Compiled by u/bellarch, with invaluable assistance from numerous others.
Disclaimer: Spoilers abound for, like, everything. Beware!
Bias Note: I generally believe it’s better to accept that bias exists, admit it up-front, and move on than try to hide it or appear to be objective when no one is objective. This affects how I write about characters. I should also note here that this document has a heavy pro-Edelgard bias - as is natural for something that grew out of work in r/Edelgard. That being said, I will add any sort of analysis, no matter the slant, if it is thorough and well-researched.
Have you ever wondered why everyone here hates Treehouse with a passion? Why everyone just kind of assumes that Edelgard has C-PTSD? Why the phrase dearest friend is sometimes used on r/Edelgard as a devastating insult?
If you do, and you like analysis, it's probably because the best analysis was scattered over two subreddits over the course of the first year after release, and so it's very easy to miss if you weren't around since the beginning and/or don't have the time or fortitude to search through months' worth of comments and posts on big writers' profiles. This post is an attempt to solve this problem by compiling all of the major analysis posts that have been written on r/FireEmblem and r/Edelgard over the two-plus years since the game's release. I'll be leaning heavily on work the community at r/Edelgard, since we’ve been disproportionately responsible for the creation of analysis posts. Consequentially, this document will be disproportionately about Edelgard. But we need to consider analysis of all the characters, from all communities, so feel free to suggest anything if you see something useful!
Note: By nature, this guide is incomplete. This is partially because some of the best analysis is still being done - just look at how much has been written just this week! But it's also because I'm human, and I miss things, and my knowledge is incomplete. If you see any major omissions please add them.
While everyone who’s interested in reading fan analysis of this game presumably has their own copy, sometimes it’s hard to find information by digging through the in-game menus or explore dialogue or whatever. To assist with that, there now exist primary sources to help gather information. The first is FE Datamine, a fantastic resource that organizes a text-dump of everything in the game. It is extremely worth checking if you ever need to find any specific detail of the text. The one thing that it does not have is character-specific end cards, but these can be found here. You may also be able to find useful information at the FE Wiki or the FE3H page at Serenes Forest. These sort of detail-intensive fan sites are extremely useful when trying to decipher things about a game in which even small details like a character’s liked and disliked gifts can be very informative about characters’ personalities or the game’s themes.
Sometimes you come across something extensive and good enough that it needs its own section. This applies to u/orianajb’s compilation of references to real-world lore, which I was fortunate enough to run across before it got buried during a rare journey across enemy lines into the main sub. The author, who apparently has some anthropological training and therefore is presumably an especially good source for this kind of thing, went on a knowledge-gathering expedition to try to scour up any and all possible references to real-world events, lore, myths, legends, and history scattered around Fire Emblem: Three Houses. There are a lot of them - 71 pages worth! Please keep this in mind next time someone says the writers didn’t put a lot of effort into this game, or that there couldn’t possibly be many references to other texts or history in the game.
That being said, please keep in mind that there are unfortunately hints of anti-Edelgard-ism scattered throughout this document (of course there are; why can’t we have nice things?)
Upon further reflection, I’ve decided to move this section to a separate document. I think we should all keep the fact that the original English script is riddled with potential translation errors in mind, but I don’t think it should be foregrounded in this collection the way it was before. There are several reasons for this. First, I am no longer convinced that noting every possible change in translation is useful. While there are some major changes through translation, not all changes are equal. Whether a difference in translation is useful is something that requires further thought and actual analysis, and that is difficult to contain in this format. Second, it is a royal pain to edit: people suggest five million different translation mistakes, usually in the form of difficult-to-understand Twitter threads, and furthermore, they’re usually steeped in the negativity and rage of the worst parts of the fandom, whether in the actual post or the replies. Third . . . well, foregrounding the translation issues like I did before both gives ammunition to the discourse against Edelgard’s fans, by making it look like we only care about a twisted version of the game’s script. And it distracts from all the analysis that we’ve done, which is what I care about the most.
So here’s what I am going to do. I will link a separate document where I will move the contents of this section. I will then open this document for public editing -- y’all can fight over tiny differences in translation. Go nuts. (I will separately maintain a read-only master copy in case of vandalism, but I do not plan to update it past today.)
I will take this opportunity to link a fan translation for Crimson Flower, which is very good and shows issues with the translation in their proper context. I think this is very good and still worth keeping intact. I’d also encourage people to use FE Datamine in Japanese along machine translations to check dialogue themselves. I’ll also keep two Reddit posts discussing subtleties of how the characters are presented in Japanese alive. But other than this, I’m moving the translation stuff elsewhere.
One of the subtleties of Japanese that doesn’t always translate well is role language - basically, there are tons of different pronouns and ways to address people that take into account subtle differences in station. u/Odovakar has put in a ton of work collecting these (and will hopefully finish this collection eventually!) and it’s worth collecting by itself.
Role Language - the Blue Lions Students’ Speech Patterns in Japanese
Role Language - the Black Eagles Students’ Speech Patterns in Japanese
Section I.II: Old Intro [maintained for historical purposes]
The place where we all need to start is translation errors. Chronologically, it's not the earliest topic of analysis, but given that Treehouse made a series of egregious (and less-egregious) errors it's necessary to really understand what the game was intended to be instead of the translation we were handed. In fact, in compiling this, I've come to the conclusion that we should establish a standard: if anyone writes a post that leans heavily on a conversation that could be ambiguously translated, please note this explicitly in your analysis. Even if we leave Treehouse's egregious editing choices alone, there are still translation choices that are entirely defensible alone, but character-derailing in the context of the entire narrative.
Note: I am going to miss things, because a lot of discussion of translation is buried in comment threads. I'd argue for another Google Doc which specifically collects all the fan translation efforts for this game. But I digress.
So FE3H has this design philosophy where the writers don't flat-out tell you much of anything, but instead expect you to be able to pick it up from hints and clues dropped all over the game. It turns out that this leads to a lot of confusion and requires a lot of work to even piece together the in-game history, which is of course exacerbated by Treehouse. So there's been a lot of really good work that's just putting together the lore that the game gave us.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses is Edelgard’s Story and why I Think So - by u/wheatleyscience9. A short summary of some of the reasons why we can see that FE3H revolves around Edelgard, whether she’s the primary protagonist or the primary antagonist.
