Character Analysis: Princess Celestia · 11:13pm Sep 29th, 2015
Okay, okay, I know I said I do the Mane Six, but...well...the big problem with doing the mane six is that most people have a good hold on them. Pinkie sometimes gets the short end of the stick because she’s so hyperactive people skim over her, but that’s becoming less and less an issue as time goes on.
Princess Celestia, however…
The poor Princess has so many different traits and facets, that not many people can get her down correctly. They either make her a monstrously massive troll, a tyrant, the ultimate manipulator, or just some lazy twit that just has Twilight do everything.
The truth is that all of these have a grain of truth, but they aren’t all completely true, nor are they exclusive of each other.
So, if you’ll allow me, let me take you on a bit of a trip through the mind of Princess Celestia.
Nature:
Normally, I’d have a bit here about the nature of the character, their talent, their destiny, etcetera.
Not so with Celestia.
You see the Princess is a few thousand years old. She has had centuries to refine herself to the point where she has not only become a jack of all trades, but has probably mastered them. She has had all the time to break every single bad habit, smooth every single rough edge, and perfect every skill.
This means two very important things about Celestia. The first is that while most characters develop, Celestia already has. She has already learned her hardest lessons and faced her greatest challenges. She has already had her adventures, and over the entire show, we’ve seen only glimpses of them.
The other thing that we know about Celestia is that because of her massive amount of time spent refining herself, then the Celestia we know is the the Celestia she wants to be. She has been able to add whatever personality traits she wants, and whichever ones she didn’t want (and has been aware of) have been phased out through practice. If she felt she should be more kind a few thousand years back, she has most probably fixed that issue.
Personality:
Here is where we get into the nitty gritty of Celestia.
Celestia is a refined pony, who takes her job as Princess seriously. Yet she also frequently trolls her ponies. Why?
Well, according to the IDW comics, long ago, when the Princesses were still young, Celestia was all business. Luna was the fun loving pony of the two, while Celestia was all serious. Luna loved life while Celestia was about work.
Well we all know what changed that, don’t we?
As someone who focused on work, she knows that work needs to be done, and when it needs to be done, she will get it done. Yet, because of her sister, she enjoys a laugh here and there. She missed having someone who would joke and laugh for her, so she learned to laugh instead.
Celestia is incredibly powerful, yet let's Twilight do everything. Is she manipulating her, or just lazy?
Neither. She wants Twilight to learn.
Celestia has already learned her lessons, she’s made her adventures, and she once wielded the power that Twilight and her friends wield now.
She lost that power. She lost it, and now is trying to teach Twilight how to use that power in her stead.
In the end, Twilight is her student. Celestia is slowly teaching Twilight how to be a hero by forcing her into these situations. And while we don’t see her, she’s always there, in the background, ready to help pick her back up.
That is Celestia, a teacher. A strict teacher, but a fair and fun one.
So next time you write about our Princess, just remember, she’s not just trollestia, she is that and thousands of years more.
Sounds good to me.
Eeyup
, that's why she's my favorite princess (there is just so much you can do with her)
I agree completely. I just got done reading a story where Celestia was essentially a bitch and thought nothing of risking many lives, just to teach twilight a lesson. The real Celestia would never do such a thing.
A very well written analysis ^_^