Analysis of Characters - Locke Cole

Locke is another of the main characters you could consider the primary character, but less of the story revolves around him in particular, and it's more him trying to save everyone. It starts with Terra, and moves on to Celes. Basically, Locke, due to the unfortunate events with Rachel, is obsessed with saving and protecting women. That's basically his character.

I TOTALLY trust those shifty, thief eyes.
Er, Treasure hunter eyes.

Seriously, that's basically his whole thing. Other than being a "treasure hunter", Locke is a man obsessed with "saving" and protecting women because he feels that he failed Rachel. He can say what he wants about Edgar being a "lecherous" womanizer, but he is basically using these ladies as well.


I'm not saying Locke is a terrible character. I don't really dislike any of the characters in this game. All I'm saying is this poor guy is highly in denial. He seems to think that by helping Terra, then Celes, he can somehow make up for his failure to save Rachel and assuage the intense guilt he feels about her accident and eventual lonely death at the hands of the Empire's troops.

In all honestly, not entirely his fault. 

The old herb guy is the very definition of the word creepy.

Being an obsessed knight in shining armour isn't Locke's only use in the game, though. In the beginning, he serves as a guide to Terra through the mines of Narshe to Figaro. He's a relatively good one too. As a thief (er, treasure hunter), Locke has access to quite a good deal of information that comes in handy when trying to explain everything to Terra. As a Returner, he also has information about the Returners to help Terra understand their mission as well.

I rather like Locke's character in the beginning of the game. He is genuinely dedicated to helping Terra find her way and protecting her while she does so.  I have some issues with him, as many fans of the game do, when he doubts Celes just because Kefka (a bloody madman, no less) tells him Celes has been an imperial spy all along. He's not the smartest guy around, but he certainly does not lack heart. He dedicates so much time to trying to revivify Rachel, it's almost heartbreaking. He's a dedicated man and a victim of circumstances and he actually shoulders too much blame in some cases. He's a good guy, just not the brightest of the bunch. 

He's "treasure hunted" my heart, this man has.