The Bandit Attack in the Prologue, and How We've Misinterpreted the Flame Emperor's Plan - by u/captainflash89. So the bandit attack in the prologue was actually designed to run off the original professor for the Black Eagles - who may or may not be the Mysterious Teacher in Abyss - and replace him with Jeritza. Does the game flat-out tell you this? No. Does it become more obvious when you look into it? Yes. This post leaves off some later monastery dialogue with Caspar and Ferdinand that further implies that this interpretation is correct.
The Edelgard/Lonato Plan - by u/captainflash89. So how many people realized that Edelgard was involved in Lonato's plan? I certainly didn't.
Analyzing House Arundel and the Insurrection of the Seven - by u/SigurdVII, an early effort to figure out what the hell is going on with the Empire's recent history - something that is still a topic of discussion even now!
Interesting Quality about Byleth and Edelgard - by u/SigurdVII. A short but sweet note of the way that the game constantly sets up Byleth and Edelgard as opposites, even on routes where Edelgard isn't your Lord.
In-Game Text Reference - Three Houses hides a lot of stuff, but it also just stuffs a lot of important information out in the open in the library where you're not necessarily gonna to read it, or remember it if you do, and then you can't access it outside of the game. Here's a compiled list of some of the library texts so you can look it up elsewhere.
Shadow Library Compilation - Similarly, here's a bunch of pictures of stuff that the game hides in plain sight in the DLC-only Shadow Library.
An Attempt to Figure Out Exactly What Happened in the Tragedy of Duscur - by u/CnidarianArtisans. Exactly what it says on the tin.
Random Fridge Horror Realization Involving Miklan - by u/Dragoncat91. Real meat is in the comments, where there's discussion of some potentially triggering stuff involving Miklan and Sylvain.
Rhea is Probably Not Telling the Whole Truth at the End of Silver Snow - by u/dialzza. Rhea gives a giant lore-dump near the ends of both Silver Snow and Verdant Wind. Is she telling you everything? Based on everything we know about her, probably not!
Historical Period Comparisons in FETH - by u/OctagonSun. A short but important look at the environment in FE3H that places it most closely as an analogue of the European mid-Renaissance period. (On a side note, as someone who specialized in Islamic history for my minor, I would agree that FE3H fits the Islamic Golden Age really, really well.)
An Analysis on Those Who Slither in the Dark’s Actions during the Academy Phase - by u/Omegaxis1. What the hell is TWSITD doing during White Clouds? This post tries extensively to provide an answer.
Were the Agarthans Evil? - by u/Omegaxis1. Who were the predecessors of TWSITD, and why did they oppose Sothis? A look at why from what we know of the lore.
The Significance of Edelgard’s Birthday - by u/SexTraumaDental. Turns out that Edelgard and Dimitri’s birthdays weren’t just picked at random! STD explores the context.
Rhea’s truth isn’t the whole truth, and there’s still a lot we don’t know - by u/wheatleyscience9. A great summary of what is left untold after Rhea’s big infodumps at the end of Verdant Wind and Silver Snow, and what the big holes in the lore were (and where our knowledge is biased by Rhea’s perspective) before the DLC.
What is slithering in the dark of FE3H? Unpacking the last mysteries of the game - by u/bellarch19. This is actually the first big analysis idea I ever had, though I only ever wrote it down recently. Basically, I posit that the mystery of where Nemesis appears from in Verdant Wind is explained by the Chalice of Beginnings in the DLC, and go on to connect it to the other mysteries in the game: Flayn’s kidnapping and what TWSITD was doing in Garreg Mach. Going down this rabbit hole allowed me to construct a theory for what TWSITD’s real plan was in FE3H - it turns out that assuming that TWSITD always planned to revive Nemesis helps explain many of their actions. It still has some holes, but I personally feel pretty confident that the theory is close to correct.
What Failure Entails - Claude’s Fate in Non-Verdant Wind Routes - by u/Lunallae. Explores the (pretty conclusive) evidence that Claude is not directly in line for the Almyran throne and will not ascend it outside of Verdant Wind. Also includes some analysis of Claude’s character.
An analysis of Silver Snow and the lore of Fodlan (JAP) - by u/BGAV1. Explores the Silver Snow route in detail (in the original Japanese!). Perhaps more importantly, goes into detail about the lore about Crests, Relics, and Nabateans and tries to see what conclusions we can draw about them from the game.
The True Meaning of Edelgard’s “No You”, how it relates to Faerghus’s Culture, and the Tragedy of Chapter 17 - by u/AnnaisMyWaifu. A deep dive into the context of the infamously mistranslated ‘no u’ line in Chapter 17 of Crimson Flower, and how it actually relates to Faerghus and the themes of Azure Moon.
(NEW!) In Defense of “no u” - by u/Western_Activity_608. Another explanation of the meaning of the “no u” line, and how and why it is misinterpreted.
The Relationship between Aymr, Blutgang, and their Crest Stones… - by u/mew29240. A look at how and why Aymr is powered by Maurice’s Crest Stone. I’m not sure if I buy everything here, fair warning, but the issue of how Crest Stones and Crests work and power Crest weapons is relatively unexplored and unclear from canon.
The Power of the Crest of Flames - by u/bellarch19. A closer look at what powers exactly are granted by the Crest of Flames, using evidence from canon about the deeds attributed to Nemesis and the Sword of the Creator, and Byleth and Edelgard’s actions in canon. Notably posits that (a) the success of the faction that Byleth picks is due to their Divine Pulse granting them the ability to rewind time, therefore granting them both considerable tactical advantages and the ability to essentially reroll risky strategic choices until an outcome to their liking happens (b) Edelgard’s Raging Flames is a result of her Crest of Flames giving her localized power over time, allowing for crazy shenanigans.
How a War in Fodlan was Inevitable - by u/AnnaisMyWaifu. Basically a collection of the best arguments (made elsewhere over countless threads by countless users) about why the war that Edelgard started was inevitably going to happen in some form soon no matter what she did.
(NEW!) I finally figured out what they were trying to do with AM - by u/esterve. A look at how the structure of the Azure Moon route parallels the War of Heroes from the backstory, with a twist.
(NEW!) Section II.I: The Insurrection of the Seven
The Insurrection of the Seven is one of the most important events in the backstory of Fire Emblem: Three Houses. It arguably is the most important part of the backstory. However, a lot of the information about it is obscured in the text, and so there’s been a lot of meta-discussion about the Insurrection. I’m compiling this all here for easier reference.
