Persona 5 - Madarame’s Palace
I have not completed this palace yet, but a few things have stood out to me so far. Madarame’s sin is plagiarism (Kamoshida’s sin was lust and related atrocities). The manifestation of Madarame’s palace being a museum fits better with his theme than Kamoshida’s castle did with his theme. The man is an artist so it is only natural that all his work would be on display in a museum. It symbolizes first and foremost his narcissism. Almost every piece of art he is famous for, was created by someone else. Even his most famous piece was made by someone else. His only inspiration was hiding the baby so the look of love from the woman became mysterious. Back to the point of art itself. None of the pieces hanging in the museum are actual pieces of art. They are all portraits of his students. He justifies stealing the work of others by thinking he is creating the artist itself, so every work they create is his creation.
There is a small cut scene where the chief of investigation agency is musing about the sudden confessions of Kamoshida. So at this moment in the story, the grand plan of framing the Phantom Thieves has not been set in motion. That makes sense considering the actual group has just been formed. It will only be later when the powers that be will treat the Thieves as useful idiots to shift the blame of all of their crimes.
The game deals with Ann’s discomfort in posing in the nude in a very trivial manner. I kept looking for an option to break in without putting her in a compromising position, but there wasn’t any. I know that it was necessary for the story to proceed the way it did, but the flippant way both the boys went about coercing her into doing it left a bad taste in my mouth. It is even worse when you put it in context of what has happened with her and Shiho. The fact that she was being forced to perform sexual favors by Kamoshida means she probably has some degree of residual trauma lingering. This situation may be more traumatic than usual for her. I wish it was dealt with a little more tact. But then again, these are high school students. Maybe not having a whole lot tact is on par for them.
It is notable the game makes a special effort to highlight those who may be a force of corruption in the education system. If this game was made in the United States, Betsy Devos might have had her own castle in here. There are two villains who directly damage the students by compromising the education system. Then there is one more who manipulates students. And lastly, there is the principal who just wants to get ahead and does not mind using the students. Since the main characters are students, it is logical education and the school system would be the focus of the narrative. More importantly, the game is trying to say the rot that eats through education decays the whole society. It is only understandable then the rehabilitation of the whole of the society should also start from the schools and the education system.
Ohya the journalist makes her first appearance here. She is investigating the claims that Madarame has been stealing art from his students. She will feature more prominently much later in the game, but the seeds of relationship with her are sowed here.
4-28-2020
