More than a visual detail, the tattooed moth in Ellie’s arm carries the weight of The Last of Us’s narrative, both in games and in the series
The tattoo of Ellie in The Last of Us Part IIIt is one of the most iconic visual marks of the character: a moth resting on ferns leaves on his right arm. But this drawing carries much more than aesthetics – it has an important symbolic weight for both the character and the history of the franchise.
Art was created by Natalie Hallresponsible for the design of the tattoo in the game. Naughty Dogcompany developer of the games, I wanted to Ellie covered the scar from the bite on his arm with something that had to do with her. The choice of the moth was deliberate: this night insect is known to be attracted to light-even if it can lead to destruction. And that is all about the character’s trajectory.
Days of you and me. #Thelastofuspic.twitter.com/itrnm3lz1z
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Moths x fireflies
In a universe where the central rebel group is called Vagalons (Fireflies), the moth emerges as a poetic contrast. While the Vagalons They generate their own light, moths just seek it. This subtle difference represents the journey of Elliewhich spends much of the second game (and the series of HBO) moved by a desire for revenge, trying to find purpose or redemption – even if it consumes it.
A recurring symbol
In addition to the tattoo, moths appear in other parts of the franchise. In The Last of Us Part IIthe creature emerges in important scenes, always associated with the introspection and moral dilemmas of the Elliebesides occupying much of the loading screens (or “loading” in the gamer jargon). Already in the series of HBOthe disclosure of season two includes a poster with a prominent moth, floating between Joel (Pedro Pascal, The Mandalorian) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey, game of Thrones), which already gave indications that the symbol would also be explored in television adaptation.
The moth also talks to the tone of the soundtrack. The Song “Through The Valley”, Interpreted by Ellie In the game, he talks about crossing the darkness – a journey that echoes the moth flight in search of light.
In the end, this animal represents the essence of the character: someone vulnerable, constantly transformed, trying to find light in a dark world. Tattooing is a visual reminder of all this – and also that sometimes beauty is born of pain.
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Source: Rollingstone
Emma Jack is a writer at Gossipify, covering fashion, beauty, lifestyle, and pop culture trends. She stays current on the latest trends and offers readers up-to-date information on what’s hot in the industry. With a background in fashion journalism from Parsons School of Design, she offers a unique perspective and analysis of current trends.
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