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Subject: Is the Master Chief going insane? (Halo 4 Theory (SPOILERS)

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Posted by: EZcompany2ndsqd
I really Hope they don't do that to the Chief I wouldn't like making him insane. Just doesn't seem like the right way to end it and i really doubt they would do that.
This. What good would that do to the story, what could it possibly gain by turning him insane? What parts of the questions and thematics the story has buildt up so far--especially with Bear's two, soon three, books--could gain anything by having the Master Chief, the main character in the new trilogy, go mad?

I know many of you don't care much for the MC as a somewhat silent protagonist with a low-key persona, but surely playing as a madman is a step too far, especially considering how contrived it must feel to have 100% control in-game and whatever madman shenanigans the plot demands in the cutscenes?

[Edited on 11.26.2012 2:00 PM PST]

  • 11.26.2012 1:55 PM PDT

I write poetry, I write short-stories, I listen to hip-hop (80s&90s), Reggae, Classic Rock n Roll, Heavy Metal, Jazz, Blues, and the 60s, 70s.


Posted by: the real Janaka
Posted by: EZcompany2ndsqd
I really Hope they don't do that to the Chief I wouldn't like making him insane. Just doesn't seem like the right way to end it and i really doubt they would do that.
This. What good would that do to the story, what could it possibly gain by turning him insane? What parts of the questions and thematics the story has buildt up so far--especially with Bear's two, soon three, books--could gain anything by having the Master Chief, the main character in the new trilogy, go mad?

I know many of you don't care much for the MC as a somewhat silent protagonist with a low-key persona, but surely playing as a madman is a step too far, especially considering how contrived it must feel to have 100% control in-game and whatever madman shenanigans the plot demands in the cutscenes?


Yes, it would be quite odd to have 100 percent control of a madman. But, the story of a SPARTAN going insane is an interesting concept to say the least.

  • 11.26.2012 3:14 PM PDT

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.” – Psalms 46:1-3

I like how far you went into explaining your theory.

However, storytelling wise it is horrible, and would make absolutely no sense.

  • 11.26.2012 3:21 PM PDT

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I think the Master Chief going insane would be too similar to Cortanas rampancy. It's too repetitive an idea.

Spartans are all subject to a lot of emotional trauma, but that doesn't mean insanity. Didn't a lot of Noble Team's Spartans have psychological issues?

S-266 had "an unhealthy emotional detachment in regards to the consequences of his actions"

Also it would be directly compared to Dead Spaces' Isaac as a rip off.

  • 11.26.2012 3:40 PM PDT

I am a monument to all your sins


Posted by: Yakov Sidorov

Posted by: the real Janaka
Posted by: EZcompany2ndsqd
I really Hope they don't do that to the Chief I wouldn't like making him insane. Just doesn't seem like the right way to end it and i really doubt they would do that.
This. What good would that do to the story, what could it possibly gain by turning him insane? What parts of the questions and thematics the story has buildt up so far--especially with Bear's two, soon three, books--could gain anything by having the Master Chief, the main character in the new trilogy, go mad?

I know many of you don't care much for the MC as a somewhat silent protagonist with a low-key persona, but surely playing as a madman is a step too far, especially considering how contrived it must feel to have 100% control in-game and whatever madman shenanigans the plot demands in the cutscenes?


Yes, it would be quite odd to have 100 percent control of a madman. But, the story of a SPARTAN going insane is an interesting concept to say the least.
The concept of a SPARTAN going mad is indeed interesting, but not the chief. He is and will always be a rock. He can be softened, but never broken, that is just who he is, and changing his fundamental character that drastically would just feel wrong.

  • 11.26.2012 4:32 PM PDT

Posted by: AngryBrute1
Oh yeah, since somebody does not believe what YOU believe; that makes us vapid...
I cannot grasp that what you call "Something happened to nothing, and that nothing became something, and it was smaller than than a period."

Posted by: Darthbill99
I kind of attributed the Didact's voice as telepathy that Cortana lacked the equipment to pick up. I don't believe Master Chief is insane at all, the sociopathic tenancies are really just referring to the difficulty of Spartan's interacting with people and forming relationships, not madness.

  • 11.26.2012 5:05 PM PDT

Citizens of Me! The cruelty of the old Pharaoh is a thing of the past. Let a whole new wave of cruelty wash over this lazy land.

Hear the word of Pharaoh. Build unto me a statue of ridiculous proportion. One billion cubits in height......that I might be remembered for all eternity!

And be quick about it!

If the Chief's fight was a delusion, then the Didact would not have been stopped, and he would have destroyed the Earth and composed all humanity.

It's an interesting theory, though.

  • 11.27.2012 1:01 AM PDT

Weapon of Oppression


Posted by: Yakov Sidorov

Posted by: the real Janaka
Posted by: EZcompany2ndsqd
I really Hope they don't do that to the Chief I wouldn't like making him insane. Just doesn't seem like the right way to end it and i really doubt they would do that.
This. What good would that do to the story, what could it possibly gain by turning him insane? What parts of the questions and thematics the story has buildt up so far--especially with Bear's two, soon three, books--could gain anything by having the Master Chief, the main character in the new trilogy, go mad?

I know many of you don't care much for the MC as a somewhat silent protagonist with a low-key persona, but surely playing as a madman is a step too far, especially considering how contrived it must feel to have 100% control in-game and whatever madman shenanigans the plot demands in the cutscenes?