Why Do People Forget what the Insurrection of the Seven Did? - by u/Omegaxis1. A look at what we know about the Insurrection of the Seven, and a reminder that it’s very important for understanding why Edelgard did what she did.
How the Backstory of Edelgard’s Parents was Mistranslated, and the greater implications - by u/esterve. Treehouse appears to have censored references in the original Japanese to what can be loosely described as harem politics. Adding back in the missing references adds context to why Edelgard, Arundel, and Anselma had to flee the Empire after the Insurrection of the Seven, what the Insurrection was all about, and what the political makeup of the Empire is like.
Some Clarification on what the Church knows about the Insurrection - by u/esterve. Based on details in the original Japanese script, points out that the Church absolutely knew about the horrible things happening to El’s family, but chose to do nothing.
(NEW!) The Truth About the Insurrection of the Seven - by u/holliequ. A detailed explanation of the timeline and events of the Insurrection of the Seven, which is probably a bit too obscure in the original text.
Edelgard is the central character in FE3H. This is just a fact: she's either the main character or the main antagonist in every route, and her decisions drive the plot from the beginning of White Clouds. You need to understand Edelgard to understand this game. Combined with the fact that the community which has invested the most in fan analysis is r/Edelgard, there's a wealth of analysis of our smol Emperor, her decisions, her personality, her morals, etc.
This series, by u/captainflash89, is crucial to understanding Edelgard, and basically every serious Edelgard analysis draws on it in some way. The conclusions, in brief are (i) Edelgard suffers from severe C-PTSD, and it drives a lot of her characterization in the plot (ii) Edelgard is, or was, a woman of deep faith who was betrayed by the church, and it drives much of her actions (iii) Edelgard is wearing a metaphorical mask over her true character for most of the game, and Crimson Flower is all about removing it to reveal the real woman underneath.
Edelgard's PTSD - How Three Houses Sensitively Portrays Living with a Mental Health Condition
On the Topic of Edelgard's Memory and her Relationship with Dimitri
Masks, Identity, and Responses to Trauma in Three Houses
Edelgard, Demonization, and Narrative Respect - by u/GreenSonic. While this isn’t part of Captain Flash’s trauma series, it fits better in context with those essays than anywhere else in this document. The author points out how Edelgard is affected by her trauma - and how the narrative both refuses to infantilize her or dismiss her trauma and allows her to win, granting a sort of catharsis for anyone who has suffered similar trauma to Edelgard herself.
Separate from the Edelgard Trauma Series, r/Edelgard has done a lot of careful, loving work taking apart the words and actions of Edelgard von Hresvelg and trying to figure out exactly who the woman under the mask is.
Why I Love Edelgard - by u/AnnaisMyWaifu. A short but sweet meme-ish analysis of why the author (and many other people) love Edelgard and her character.
An Explanation of why You-Know-Who did You-Know-What - by u/captainflash89. This was one of the first big analyses, which is why the title doesn’t spell out what’s actually going on. This is the first big look at who Edelgard is and why she does what she does in the game
The Emperor and the Goddess - by u/captainflash89. Okay, this is fanfiction. However, it’s by Captain Flash, who’s done a lot of really good work analyzing Edelgard, and The Emperor and the Goddess often feels like long-form analysis of Edelgard’s character from a different perspective. I often feel that really good fanfiction in general adds to my understanding of the source material, and this piece specifically is the highest example of that. So since I’m trying to err on the side of inclusion here, in it goes.
Edelgard: Feminist Icon: Or: The Role of Women in Fire Emblem: Three Houses - by u/bellarch19. Holy colons, Batman! This is my own analysis, and the work I’m proudest of on r/Edelgard. It combines some dissection of lore, analysis of broad themes, and analysis of Edelgard’s character. It’s also probably too long, but oh well!
I Feel Like People Judge Edelgard Very Unfairly - by u/dialzza. An early post which explores why Edelgard did what she did, and what drove her to that point.
Edelgard’s Compassion - by u/bellarch19. Also my own analysis. Here, I explore Edelgard’s real aversion to violence, especially in Crimson Flower but also spread throughout all the routes of the game. Basically, while Edelgard isn’t averse to killing when it is necessary to make big structural change in Fodlan, she also consistently tries to avoid killing when she can, and minimizes suffering when she can’t. I link this to her compassion for humanity, which she displays consistently throughout the game.
Edelgard and the Power of Friendship - by u/captainflash89. A fascinating analysis of Edelgard and the power of friendship (who knew!?) - specifically, why friendship is so important to her character, and why it’s such an important theme of the Crimson Flower route.
Edelgard and Trust - by u/holliequ. A look at the complicated relationship between the girl who lost the ability to trust long ago and the trust she extends to virtually everyone she meets.
Edelgard’s Grief and Change - by u/that_wannabe_cat. A close reading and analysis of Edelgard’s conversation with Byleth after Jeralt’s death.
Edelgard as an Empath - by u/OctagonSun. An interesting and beautiful look at Edelgard’s growth and relationships, placing her as a type of “orchid child” and empath.
“Self-righteous” - by u/RaisonDetriment. Fair warning: this short post is an angry, profane reaction to a common criticism of Edelgard. However, I believe it’s important to include because it summarizes some important points about her moral foundation.
What is Edelgard’s Character Arc? - by u/AnnaisMyWaifu. A look at Edelgard’s character arc, and how it differs from the traditional heroic character arc and the arcs of the other lords. Instead of being about Edelgard developing her morality, ideas, and vision, it’s about growing as a person and her relationships with other people.
Edelgard’s Strategic Prowess - by u/Icelerator. A look at Edelgard’s military prowess and strategic conduct during wartime in all routes, especially Crimson Flower.
The Difficulty of Edelgard’s Choice - by u/quagriel. A short-but-sweet post setting Edelgard’s decision to start a war to end feudalism in its implicit historical context and pointing out the bravery and wisdom of her eventual choice.
What Makes Edelgard Resonate with You? - by u/cruxclaire. A really good post about why Edelgard resonates with the author (and many of us), and explains part of why so many of us have a deep attachment to her.
