The ideas of religion, rebellion, and power are frequently deeply entwined in literature to examine difficult societal, political, and individual dynamics. Social influence and political dominance are used to represent power. Faith includes both faith in principles religious conviction, and loyalty. Resistance to authority, social conventions, and cultural oppression are the outward manifestations of rebellion(Fry, 2021). These themes frequently come together to create complex storylines in which faith and revolt oppose established power structures(Villareal, n.d.).
The 2011 release of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, an open-world action role-playing game set in the northern province of Skyrim inside the high-fantasy Tamriel universe, was created by Bethesda Game Studios and directed by Todd Howard. The game centers on the heroic Dragonborn, who has the power to shout and absorb dragon souls, as he sets out to vanquish the malevolent dragon Alduin. Concurrently, the natives of Skyrim, the nords are in the middle of a civil war, some nords remain loyal to the Emperor and his Imperial Legion, and some joined the Stormcloaks, a rebel group commanded by Ulfric Stormcloak who are at odds with the Thalmor who became the new of rulers of Tamriel after defeating the Empire and created prohibition on Talos worship the God of the nords. The friction between culture and religion created by the Thalmor's suppression of Talos' worship is central to the game's plot and serves as an example of concepts related to power, faith, and revolt. It also serves as fuel for the Stormcloak uprising(Onyett Charles, 2011).
According to Michel Foucault in which he said: "We must not imagine that in the analysis of politics, institutions, or economics, we have become more and more sensitive to overall determinations, while in the analysis of ideas and of knowledge, we are paying more and more attention to the play of difference; we must not imagine that these two great forms of description have crossed without recognizing one another." (Nurrachman, 2023) knowledge and power are mutually reinforcing and modifying one another. Those in charge of knowledge systems---such as cultural narratives, scientific discourses, or religious doctrines---also influence how individuals act, think, and see the world. In addition to being repressive, power also creates the realities and truths that guide society. Institutions, societal conventions, and discourses that uphold the supremacy of some ideas while marginalizing others are responsible for maintaining this dynamic. Examining The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim's power, faith, and rebellion dynamics using Foucault's Power/Knowledge theory to see how the Thalmor's enforcement of the prohibition against Talos worship is an example of ideological control. The Thalmor, who tries to change the religious and cultural identity of the people who live in Skyrim by forbidding the worship of Talos. This action aims to impose control on the public's knowledge and beliefs in addition to suppressing religion. The restriction on worshiping Talos modifies the conversation in Skyrim by marginalizing the religious and cultural traditions of the Nord people. As a result, the Nords, under the leadership of the Stormcloaks, revolted against this imposed knowledge and worked to restore their independence in terms of culture and religion.
Because of their sense of racial and cultural superiority, the Thalmor in *The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim*, are renowned for their haughty and conceited behavior. They have a great deal of power, especially as they keep the territories under the Empire from being allowed to worship Talos. Their arrogant demeanor and willingness to charge others of covertly worshipping Talos---often without providing concrete proof---are examples of this ideological domination. One Thalmor Justiciar stationed in Markarth named Ondolemar serves as an illustration of their conceit. When the player speaks to him for the first time, he says, "You have the honor of addressing a member of the Thalmor. Bask in it.". The actions of the Thalmor are in line with Foucault's perspective which is that "cultural conditioning empowers one group to dominate others while the other group is subjected to subordination."(Poorghorban, 2023) which holds that individuals in control of knowledge also possess enormous power, influencing social realities and upholding supremacy, is best illustrated by the actions of the Thalmor in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
In The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Hadvar, a Nord soldier devoted to the Empire, represents a nuanced position amid conflicts between politics and culture. Hadvar is dissatisfied with the Empire, but he can't abandon Skyrim since he sees the Empire as a means of security and an opportunity to exact revenge on the Thalmor and their Aldmeri Dominion. His allegiance stems from his conviction that the Empire, in all its imperfections, represents Skyrim's greatest chance for stability and protection from outside dangers. This perspective is shown in his dialogue: "What the rebels like to forget, is that the Empire's what's keeping the Dominion out of Skyrim.". Hadvar's position shows a strategic allegiance shaped by personal convictions and historical circumstances. His belief in the Empire's ability to protect people from the Thalmor serves as an example of how power relations and societal conditioning influence people's thoughts and behaviors, according to Foucault's theory. Loyalists such as Hadvar maintain that the Empire is capable of resisting and even offsetting the Thalmor's intellectual and cultural hegemony. His perspective draws attention to the nuanced interactions between resistance, faith, and power that occur throughout the game's story as players negotiate politically complicated environments influenced by rival allegiances and ambitions for Skyrim's future. This behavior is also in line with Foucault's that although you can wish for freedom, it is impossible because of the existence of power which I will quote from a study by Poorghorban "His studies reveal the impossibility of maintaining notions of madness and freedom within the realms of power relations, discourse, truth, history, and subjectivity. In the context of modernity, freedom becomes abolished and subjected to societal constructs and constraints."(Poorghorban, 2023)
