Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
Kratos has no gift for tenderness, so this is how he parents: an order that is also a promise. It rejects an apology in favour of improvement, and the game turns it into the arc of the whole story, culminating in his plea that they must be better than this. Fans quote it as motivation, and the stern, gruff version is the one that stuck.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for God of WarShow the scene
God of War (Santa Monica Studio, 2018) opens with Kratos and his young son Atreus hunting in the Norse woods. When they find a stag, Atreus gets excited and fires at it against orders, spooking it. Kratos angrily takes his bow and says to fire only on command. Atreus mumbles an apology, and Kratos answers, "Do not be sorry. Be better," then makes him find the stag again. The Stranger arrives shortly afterwards, and the theme of being better returns when Kratos tells his son he must be better than he was.
Sources (2)
- Wikiquote: God of War (2018 video game)Kratos quotes and hunt dialogueReference checked
- God of War Wiki: Kratos2018 plot summaryReference checked
Context reviewed
