Dark Souls: The Hidden Meaning Behind The Main Characters’ Titles

Like many elements of the Dark Souls games, the titles bestowed upon the main characters come with their own unique and hidden meanings. Each of the three games follows a familiar path: Kill powerful beings, gather their souls, and bring fire back to the world. Those who take up the quest to continue the Dark Souls series’ repeating cycle are each given a unique title, The Chosen Undead, Bearer of the Curse, or Ashen One, depending on the game.

In Dark Souls, beings who are cursed are called the Undead, and they cannot die. Instead, they are continually resurrected and lose a little bit of themselves in the process. This curse of life and rebirth manifests as the Darksign, and, after enough deaths, bearers of the Darksign forget who they were and gradually become more zombie-like.

Dark Souls is a series that is heavily steeped in prophecy, and the titles granted to player characters are deeply connected to the journeys they take. Having a title comes with the burden of responsibility and of a choice: Do players choose to extend Dark Souls‘ Age of Fire, a time where the world is filled with light and warmth? Or do they usher in the Age of Dark? What Dark Souls‘ protagonist titles mean for players and their journeys isn’t always easy to interpret, but they all have hidden meanings.

Dark Souls: The Chosen Undead Meaning

As The Chosen Undead, Dark Souls 1 player characters are destined to gather souls, conquer powerful enemies, and rekindle the First Flame. In doing so, they become as strong as the gods, but this comes at the terrible price of sacrificing themselves to extend the Age of Fire. The Chosen Undead can also choose to end the Age of Fire, ushering in the Age of Dark and becoming the world’s Dark Lord. The true meaning behind the title is that The Chosen Undead is burdened with this choice – one that affects every human, Undead, and Hollow.

Dark Souls 2: Bearer Of The Curse Meaning

The Bearer of the Curse is perhaps the most straightforward of the titles players receive in the Dark Souls games, but that doesn’t make it any less significant. The character that becomes the Bearer of the Curse is an Undead who has lost most of their memories, compelled to find the kingdom of Drangleic in search of a cure. While there may not be a cure in the end, Dark Souls 2’s Scholar of the First Sin DLC presents players with the hidden meaning behind the main character’s title. After collecting four crowns from Dark Souls 2‘s ancient kings, players can forge a new crown that renders the wearer immune to the effects of the curse. This does not cure the affliction, however; although they are no longer affected, they still bear the curse for all time.

Dark Souls 3: Ashen One Meaning

In Dark Souls 3, Ashen One is not a unique title. Ashen Ones are those who once tried to rekindle the First Flame but were not strong enough. Consumed by its power, they were burned to ash, failing where The Chosen Undead succeeded. However, no one has been successful in rekindling the First Flame, and, like the Bearer of the Curse, several of those who could have rekindled the Flame have chosen not to. Keeping with the theme of ash, the results of the Ashen One’s actions are about as useful, with Dark Souls 3‘s endings ranging from bad to uncertain.

With all of that said, the meanings of the series’ protagonist titles may be interpreted in many ways. But they all hint at hidden purposes or outcomes of the journeys players take throughout Dark Souls.

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