RWBY Analysis: semblances reflect a major struggle within the character
-Hazel’s Numbing Agent to repress pain doesn’t work to block out the emotional pain of losing Gretchen, nor does it stop him from taking damage especially via his self-inflicted Dust wounds, paralleling the self destructive choice to side with Salem
-Tyrian disrupts Aura just as he disrupts order
-Neo’s Semblance allows her to appear like other people, as she has always struggled with her sense of identity… Neo’s semblance is a direct link to neglect and underdevelopment. Being isolated most of her youth she began making her own “friends” in the form of imaginary ones. As she had an undeveloped voice box her semblance took a “mime-like” approach where she voiced herself through it.
-Neptune’s Semblance allows him to manipulate his biggest fear, water, but he is letting that fear consume him rather than taking control
-Mettle puts Ironwood into a tunnel-vision mindset to achieve his goals no matter what, reflecting his “I know what’s best” downfall
-Harriet’s speed reflects her acting irrationally, and sometimes too quick for her own good, automatically taking orders at face value without taking the time to consider their consequences, opposite Marrow who would opt to slow down, akin to his Semblance
-Maria’s Preflexes allow her to ‘see it coming’, only for her to lose her actual seeing ability
-Marcus Black put an end to Semblances, much like he would put ends to lives, only for his own life to be ended by Mercury, who he also ended the Semblance of
-Sienna’s Grudge makes things go better for her when things go poorly for those around her, reflecting her desire to improve the White Fang by being more violent
-Fox’s Semblance lets him create a private communication with the rest of CFVY, letting him find a connection to this new family after losing all of his old one
-Nora’s ability to power up via lightning strikes reflects on how she acts bubbly around everyone else, but much like the recoil damage the lightning does, she’s very insecure and a bit self-destructively impulsive (in that she’s VERY willing to jump into danger) underneath.
-Ruby breaks herself apart in order to move as fast as possible and carry others
-Weiss’s is hereditary and represents her struggle asserting her own identity
-Blake leaves behind versions of herself while attempting to dodge the pain, and reflects her fear of others getting hurt in her stead
-Yang has to endure pain and take hits in order to come back stronger, reflecting how she’s had to carry the burden of her family since childhood
-Pyrrha attracts others but at the same time can’t get close to anyone (they always keep a bit of a distance)
-Ren represses his feelings
-Jaune had to accept not being the hero but being a support character that lifts others up instead
-Adam lets others get hurt for his own gain
-Qrow loves others but his history won’t let him get too close with them
-Meanwhile Raven has the opportunity to be with loved ones at any time, but chooses not to when it’s practically screaming at her to do so
-Emerald sees things that aren’t there (Thinking Cinder loves her)
-Cinder was put under so much pressure and was re-molded into a deadly weapon… Cinder’s being called “scorching caress” as a reference to how the people who were supposed to love her only brought her pain
