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Hypothesis: Cloud Does Not Love Tifa

by Perceivence



Hypothesis: Cloud does not love Tifa.

Evidence: There is a great deal of evidence. However, the main focus of this essay is evidence found in one speech that Cloud makes on board the Highwind.

Focus
The focus is on the scene where Cloud gives a speech on board the Highwind right before the Last Night Under the Highwind scene. Its requirement of context from around the game is minimal, since it's based on a truth of reality: a logical result of a situation. Basically, I will be arguing that in a certain situation, Cloud has two options that may either show that he may love Tifa, or that he does not.

Truths and Axioms
1. At the scene in question, Cloud does not care about the future of the Planet. Its safety is merely a side result of his real reasons, and he is apathetic about that result. Cloud says so in his speech on board the Highwind:

Cloud "What are we all fighting for?"

Cloud "I want us all to understand that."
Cloud "Save the planet... for the future of the planet..."

Cloud "Sure, that's all fine."
Cloud "But really, is that really how it is?"
(He takes a few steps forward)
Cloud "For me, this is a personal feud."
Cloud "I want to beat Sephiroth. And settle my past."
Cloud "Saving the planet just happens to be a part of that."

Cloud rhetorically asks the group whether or not they're fighting to save the Planet. Cloud answers with a clearly implied no for himself. Cloud's reason for fighting is not to save the planet, but to resolve a personal feud, beat Sephiroth, and settle his past. Saving the planet just happens to be part of that.

Bearing this fact in mind, all other reference to saving the Planet as a reason must be considered in relation to this. Cloud explicitly states here that saving the Planet isn't really his reason; it just happens to be a result of his real reason. Therefore, all other places where he says he's fighting to save the Planet must be in reference to it being a result of the real reason. Otherwise, Cloud would be contradicting himself.

2. Tifa, the person whom he may love, will be directly affected by the outcome of the fight. Since Tifa's future is heavily dependent on the Planet's future, then a Planet without a future makes a Tifa without a future. Tifa lives on the Planet and cannot live without the Planet. Tifa's future depends on her life, therefore, her future depends on the Planet.

3. A love for someone requires a real concern for that person, and for his/her well-being. This truth is self-evident. Love can be described as a very strong concern for the well-being of someone else. Romantic love requires one to have a very strong consideration of the beloved. This strong consideration, if it doesn't displace one's own selfish ambitions, always causes the person in love to care about their beloved. One cannot have a real concern for and care about someone else and not be concerned about that person's well-being. A person's future is part of his well-being.

Logical Steps
Since Cloud is not concerned with the Planet's future and is not fighting for it (Truth/Axiom 1)
and Tifa's future is unavoidably tied to the future of the planet (Truth/Axiom 2)
and loving someone requires one to be very concerned for that person and his/her well-being, which includes that person's future (Truth/Axiom 3)
Then Cloud does not love Tifa.


Miscellenous Comments and Pre-Emptives
1. Caring for someone is an unavoidable requirement for loving that person. A concern for that person's well-being is necessary for loving that person. Someone's future, particularly where his/her life is threatened within a few days, is an inseparable part of his/her well-being.

2. Without considering other references to fighting for the Planet as subordinate to the one I outlined, then one can only interpret that Cloud is contradicting himself. This reference is given dominance because of how he explicitly outlines the reason for his claiming that fighting for the Planet may be considered a reason. The other times he says he's fighting for the Planet can, thus, easily fall under this category.

3. One cannot credibly claim that Cloud may be concerned for Tifa's future despite all of this. He makes it crystal clear that the fight for the Planet's future is not a concern of his. This entire speech would most likely have been given a large amount of thought. There is no reason to think that he may have overlooked the fact that the future may be of utmost importance to Tifa and the rest of his friends.


Conclusion: Thus, the hypothesis appears to be true.