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim's Ulfric Stormcloak, the leader of the Stormcloak rebellion, represents a deep-seated discontent with the Empire and its alleged betrayal of Skyrim's interests. Ulfric and his supporters have chosen rebellion as a way to break free from Imperial control and take on the Thalmor menace head-on, in contrast to those who support the Empire, like Hadvar. Ulfric's main driving force is his conviction that Skyrim ought to rule itself rather than submit to an Empire he perceives as uncaring and unable to put Skyrim's needs first. His dialogue, expresses his sentiment clearly, in which he says "We're fighting because we're done bleeding for an Empire that won't bleed for us." His dissatisfaction with the Empire's unwillingness to defend Skyrim's interests and its obedience to Thalmor's demands---particularly the prohibition on Talos worship---is evident in this statement. Ulfric wants independence for Skyrim and rallies the Nords to support his cause because he sees the Empire's concessions to the Thalmor as a betrayal of Skyrim's sovereignty and cultural uniqueness. The story of Skyrim emphasizes all three themes of power, faith, and rebellion through Ulfric's insurrection. His leadership, seen through the lens of Foucault, is a rebellion against the established power structures upheld by the Empire and the Thalmor. His disobedience calls into question the ideological dominance that both groups have imposed and promotes a restoration of Skyrim's independence and cultural purity. Characters like Ulfric negotiate the ethical and tactical ramifications of rebellion in the quest for freedom and self-determination for their homeland, and this conflict highlights the intricate interaction of political ideologies and personal convictions within the game. Ulfric's resistance is another example of Foucault's perspective of power and resistance as quoted from Poorghorban "However, bodies remain a critical site where power and resistance are continuously enacted. Foucault's concept of power seeks homogeneity, limiting both the body and subjectivity of individuals to exercise control. In contrast, resistance takes on diverse forms and thrives on heterogeneity, thereby posing a threat to the authority of power." (Poorghorban, 2023)
Michel Foucault's theoretical ideas are in line with The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim's complex dynamics of power, faith, and rebellion. Foucault's idea of Power/Knowledge, which holds that individuals in positions of authority mold cultural norms and beliefs to retain domination, is best illustrated by the Thalmor's enforcement of the prohibition on Talos worship. The imposition of their ideas and the suppression of religious practices are examples of this ideological control, which creates a narrative in which power is exercised not only by force but also via the control of discourse and information. On the other hand, figures such as Ulfric Stormcloak stand in opposition to these hierarchies of authority. Ulfric's uprising against the Thalmor and the Empire highlights Foucault's concept of resistance as a counter-discourse that contests prevailing narratives and asserts alternative forms of identity and knowledge. His demand for Skyrim's independence highlights the moral requirements of self-determination and the intricacies of political ideologies, reflecting a struggle for autonomy and cultural integrity. Hadvar and other Nords who stick with the Empire find a middle ground where their devotion is tempered by disappointment but still based on their belief that the Empire can protect them from outside threats. This commitment exemplifies Foucault's idea of the creative capacities of power, where even dissident voices function within and are influenced by dominant power processes, notwithstanding criticisms of Imperial authority. In the end, Skyrim presents a dynamic environment in which acts of rebellion, religious belief, and power dynamics converge, providing a fertile canvas for delving into Foucault's theories. The game invites players to ponder on the complexities of governance, belief systems, and the search for freedom within a fanciful world. It also pushes players to think critically about how authority operates through cultural indoctrination, ideological manipulation, and resistance. As a result, Skyrim offers critical thought along with entertainment when it comes to Foucault's observations about the relationships between power, knowledge, and the mechanics of social change.
References
Fry, C. T. (2021). Natural Law and the Ethics of Power and Resistance in Late Medieval English Literature. Duke University.
Howard, T. (2011). Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Bethesda.
Nurrachman, D. (2023). Critical Theory Teori-Teori Kritik Sastra dan Budaya Kontemporer (Y. Sudarisman, Ed.). CV. PUTRA SURYA SANTOSA.
Onyett Charles. (2011, March 31). The Elder Scrolls Evolved: What's New in Skyrim. IGN.
Poorghorban, Y. (2023). On Michel Foucault: Power/Knowledge, Discourse, and Subjectivity. OKARA: Jurnal Bahasa Dan Sastra, 17(2), 318--328. https://doi.org/10.19105/ojbs.v17i2.9749
Villareal, A. (n.d.). Faith In Conflict. Pressbooks.
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