Story Analysis#

“What are you still doing here? Enough tremors…” / “What are you still doing here? Enough - tremble no more…”

The History of Yharnam#

Ancient Times#

The Origin of Blood Healing#

Before Yharnam was founded, a group of scholars (later members of the Healing Church) discovered blood taken from the Great Ones. This blood held a miraculous power to cure illness, but it also hid an enormous cost - long-term use turns humans into beasts.

Three Important Organizations#

The Healing Church is the largest organization in Yharnam, responsible for promoting and managing blood healing. It oversees several branches:

2. The School of Mensis#

A group of scholars who tried to communicate with the Great Ones through ritual. Their activities ultimately led to catastrophic consequences.

3. Hunters#

Hunters are warriors who specialize in hunting mutated monsters. They were trained by Gehrman, the master of the workshop, but as the story develops the hunter organization also splits apart.

The Hunter’s Dream#

The Hunter’s Dream is the core location of the game and the player’s “safe zone”. The reason it exists is tightly bound to the main thread of the story.

Creation of the Dream#

People in the Dream#

The Truth of the Dream#

The Hunter’s Dream is in fact a cage the Moon Presence uses to bind hunters. Every time a hunter dies in the real world, they are reborn in the dream. But this rebirth comes at a price - the hunter can never leave the dream.

Key Item Story Lines#

Blood Echoes#

Blood Echoes are one of the most important concepts in Bloodborne. They are currency, they are experience, and they are also the ancient power held within human blood.

Blood Vials#

Blood Vials are the main HP recovery item, but they also carry deep story meaning. Blood Vials are in fact the blood of other hunters - after a hunter dies, their blood is recovered and reused.

Runes#

Runes are fragments of ancient writing that record primordial knowledge. They are engraved onto the hunter’s body and provide special bonus effects.

Main Story Route#

Analysis of the Three Great Bosses#

1. Father Gascoigne#

2. Gehrman#

Gehrman is one of the creators of the Hunter’s Dream and the first hunter. He has waited in the dream for hundreds of years, longing for freedom.

3. The Moon Presence#

In-Depth Analysis#

The Relationship Between Blood and Dream#

The core theme of Bloodborne is the relationship between “blood” and “dream”. Blood represents power and its price, while the dream represents bondage and freedom. The player pursues power throughout the game, but in the end discovers that the price of power is the loss of freedom.

The Great Ones are not evil beings. They simply hold powers and desires that humans cannot comprehend. They long for offspring, but fate always strips their children away. This tragedy is what makes the whole story deeper.

The Tragedy of the Great Ones#

The Great Ones are not evil beings. They simply hold powers and desires that humans cannot comprehend. They long for offspring, but fate always strips their children away. This tragedy is what makes the whole story deeper.

The Fate of the Hunter#

The hunter played by the player is in fact a tool that gets recycled. The Moon Presence creates the dream, Gehrman trains the hunters, and the hunter’s mission is to destroy everything that might threaten the Great Ones. Every time a hunter completes the mission, their memory is wiped and they start over.

Story Timeline#

Closing Words#

The story of Bloodborne is an elegy about blood and dream. Every detail, every line of dialogue, every item description tells this ancient and sorrowful tale. I hope the analysis in this chapter helps you understand this fascinating world better.

In-Depth Story Analysis#

Thematic Analysis#

Character Relationship Analysis#

Story Timeline#

Hidden Meanings#

Thematic Comparison With Other Souls Games#