarnated. His prior devotion corrupts into a determination to subjugate King Arthur herself to satiate his god complex.
This blend of real historical tragedy, classic flaws, and rich afterlife backstory in Fate makes Caster a profoundly nuanced study of how obsession breeds evil. In the end, Saber herself spells it out, condemning his quest to entrap her as "not for loyalty or love – but in the name of self-interest and murderous intent."