Yes, it would be quite odd to have 100 percent control of a madman. But, the story of a SPARTAN going insane is an interesting concept to say the least.


I highly doubt the UNSC is desperate enough to field a mentally unstable super soldier. They already have hundreds of the Spartan IVs

  • 11.27.2012 8:10 PM PDT

I write poetry, I write short-stories, I listen to hip-hop (80s&90s), Reggae, Classic Rock n Roll, Heavy Metal, Jazz, Blues, and the 60s, 70s.


Posted by: ExcellentSix
I highly doubt the UNSC is desperate enough to field a mentally unstable super soldier. They already have hundreds of the Spartan IVs


Hundreds? I thought they had 3,000. Maybe I misread the numbers. Anyways, yeah, its highly unlikely for it to happen, and if it'd copy Dead Space, we don't want that.

  • 11.27.2012 8:17 PM PDT

geez... keep on this path and you might end up with chronic indoctrination theory sickness. its possible that as a forerunner he has some sore of telepathic ability seeing as he appears to have telekinesis. while sociopathic tendencies are likely it his difficulty talking to cortana, he never learned how to socialize and he grew up with military training and several horrific experiences. some of this could be from the librarians enhancement. also he has had some form of schizophrenia in halo 3 he is constantly hearing and seeing cortana though she is on high charity and she is using Dr Halsey words

  • 11.28.2012 4:14 PM PDT

I am a monument to all your sins


Posted by: WeakVariable004
geez... keep on this path and you might end up with chronic indoctrination theory sickness. its possible that as a forerunner he has some sore of telepathic ability seeing as he appears to have telekinesis. while sociopathic tendencies are likely it his difficulty talking to cortana, he never learned how to socialize and he grew up with military training and several horrific experiences. some of this could be from the librarians enhancement. also he has had some form of schizophrenia in halo 3 he is constantly hearing and seeing cortana though she is on high charity and she is using Dr Halsey words
the cortana moments weren't hallucinations. I don't know what they really were, but I'm pretty sure they were real. Like, she was somehow communicating with his neural interface from across the galaxy or something.

Edit: and there were so many other things wrong with that post that I really don't even want to get into it with you.

[Edited on 11.28.2012 8:56 PM PST]

  • 11.28.2012 8:55 PM PDT

The Forerunner, the Great Journey, and Heaven Theory

[Announcement Trailer] Halo: Forerunner

Posted by: Agustus
I lol'd at the absurd miscommunication that occurs whenever dibbs post something. Perhaps his brain is so highly evolved that he can no longer clearly communicate with lesser life forms, even among his own species.

I get the feeling that Osman was directing the Halsey interview in that cutscene. The questions were especially focused on making her feel a different kind of regret than the characters in the Traviss novels have attempted to make her feel - regret that when the fighting comes to an end, when humanity no longer needs the Spartans, that they will never be able to assimilate or lead normal lives. The questions were designed to psychologically punish and the one person I can see trying to do that (both as a punitive measure and as a way to try and get some answers) is Osman. Maybe by that time Parangosky has stepped down and Osman has assumed the position as the head of ONI?

As for MC going insane...I think there are better explanations for his odd experiences than psychological disorders (that isn't to say he isn't extremely socially damaged - but he's most likely not "insane").

  • 11.29.2012 1:47 AM PDT

Oly Oly Oxen Free

As far as i could tell, the whole point of the "mildly sociopathic tendencies" was to highlight Chief's internal struggle regarding his purpose (Man vs. Machine)

The fact he talks to himself during the epilogue cutscene ("she said that to me once..." etc.) indicates self-reflection and highlights his lonliness, seeing as how he really hasn't got anybody in the universe anymore. As far as John knows his Spartans are all MIA, Halsey is away, and Cortana is gone.*

So yeah, i don't see deeper meaning in that statement about him being 'broken' than foreshadowing.



*I'm willing to bet that the Librarians ghost/essence/thing made a copy of Cortana and she will either be put into an artificial body (much like the prometheans) or be repaired and functional sans rampancy.

  • 11.29.2012 3:24 AM PDT

"You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone. Close the door on the past. You don't try to forget the mistakes, but you don't dwell on it. You don't let it have any of your energy, or any of your time, or any of your space." -Johnny Cash


Posted by: Darthbill99
I kind of attributed the Didact's voice as telepathy that Cortana lacked the equipment to pick up. I don't believe Master Chief is insane at all, the sociopathic tenancies are really just referring to the difficulty of Spartan's interacting with people and forming relationships, not madness.

My thoughts exactly.

  • 11.29.2012 3:45 AM PDT

I wouldn't say that, Master Chief is insane only that, because he has only ever known one way of life it turns him into a sort of robot. He has always shown little emotion, it has only been in the most recent game that you good see his human side. For example at the end he say's "She said that to me once". Which, show's that he is thinking about Cortana and implies some mourning maybe happening.

  • 11.29.2012 4:17 AM PDT

[As of October 2012]
2013 ADFA Officer Cadet of the RAAF (Aerospace Engineer Electronics Officer).

It's a nice theory, but I highly doubt it's what's happening.

Simpler and more likely theory is that Spartan II's sociopathic traits are simply behavioural issues induced by their lack of peers, other than other Spartan IIs, who only regard each other as something other than friends or allies.

And as for the Didact's voice - that would've just been a mental message that the Didact was broadcasting towards John, in order to hurt his morale.

  • 11.29.2012 4:18 AM PDT

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