(NEW!) War and Peace: contrasting Dimitri’s and Edelgard’s personal interests - by u/SexTraumaDental. A comparison of Dimitri’s and Edelgard’s personalities through the relatively unbiased lens of their favorite and least favorite gifts and lost items. Argues that Dimitri is very associated with and arguably fond of violence, while Edelgard is not.
(NEW!) Why F!Edeleth is a Thing - by u/bellarch19. In which I tried to explain why a disproportionately large portion of the fanbase likes Edelgard’s WLW relationships, especially F!Edeleth, and why this works with Edelgard’s queer coding and the themes of Crimson Flower. The reaction to this post is the main reason why I’m not really around r/Edelgard much anymore.
(NEW!) Is Edelgard Ace/Aro? - by u/bellarch19. In which I extend elements of the argument in the previous post to explain why I can see Edelgard as being somewhere on the gray spectrum (i.e. disinterested in romance and/or sex by typical societal standards on a fundamental level.) Has some issues that are talked about in comments, but they’ve gone unfixed as I basically never want to touch this topic again.
(NEW!) The revolutionary who guided the Empire to a new dawn, Edelgard von Hresvelg - by u/ciatokins. A character analysis of Edelgard, touching especially on her beliefs and sense of morality, and how they reflect real-life historical figures.
(NEW!) a very unfocused analysis on why Edegard stans are mostly lgbt (& Part II) - by @edelegs. An explanation of why Crimson Flower and Edelgard herself don’t feel designed to appeal to cishet men, unlike about 90% of stuff in video games, and also why it particularly appeals to queer people.
(NEW!) Edelgard’s Character Design Analysis - by u/BeggarPhilosopher. A look at Edelgard’s character, symbolism, and story role through the lens of her character art.
(NEW!) Why Edelgard Should Not be Redeemed - by u/HeavyDonkeyKong. An explanation why Edelgard does not need a redemption arc.
(NEW!) Byleth and Edelgard: Why it is my favorite relationship in the entire franchise - by u/Kaltmacher07. A really good look at what makes Edeleth special and meaningful to many people.
This isn't specifically about Edelgard per se, but her Crimson Flower route contains a lot of interesting themes and results that aren't obvious until you really look for them. r/Edelgard has spent a lot of time digging them out and analyzing them, and I decided to collect them here because often the themes of Edelgard's route are important for understanding her character and goals.
What Three Houses is About - by u/captainflash89. The premiere “Crimson Flower is the true ending” argument, including why it completes Byleth’s character arc and how it complements the game’s main themes.
A Note on Crimson Flower, and Endings in RPGs - by u/captainflash89. An analysis of what the developers intended Crimson Flower to mean, and why it’s probably the “true ending” of Fire Emblem: Three Houses.
Who Makes Your List of Crimson Flower Must-Recruits? - by u/captainflash89. Discusses their must-recruits for the Crimson Flower route, and contains some good discussion in the comments of who fits in the story of Crimson Flower who’s not already a Black Eagle or Lysithea.
The Final BE Cutscene - and why it’s the most emotionally resonant FE moment ever - by u/captainflash89. Exactly what it says on the tin.
Liberty Leading the People: The Inspiration of Crimson Flower’s Ending Art - by u/SexTraumaDental. A look at the CF ending art and its historical and religious symbolism.
Crimson Flower Requirement Analysis - by u/Omegaxis1. Why does Crimson Flower have the requirements it has? What does that say about Byleth’s decision to side with Edelgard, and what does that have to do with the themes of the route? Here we have a long, but thorough, answer.
“True Peace” and follow-up - by u/SexTraumaDental. Crimson Flower fans usually maintain two things: (i) Crimson Flower is the true ending and (ii) Crimson Flower is the best ending. These two are not synonymous. (i) is established by posts linked above. (ii) is established here.
Why I personally believe CF is the canon route of FE3H - by u/AnnaisMyWaifu. An excellent look at the reasons that suggest that Crimson Flower is perhaps canon in FE3H and why it is the best route. It’s more of a summary of work that has been done than something that breaks new ground, but it’s a very, very good summary of what we’ve come up with in r/Edelgard since the game’s release.
Edelgard is the Hero of Three Houses - by u/AnnaisMyWaifu. Examining Edelgard’s personality, aesthetics, and narrative role, this analysis concludes that Edelgard is overall the hero of the game and takes on a heroic role in every route.
The Holy Tomb Choice: Edelgard and Faith - by u/AnnaisMyWaifu. A look at how faith plays specifically into the choice at the Holy Tomb, and why this counters the narrative that Edelgard is atheistic and anti-religion.
Crimson Flower’s Final Cutscene: Space and the Unknown - by u/AnnaisMyWaifu. A short but interesting take on how the end of the Crimson Flower ending cutscene parallels sci-fi space tropes and represents the possibilities opened up under Edelgard’s new regime. I’m not sure I totally believe it myself, but it’s an interesting take that’s worth reading, especially given the short length.
Crimson Flower’s Final Cutscene in Relation to the Music and Themes - by u/stopstopp. A look specifically at how the Edge of Dawn leitmotif is used in the final cutscene, and how it helps illustrate the themes of Crimson Flower and the greater events that happen in conjunction with Rhea’s death. Full disclosure: the author consulted with me before posting it, so while I wholeheartedly endorse it I also do have a very small role in its writing.
(NEW!) The Sun Rises - by u/SexTraumaDental. Explains why Edelgard’s symbolism is associated with the Japanese flag, and then goes through a point-by-point refutation of the idea that this associates Edelgard with the facism and ultranationalism of the Japanese far-right who sometimes use said flag as a symbol.
(NEW!) Maybe there’s a reason why we don’t fight TWSITD in Crimson Flower - by u/bellarch19. There’s a common argument that because there is no mission that requires battling against TWSITD in Crimson Flower, the route is incomplete and unfinished (and bad, and the developers actually hate Edelgard, and etc.) I argue here that the content that was cut was cut for good reasons, and that adding a Shambala chapter to Crimson Flower would actually detract from the story. Do note that there are minor errors in this text (that I can no longer go back and fix), but this doesn’t detract from the overall thrust of the argument.
(NEW!) The Evolution of a Story - Musings on Crimson Flower - by @ciatokins. A discussion of the narrative of Crimson Flower, and how can feel like both a villainous route and a true route at the same time.
