Aerith’s Single Greatest Final Fantasy VII Line Quietly Offered Hope to the Hopeless

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is both a landmark installment in the Final Fantasy franchise and a seminal RPG title. The game was bigger than any other installment or RPG before it, necessitating splitting the game across three discs. In turn, this meant the game’s story was the most expansive of any Final Fantasy installment to date.

Final Fantasy VII is a lengthy game – you’re only about a third of the way through after finishing the first disc. However, a key character says something at the end of that first part that really motivates players to continue.

Aerith Had a Tough Life

in both the original FF7 and in FF7 Remake and Rebirth. One of the most important parts of her characterization is that she’s had a tough life. For starters, she is the only remaining Cetra, who are spiritual beings with supernatural abilities.

Aerith’s father, Professor Gast Faremis, was human, making her half-human. He was married to Ifalna, the last of the Cetra, an ancient race. Sadly, Ifalna died due to experiments conducted by the Shinra Corporation, effectively ending the Cetra line. Gast Faremis was later killed by Professor Hojo, a key figure at Shinra who oversaw projects like the creation of the SOLDIER unit and other superhuman experiments.

Aerith was raised by Elmyra Gainsborough after being adopted, but her life wasn’t simple. Elmyra was strict, making Aerith do extra chores and not allowing her to watch TV.

Aerith’s difficult life was far from over. Living close to the poor Sector 5 slums of Midgar left her feeling disheartened, and she found only a little comfort in selling flowers and a brief relationship that sadly ended when her partner died on a mission.

Following her encounter with Cloud Strife and the group AVALANCHE, Shinra captured her. Her situation became even more dire when Shinra revealed their plan to use her to bear a child, hoping to pass on her unique Cetra abilities – a terrifying prospect for anyone.

It’s understandable if a character who went through as much hardship as Aerith would have lost hope. In fact, most people—or players in a game—would likely quit if they were in her situation, especially early on. However, Aerith remarkably stays positive, even expressing this right before her death.

Aerith Offers Hope to the Hopeless

Both the original Final Fantasy VII and the recent Final Fantasy VII Rebirth feature a tragic moment where Aerith is killed by Sephiroth. Sephiroth is a dangerous villain who can control others, and he’s using the incredibly powerful alien lifeform Jenova to achieve his goals.

Aerith’s death, especially because she was such a hopeful character, is deeply upsetting for players. It’s likely Cloud and his remaining friends would have given up their quest right then and there, except for a final, encouraging message Aerith shared with Cloud before she passed away.

Just before Aerith’s death, Cloud has a dream about her. He’s still shaken from a recent encounter with Sephiroth and a resulting emotional collapse, leaving him unsure whether to give up or continue pursuing the villain. Adding to the urgency, Sephiroth is about to enact a plan to summon Meteor and destroy the planet.

Fortunately, Aerith appears in Cloud’s dream and helps him regain his composure. While she doesn’t try to dissuade him from his mission to defeat Sephiroth, she explains that only she has the power to stop the meteor from destroying the planet, telling him, “Then, I’ll be going now. I’ll return when everything is finished.”

Without giving too much away, she fulfills this promise by the end of the story, even acting after she’s gone. More importantly, her words help Cloud regain his strength and rejoin AVALANCHE, which has grown with new allies. Together, they work to stop Sephiroth while Aerith provides crucial support.

This really highlights the power of kind words. Aerith’s message was enough to motivate Cloud in the game, and it continues to inspire players to finish Final Fantasy VII. Ultimately, her words offer comfort and strength, helping people overcome even the most difficult challenges, and solidifying her place as a beloved character.

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2026-05-26 00:53