Perhaps one of the most difficult characters to love in Ubisoft’s Farcry 5 is the brother known as Jacob Seed. The eldest of the Seed children, Jacob showed from an early age that he was a fighter. His character trajectory not only offers a nod to his name’s origins--the Biblical Jacob--but it also works as a spotlight for war veterans who enter civilian life. In this character analysis, we will briefly discuss Jacob’s namesake as well as dig into the character trajectory that often plagues war veterans even today.
Jacob the Heel-Grasper
In the bible, Jacob is perhaps best known for having a ton of wives and children. Among the most popular of those children is the dreamer, Joseph. Before Joseph came to be, however, Jacob was already an old man. He was the youngest of a pair of twins. Although his brother was older than him and thus fit to inherit the farm and all of its wealth, Jacob tricked his brother into giving him his inheritance instead. It was something his brother wasn’t all too pleased with for the rest of their relationship.
The aspect of Biblical Jacob that I believe parallels closely to Jacob Seed is in Jacob’s fight with an angel. While the Bible is still split on whether the angel was just an angel or, in fact, God Himself, Jacob basically wrestled with an angel for an entire day. By the end of the fight, Jacob had won. Why is this significant? If we approach this fight metaphorically, Jacob was, essentially, fighting with his own faith. This is something that Jacob Seed does throughout the game. In fact, of all the Seed brothers, it is Jacob who seems the most Agnostic or even Atheist.
Biblical Jacob is also recognized as being one of the individuals who would create a line among the Tribes of Israel. While Jacob Seed doesn’t have any kids of his own, he does create his own version of tribes. First, there are his Judges. Wolves that are trained and made even stronger by laced with the Bliss. Second, there are his personal Chosen. They are specialized hunters that Jacob has chosen himself for special tasks. Finally, there are the soldiers in general that Jacob picks and chooses to train in order to protect the members of the Project at Eden’s Gate.
Where Jacob’s characterization really thrives, however, is in the modern-day story of the war veteran.
Jacob the War Veteran
Jacob’s story offers a spotlight to shine on the unfortunate and disgusting abandonment that many war veterans face when they return home from their tour. Jacob Seed, after killing the Seed brothers’ adoptive father who was basically treating them like slaves, was sent into juvenile detention. There he remained until he came of age. At that point in his life, he chose to join the army.
Jacob describes fighting in the Gulf, it’s easy to compare his story to those who also served in recent engagements in Iraq, Afghanistan, and even to veterans of other wars. Essentially, after he was finished serving, he was placed in a institution to help veterans. However, he was only able to remain there until his money ran out. Then he was promptly kicked out on his butt. Unable to hold down a job, unable to escape the demons of war, Jacob became homeless. In fact, he basically become a husk.
While this may be a bit more of a dramatized version of what happens a war veteran once they return home, it likely isn’t far off the mark. It’s no secret that vets are treated abysmally in this country. They are forged into weapons of war but then left without resources of how to return to civilian life afterward. This is what happened to Jacob Seed and is an important warning for how society treats those who sacrifice everything for the protection of their country.
Ubisoft does this in a great way, too. The story isn’t about Jacob. Much like the other “villains” of the game, you only receive little snapshots of their life. Most of their history is contained in the Book of Joseph, but even then, you’re given just a taste. Yet Ubisoft was able to give veterans a platform in such a way that makes the character all the more sympathizing and intriguing.
Let us know what you think about Jacob Seed! Voice your opinion in the comments.
Comments