(NEW!) Edelgard and Meritocracy - by u/RafflesiaArnoldii. An examination of the meaning of Edelgard’s “meritocracy” and an attempt at placing it in its proper historical and ideological context. I’m honestly not entirely happy with the historical and sociological analysis here, but the essence is still correct.
(NEW!) My take on the central theme of FE3H and why CF is the route I love the most - by u/pyrofe. A good take on why choice is a central theme of Three Houses, and why Crimson Flower is the one route that emphasizes the ability to choose.
(NEW!) Section III.IV: The Edelgard-as-Messiah Argument
A lot has been made of the various religious parallels in the game, whether it’s Edelgard’s apparent devil symbolism or the Catholic allusions in the Church of Seiros. But u/SexTraumaDental has gone further to argue that there is evidence that there is a hidden religious argument: that Sothis does exist as something akin to the omnipotent deity of the Bible, and that she has made Edelgard a vessel of her will. This argument is somewhat controversial -- it implicitly draws on a very particular (leftist) reading of Christianity that not everyone believes or even is familiar with, and it’s obviously a very firm and (arguably) extreme stance on the “Edelgard is right” question that creates so much discourse. The argument does resonate with me personally, but it’s also the kind of thing that’s almost specifically designed to do so, and I still go back and forth on whether I actually believe it. But it should definitely be reproduced in full here.
The Hidden Perspective: Do you believe in the Goddess? - argues based on evidence from the game itself, Fire Emblem Heroes, and Fire Emblem precedents that there exists a Goddess beyond the tiny gremlin in Byleth’s head.
The Will of the Goddess and Edelgard’s Crests - argues that Edelgard’s Crests are in some way a representation of the will of the Goddess, that Edelgard’s perspective is in part divinely inspired, and that she fits the role of a religious martyr.
The Mindblowing Truth in Throne of Knowledge: Thus Spoke the Goddess - There’s a lot to unpack here, but this post basically argues that the Imperial Palace is the real Holy Tomb, and that Edelgard’s speech to her troops is the real divine revelation from the Goddess.
A carefully positioned double-headed eagle and Crest of Seiros in the final AM cutscene - points out that in the context of the other posts, we can interpret the final cutscene of Azure Moon as Byleth and Dimitri turning their backs on the Goddess.
Answering People’s Prayers: The flourishing of human potential - argues that Edelgard can be interpreted as the answer to the prayers of the people of Fodlan for a better life.
So there are these three other lords in the game besides Edelgard - Claude, Dimitri, and Rhea. Byleth is also a central character across all four routes. There's also been a lot of good analysis done of these lords and their actions. I link to it below. Analyses of the various routes should also go with analyses of that specific route's lord.
Often, there's overarching themes connecting all the Lords of this game, or connecting them to past games. Here I collect analysis that considers them all together.
The Historical Context of Three Houses: How Each Lord Embodies Real-Life Reforms - by u/captainflash89. An interesting exploration of how the reforms that each FE3H lord makes at the end of their route parallels a real-life historical reform effort.
All the Main Three Houses Leaders are Twists on Classic FE Villain Archetypes - by u/dialzza. Explores how all the lords in Three Houses are reflections and deconstructions of previous villains in the Fire Emblem series. Should be read in combination with the analysis below.
Dark Mirrors: How the Lords of Three Houses Parallel and Subvert Previous FE Heroes - by u/captainflash89. Explores how the main characters of the game can be seen as reflections and deconstructions of previous lords in the Fire Emblem series.
Edelgard and Trust: Who's Really Preventing a Golden Ending? - by u/holliequ. A look at the complicated relationship between the girl who lost the ability to trust long ago and the trust she extends to virtually everyone she meets, and a comparison with the other lords, who theoretically should trust more and yet trust less.
What’s Really Preventing a Golden Ending? - by u/bellarch19. As a sort of follow-up to the previous post, tries to explain what specifically is preventing the Lords from working together, and goes from there to try to figure out how to create a “Golden Ending” where all the Lords can survive and work together to some degree. Bonus discussion between myself and u/holliequ about fanfic ideas if anyone is into that.
The Yin and Yang of Dimitri and Edelgard - by u/SexTraumaDental. All the ways that Dimitri and Edelgard are set up as opposites (it’s way more than you think, taking into account that it’s way more than you think.)
Why a Golden Route is Impossible in 3H - by u/Omegaxis1. A short look at each lord’s motivations and goals, and a reminder that they won’t work together.
Byleth is Jesus, Rhea is God, and Edelgard is Lucifer - by u/SexTraumaDental. A look at religious allusions between the three lords most connected with the Church of Seiros and Christian mythology.
Theory: Rhea and Edelgard are two sides of the same coin: and it’s an awesome thing - by u/wheatleyscience9. A comparative analysis of Edelgard and Rhea that argues that the two are ultimately very similar people with similar trauma.
Edelgard and Rhea are not two sides of the same coin! (and Part II) - by u/AnnaisMyWaifu. Contrasts with the above comparative analysis; argues that while both Rhea and Edelgard are tragic characters, Edelgard has more heroic qualities while Rhea has more villainous qualities, taking into account analysis over the ~8 months since the above post was made.
Why Rhea and Edelgard ARE narrative parallels and foils, based on their similarities and how they cope with trauma - by u/wheatleyscience9. In response to the above post, a look at the narrative similarities between Rhea and Edelgard and why they are similar characters in the narrative. The fact that they respond differently to trauma is the point, according to the author.
Confounding Variables: Rhea + Edelgard - by u/OctagonSun. A look at the particulars of Rhea’s trauma, and therefore at some ways in which she’s not really comparable to Edelgard at all. I think there’s more discussion to be had about the lore here, and I don’t entirely agree with the author’s take yet, but that’s because u/OctagonSun brings up some interesting issues about Nemesis, Zanado, and the state of Fodlan before the establishment of the Church of Seiros. that I haven’t seen explored before and really need to be hashed out in more detail.
Who is the leader of the Golden Deer, really? Some people have explored this question, and I collect their work in this section.
Unmasking the Master Tactician - by u/SigurdVII. Essential reading for anyone who wants to analyze Claude. It turns out that Claude's character changed noticeably between the Japanese and English versions, and the changes smoothed out his rough edges. A lot.
Claude’s Role in Three Houses - by u/Odovakar. A short but thought-provoking look at who Claude is and is supposed to be in FE3H, and how the writers may have failed in their execution of his character.
