Appendix Three – Hermeneutic Clusters in FFX


The following identifies dominant hermeneutic clusters that span the length of the FFX 's narrative.


I. Tidus, the hero?

  1. Tidus speaks to us as a narrator. (Likely hero).
  2. Tidus shares a look with an attractive female. (What relationship do they have? The convention of the hero as romantic lead reinforces Tidus' role as the hero).
  3. Tidus is a showy but accommodating sports celebrity. (The hero displays his skill).
  4. Auron was “waiting” for him. (Why? What does Tidus not know about his own value?)
  5. He wields the sword. (Parallelism of celebrity and hero, and movement from urban celebrity to heroic fantasy figure)
  6. He is “chosen” by Sin. (Why?)
  7. He helps the Al Bhed, accepts the role of “slave” (unpretentious, willing to make-do) and befriends one of his captors (non-judgemental).
  8. At Besaid, his blitzball skill earns him respect. (His status as hero is recognised).
  9. He breaks law by entering (and completing) the Trial of the Fayth, in case anyone needs help. (He is willing to break some laws for the sake of a higher morality).
  10. He is chosen as Yuna's Guardian. (Why? He takes on a typical heroic role as her protector.)
  11. Tidus hates his father, but Tidus' father is respected in Spira, and Yuna liked him. (Was Jecht that bad? Has he changed? Is Tidus a “cry baby”?)
  12. Tidus remains optimistic in the face of hopelessness: Yuna likes him for this. (Laughter as bravery).
  13. Tidus rescues Yuna from Al Bhed. (Masculine role of protector)
  14. Tidus witnesses the political machinations of the Maesters and the attack on Sin. (The hero witnesses the unheroic activity of politics, and is heroic for not taking the wrong action).
  15. Tidus learns that the Masters are corrupt, and that Seymour killed his father. He works with Yuna to violate sacred tradition by trying to kill Sin permanently (reconfirming his willingness to break unjust laws for a higher purpose).
  16. Tidus discovers that he is an Aeon (a ghost), and that destroying Sin (and the Grand Summoning) will lead to the disappearance of Zanarkand and himself.
  17. Tidus discovers that he must kill his own father. (The hero confronts his potential un-heroic side, embodied by Seymour ).
  18. Tidus confronts and kills his father, Sin, and Yu Yevon, then disappears (Tidus as hero through forgiving his father and sacrificing his love for Yuna, and existence, for the good of others).

II. Romance?

  1. In the title sequence, Tidus shares a glance with Yuna. (Friendship? Love? Unrequited love?)
  2. In Zanarkand we see that the title sequence was in media res. (When will they meet?)
  3. Yuna shares a glance with Yuna when first meet. (Is she interested?)
  4. She selects Tidus as Guardian. (Does Yuna trust him, need him, or love him?)
  5. Yuna is loved by all in Spira. (Love as public versus love as private)
  6. Yuna and Tidus share a private laugh. (Coping with the quest as masking real intimacy and love?)
  7. Tidus rescues Yuna from the Al Bhed. (Tidus' role as male saviour confirmed, but distributed amongst other Guardians)
  8. Tidus interrupts Yuna while alone. (Was she thinking about him?)
  9. Tidus objects strenuously to the proposed marriage between Yuna and Seymour. (The choice of duty over romance? Is Tidus betraying a conviction about the importance of love in general or his own desire to be with Yuna?)
  10. Tidus saves Yuna from Seymour at Bevelle. (Aborted marriage, romance deferred by quest.)
  11. Yuna as focal point in Via Purifico. (She is capable of being independent).
  12. Tidus and Yuna embrace in Macalania woods. (Romance confirmed.)
  13. Yuna realises Tidus is an Aeon and will disappear. (Tragic romance?)
  14. Tidus disappears on the Airship. (Tragic romance confirmed.)

III. Jecht?

  1. We presume that Jecht died at sea; his face looks down from a building. (Absent father, absent leader/god?)
  2. Auron suggests that Jecht still may be alive. (Reversal of expectation.)
  3. Jecht came to Spira before Tidus. (Curiosity.)
  4. Jecht is Sin, having become the monster Tidus thought he was. (Surprise, and curiosity at how this has occurred.)
  5. Jecht sent Auron to summon Tidus to free him. (Jecht's character revised: did not abandon Tidus, but was forced to leave.)
  6. Jecht sacrificed himself to become the Final Aeon so that the Great Calm could come. (Reversal of Jecht's character.)
  7. Jecht greets Tidus, and requests he be killed, so that Yu Yevon can be
  8. challenged. (Jecht has chosen the common social good over filial good, but acknowledges regret.)
  9. Tidus kills his father. (Tragic reversal of expected reunion.)

IV. Sin?

  1. Sin is a monster that destroys Zanarkand. (Where did he come from and what is he?)
  2. Wakka states that Sin is a supernatural punishment for humanity's misdeeds. (Curiosity temporarily resolved).
  3. Sin is Jecht. (Expectation subverted with surprise: curiosity rekindled).
  4. Sin is Yu Yevon's armour. (Curiosity resolved with surprise).
  5. Sin is the focus of the Final Summoning: defeating Sin ends the Final Summoning, and dispels the Aeons of Zanarkand (including Tidus). (Curiosity resolved with surprise. Curiosity and suspense regarding the confrontation with the so far invisible agency of Yu Yevon.)
  6. Jecht is inside Sin. (Expectation subverted with surprise: curiosity rekindled.)
  7. Bevelle, not Sin, destroyed Zanarkand. (Reversal of initial expectation through final surprise.)

V. Yevon?

  1. Yevon is the prophet of Spira's teachings. (Surprise and curiosity as to why the blitzball gesture is now a religious gesture.)
  2. Yevon's tradition is subverted by Seymour 's youth and casualness. (The tradition is unnecessarily repressive.)
  3. Yevon's authority is questioned through Seymour's and Kinoc's blasphemous use of Machina to attack Sin. (The sacred laws are no longer held sacred.)
  4. Yevon's validity is undermined by the corruption of Seyour and the other Maesters. (Suspicion confirmed. Suspense at how Yevon's authority will be resisted by the Guardians.)
  5. Yu Yevon was the basis for Yevon's teachings. (Curiosity rekindled through return to the origin of a previously established fact.)
  6. Yu Yevon is inside Sin: his fear at what Bevelle did to Zanarkand has made him preserve himself by using Sin to keep those in Spira afraid of him. (Expectation subverted through surprise reversal. Suspense at confronting the original authority/power of Spira).
  7. Yu Yevon is an elemental force/god. (Surprise that the prophet of the god is the god, and that both the god and the gospel are the original cause of Spira's suffering).