What Failure Entails - Claude’s Fate in Non-Verdant Wind Routes - By u/lunallae. Goes over the (pretty conclusive) evidence that Claude does not ascend the throne of Almyra outside of Verdant Wind, and adds some interesting analysis about what that says about his values, privilege, and character flaws.
The Struggle between Cynicism and Idealism - Claude’s Ambition and Wish - By u/lunallae. A very good discussion of who Claude is and what Claude wants, complete with detailed examination of the Japanese source text, by the person who I personally believe to be the best analyst of Claude we have.
The Problem of Claude: An Analysis of Anti-Racism in Three Houses - By u/bellarch19. This is almost certainly the most controversial thing I will ever write online (famous last words), but it seems to have really resonated with several people and provided a lot of good conversation. Be warned that it’s rawer and more first-drafty; I have a lot of feelings about Claude that come out hard whenever I try to write or think about him. Overall, I still stand by everything I wrote here (although there’s some weirdness with some bits of what I wrote about Edelgard and Petra that I need to go back and fact-check and rework at some point, full disclosure.) The one questionable choice I made here is to set up Edelgard and Claude in contrast with each other here, with Edelgard on the anti-racist side - I think that made some people uncomfortable because I’m unfavorably contrasting a canon POC’s anti-racism efforts with a white person’s. I still stand by it because my ultimate reaction to Verdant Wind was a huge frustration with Claude’s complete lack of actual commitment to anti-racism especially when he’s supposed to be my fucking POC representation and I needed someone to latch onto who would do anti-racism right even if the optics might not be the best, and Edelgard is that someone. I think some other people might feel the same, but YMMV. Ugh, this is why I try not to write about Claude that much.
Fate and Free Will in Verdant Wind - by u/dusky_salamander. An interesting look at how fate and free will play into the Verdant Wind route and its themes. I’m not thrilled with the conclusions of the post (the author says that Verdant Wind is about human free will and contrasts it with Crimson Flower and Silver Snow, which I believe is frankly just wrong - Crimson Flower is the route that centers human free will the most!) - but the prior analysis is excellent and worth reading.
(NEW!) Never Underestimate an Outsider - by u/thanni44. An old essay about Claude’s character. I am less confident about it than some of the newer work that’s been done and other essays that draw more on the original Japanese script, but it’s a lot of work and should still be included.
(NEW!) The mastermind and resident dreamboat, Claude von Riegan - by @ciatokins. An exploration of Claude’s character, both his strong points and shortcomings, as a person and as a character in the narrative of Three Houses.
The leader of the Blue Lions house is one of the most fascinating and well-done characters in Three Houses. Here I collect analysis about him. Note: the original Japanese translation is much less focused on Dimitri’s PTSD and mental health and more focused on Faerghus’s toxic masculinity and how it affects Dimitri, as explained in the first post I list here. The rest of the analysis I have found of Dimitri’s character takes the English translation for granted, with all its problematic tropes and messages and mistranslations, and so should be taken with a huge grain of salt. (You may or may not agree that the Japanese translation focuses on toxic masculinity, but you should at least engage with this argument some).
Dimitri, Edelgard, and Azure Moon - by u/captainflash89. This fantastic essay explores Dimitri’s character and the themes of Azure Moon, informed by the original Japanese script - which turns out to be very, very different from the English translation. This is currently required reading for anyone who wants to really understand Dimitri.
Faerghus, Duty, and Dimitri’s Sense of Self - by u/Cnidarianartisans. An excellent look at who Dimitri is and exactly how Faerghus’s warped culture hurt him.
Dimitri's Short-Sightedness is both Very Relatable and Understandable Considering his Backstory - by u/Cnidarianartisans. An interesting, loving look at why Dimitri is so focused on the Tragedy of Duscur and revenge inspired by the author’s personal experience.
My thoughts about Dimitri’s character arc - by u/ReversePanda023. A look at how Dimitri’s arc reflects his character and character issues. I’m not thrilled with it but it goes in here anyway.
An essay on what makes Dimitri such a compelling character - by u/Spookypatrol. A look at Dimitri’s character and motivations, noting that his own depression and anxiety are what drive him rather than his surface-level love of violence and desire for revenge.
Dimitri’s fixation on Edelgard - by kendrixtermina. A look at Dimitri’s relationship with Edelgard, or the lack thereof. Basically argues that Dimitri’s fixation on Edelgard is one-sided and not really about Edelgard so much as Dimitri’s trauma and Anselma. It’s really excellent. (Warning - the format is awful for reading, at least for my eyes.)
Dimitri in Crimson Flower: A good person unknowingly doing the wrong things - by u/AnnaisMyWaifu. An interesting look at Dimitri’s motivations that lie behind his last stand in Chapter 17 of Crimson Flower, which posits that Dimitri is well-intentioned but ultimately violates his own moral code by standing against Edelgard due to his lack of awareness of his own hypocrisy in his Crimson Flower incarnation, which contrasts with his Azure Moon incarnation’s deep awareness of the hypocrisy of his actions.
(NEW!) War and Peace: contrasting Dimitri’s and Edelgard’s personal interests - by u/SexTraumaDental. A comparison of Dimitri’s and Edelgard’s personalities through the relatively unbiased lens of their favorite and least favorite gifts and lost items. Argues that Dimitri is very associated with and arguably fond of violence, while Edelgard is not.
(NEW!) The boar prince, the savior king, Dimitri Alexandri Blaiddyd - by @ciatokins. A discussion of Dimitri, focusing on how his mental illness is portrayed and how it affects his story.
Rhea is a fascinating character, a mystery wrapped in an enigma who the developers are still concealing information about months after the game received its final major update. I collect analysis related to her below.
Rhea is Probably Not Telling the Whole Truth at the End of Silver Snow - by u/dialzza. Rhea gives a giant lore-dump near the ends of both Silver Snow and Verdant Wind. Is she telling you everything? Based on everything we know about her, probably not!
The Church Ending and a Theory on Sothis and Seiros’s Relationship - by u/captainflash89. A fascinating look and thought project at what Sothis and Rhea’s relationship actually might have been, and how that affects the Church of Seiros.
Was Rhea Really Protecting the Nabateans? - by u/Omegaxis1. Why did Rhea create the whole Crests lie? Was it for the protection of the Nabateans, or for control, or what? An attempt to answer this question.
The Purpose of the Church of Seiros - by u/Omegaxis1. Why did Rhea found the Church of
Seiros? And how did it get corrupted? An attempt at answering both questions.
A Character Exploration of Rhea - by u/angry-mustache. An interesting early exploration of Rhea which tries to explain how she became the person we see in canon.
Accepting Fate: Thematic Look at Silver Snow - by u/AnnaisMyWaifu. An excellent look at the themes of the Silver Snow route, why it suggests that accepting fate may not be unequivocally bad, and how it contrasts with Crimson Flower.
Silver Snow: How Accepting Fate Leads to Becoming Lost - by u/AnnaisMyWaifu. Meant to be read in conversation with the essay above. Explores the contrasts between Silver Snow and Crimson Flower, and explains why Silver Snow can be seen as a bad ending.
Good Intentions Gone Bad: A Rhea Breakdown - by u/Tgsnum5. This was an initial stab at breaking down Rhea’s character, and looking at her motivations for founding the Church of Seiros and lying to the people of Fodlan.
(NEW!) Rhea and the banality of stagnation - by u/Snowthefirst. A short explanation of what Rhea ultimately wants for Fodlan, judging by her actions, and why that might convince someone to side with Edelgard.
Byleth may be an avatar, but they're also a character in their own right with a separate personality from the player. I couldn't find any specific Byleth analyses, but I know I've seen them (at least in comments) so I'll create a separate section here so people can post them.
Byleth Character Analysis - by u/dusky_salamander. An interesting analysis which argues in detail that Byleth is their own character in FE3H, not just a self-insert.
The Good, the Bad, and the Meh of Byleth’s Implementation - by u/dusky_salamander. A follow-up to the previous analysis that specifically explores the good and bad points of having Byleth straddle the line between viewpoint character and self-insert.
(NEW!) Byleth and Edelgard: Why it is my favorite relationship in the entire franchise - by u/Kaltmacher07. A really good look at what makes Edeleth special and meaningful to many people.
This game contains a fascinating selection of characters, all of whom are in their own ways really interesting and well-developed. As such, there's a lot of analysis specifically concerning Three Houses's "minor" characters. I collect it below by house, with a separate section for analyses specifically exploring relationships between characters.
As fascinating as many of the individual characters of Fire Emblem: Three Houses are, the relationships between these characters are even more interesting. I collect these first because I find that often we can learn more from relationship analyses than individual character analyses - after all, much of the game's character development occurs in support conversations between characters.
Bernadetta & Edelgard - by u/OctagonSun. A beautiful look at the special relationship between Edelgard and Bernadetta.
Edelgard, Petra & the Friendship that Should Have Been - by u/Matraiya. A look at the existing relationship between Edelgard and Petra, and its missed potential.
Felix and Dimitri’s A support - by @slip_fe3h. A close look at differences between the Japanese and English versions of Felix and Dimitri’s A support, and the underlying meaning.
Hubert and Edelgard Relationship Analysis (Parts I and II) - by u/ColdBrewCoffeeGuy. An interesting exploration of Hubert and Edelgard’s relationship, and what it may mean for Hubert’s character. Part II replies to criticisms and adds additional detail.
Ferdie, Edie, and Hubie - by u/bellarch19. This analysis started out as an appreciation post for Ferdinand, but it evolved to be about Edelgard’s relationship with Ferdinand, and eventually came to be about Hubert too. Basically I’m saying that the relationship between Edelgard and Ferdinand is just as important to her as her relationship with Hubert, and the two should be considered equally important.
My Interpretation of Yuri and Bernadetta’s A Support - by u/PsiYoshi. A look at Yuri and Bernadetta’s A support, and an argument about why Yuri says what he does based on his own life experiences and why Yuri isn’t really an apologist for Count Varley’s treatment of Bernie.
Hubert - Why I Appreciate this Goth Weirdo, and I Think You Should Too - by u/captainflash89. An analysis of Hubert’s character and his unique relationship with Edelgard.
(NEW!) The crown jewel of Adrestia, Hubert von Vestra - by @ciatokins. A discussion of Hubert, focusing on his relationships with other characters, especially his relationship with Edelgard and how it is both wholesome and affects his story.
Role Language - The Black Eagles Students’ Speech Patterns in Japanese - by u/Odovakar. A look at an aspect of the characters that doesn’t always translate well from the original Japanese, and some discussion of what it means.
(NEW!) The survivor of Enbarr, Dorothea Arnault - by @ciatokins. A discussion of Dorothea, and how her part of the story illuminates problems in Fódlan.
(NEW!) Dorothea analysis (Part II) - by @arslanaltan. An exploration of Dorothea’s character, focusing on what parts of her apparent character are her mask and who she is under it.
(NEW!) He who refused to conform to expectations - Ferdinand von Aegir - by @ciatokins. A discussion of Ferdinand and his character journey.
I think the Blue Lions and their connection to the world of Fódlan is some of the best writing in the series - by u/Odovakar. A short but sweet look at how the characters in the Blue Lions House exemplify the issues in Fodlan and are affected by them, and a small discussion of how their reactions differ.
Role Language - The Blue Lions Students’ Speech Patterns in Japanese - by u/Odovakar. A look at an aspect of the characters that doesn’t always translate well from the original Japanese, and some discussion of what it means.
(NEW!) Sylvain, Sincerest of Knights - by QuoteMyFoot. A very deep explanation of Sylvain’s character. This really should be the gold standard for character explorations.
(NEW!) The joke character, who wasn’t, Sylvain Jose Gautier - by @ciatokins. A short character analysis of Sylvain, focusing on his misogyny and depression.
(NEW!) Reflections on Azure Moon - Chivalry and Loyalty - by @ciatokins. A discussion of some of the themes of Azure Moon, and how they are reflected in the plot and characters.
(NEW!) The misanthrope (with a point), Felix Hugo Fraldarius - by @ciatokins. A character analysis of Felix, focusing on how his rejection of his society affects his relationships.
I legitimately have never found anything to add in this section. It bugs me.
A Catherine Defense Post, I Guess - By u/MommyCamillaHatesMe, a careful analysis of Catherine's relationship with Rhea and Catherine's personal morality. It turns out that it's a lot more complicated than it appears on the surface!
Cyril: The Lonely Almyran - by u/DaeinsNationalDebt, which is objectively the best username ever. This post looks at Cyril’s character through the lens of his supports, and shows what they reveal about him and why he is the way he is. It contains a little less analysis than I would personally prefer - I personally like posts that make holistic conclusions about a character’s, well, character - but it’s a really good look at who Cyril is, which is especially important since he’s a character who gets little positive attention from the fandom.
To the best of my knowledge, no specific analysis has been written of the Ashen Wolves yet.
But I’ll put this section here anyway. (This really should exist, people. I have written ten pages (unpublished) on Hapi alone. Come on.)
A section for analysis that doesn’t really fit into the other categories I described.
Garreg Mach is Terrible - by u/dialzza. Why Garreg Mach (and by extension, Fodlan) is terrible.
3H Could Have Been Greatly Improved with Some Small Changes to TWSITD - by u/dialzza. Explores how a few changes to TWSITD’s role in FE3H’s story, and/or the lore, and/or the characters could have improved the storytelling.
Abyss and the State of Exception - by u/OctagonSun. An interesting look at the historical, legal, and political context in which places like Abyss exist.
A Historical Perspective on Edelgard and Political Nonviolence - by u/OctagonSun. I really need to get around to commenting to show my appreciation on their excellent work one of these days . . . anyway, this is an excellent summary of all the reasons why it is absurd to expect Edelgard to have tried to just “talk it out” with Rhea and the other lords, and thus an explanation of why she had to go to war.
Interesting Reference in the Japanese Book of Seiros - by u/SexTraumaDental. An interesting find in the Japanese Book of Seiros which seems to allude to Animal Farm.
Edelgard, Ike, and Path of Radiance - by u/SexTraumaDental. A look at the copious heroic Path of Radiance allusions in Crimson Flower.
The Meaning of Divinity: My Issues With the Church of Seiros From the Perspective of my Faith as a Catholic - by u/ramix-the-red. An interesting look at how a player’s religion can interact with the depiction of the Church of Seiros in FE3H.
The Thematic, Literal, and Character Parallels with Three Houses and Recent Entry SMT Games - by u/wheatleyscience9. A great exploration of the parallels between FE3H and various entries in the Shin Megami Tensei series, which has become a sister series to Fire Emblem. The author uses these parallels to deepen our understanding of the themes and characters of FE3H.
(NEW!) How Different is Three Houses from Fire Emblem? Recalling The Blazing Blade - by u/bellarch19. A discussion of how the ideas and themes of Three Houses are reflected in previous Fire Emblem games, specifically FE. Also explores the parallels between the main characters of FE3H and FE7.
(NEW!) The Portrayal of Women in Three Houses - by @ciatokins. A discussion of how women are portrayed in Three Houses, and how the game succeeds and fails in achieving a diversity of representation of women.
(NEW!) Political Ideology and Three Houses - by @ciatokins. A look at the political situation of Fódlan during the game, and how the evidence we see interacts with the player’s political ideology (from a broadly leftist, pro-Crimson Flower perspective.) Also touches on the feasibility of a golden route.
(NEW!) Fódlan’s Network of Violence - by u/OctagonSun. An exploration of how the major factions of Fódlan are connected, focusing on their enmities and sworn alliances. A different and useful way of understanding the world of FE3H from what we usually see. I will note that you have to read the comments of this post to fully understand what’s going on, but unlike many posts on r/fireemblem, the comments section here is not trash.
(NEW!) The indirect violence of the Crest system - by u/stressfultoast. A look at the way that the Crest system (and Rhea’s decisions more generally) impacts everyone in Fódlan, especially commoners.
(NEW!) Rhea doesn’t have to be evil to be removed - by u/slightly_above_human. While the title is couched in the language of the endless and frustrating morality debate around this game, this post is actually a good take on why Rhea and her regime, and the people who enforce it, are problems for Fodlan even though they aren’t obviously evil in the way that so many fictional antagonists are.
FE3H contains several potential parallels to real-life history. These are explored here.
Evidence for why Almyra Represents America - by u/SexTraumaDental. A look at the comparison between America of the 19th and 20th centuries and Almyra in FE3H.
Japanese History, Three Houses, and Crimson Flower: An Allegory for the Meiji Revolution. Parts I II III IV - by u/SexTraumaDental. A deep look at the parallels between FE3H and Japan’s Meiji Revolution, concluding with an intriguing argument that the entire game is just a big under-the-table political argument by the developers.
An Interesting Note on the Name Origins of the Adrestian Empire - by u/AnnaisMyWaifu. A look at the real-world origins of the Adrestian Empire’s name and what it implies in the context of FE3H.
Similar - by @mittelfrank-divas.
(NEW!) The Sun Rises - by u/SexTraumaDental. Explains why Edelgard’s symbolism is associated with the Japanese flag, and then goes through a point-by-point refutation of the idea that this associates Edelgard with the facism and ultranationalism of the Japanese far-right who sometimes use said flag as a symbol.
(NEW!) Section VI.II: The Music of FE3H
There’s been a surprising amount (to me) written about the music of this game, enough that I think it deserves its own section.
(NEW!) I wrote this ESSAY about why The Edge of Dawn is a masterpiece, as well as the rest of the OST - by u/rygy267. A very interesting breakdown of how several musical tracks, including of course The Edge of Dawn Girl of Hresvelg but also the Church theme and the Monastery motif, appear throughout the soundtrack, and the meanings that each take on.
The Emotional Impact of a Leitmotif in Narrative, and why “Girl of Hresvelg/Edge of Dawn” is Amazing as One - by u/wheatleyscience9. A great summary of how Edge of Dawn is used in the game, and an exploration of its emotional impact.
Crimson Flower’s Final Cutscene in Relation to the Music and Themes - by u/stopstopp. A look specifically at how the Edge of Dawn leitmotif is used in the final cutscene, and how it helps illustrate the themes of Crimson Flower and the greater events that happen in conjunction with Rhea’s death. Full disclosure: the author consulted with me before posting it, so while I wholeheartedly endorse it I also do have a very small role in its writing.
(NEW!) Some of the track titles can be interpreted as Edelgard’s journey - by u/Arky_V. A look at how one can reinterpret the track list to map out Edelgard’s journey along the Crimson Flower route. I am skeptical that this was intentional by the developers, but that does not make it any less cool.