Here is a topic to discuss symbolism involving Cloud and Aerith. :D I have been browsing the Internet and came across several sites discussing the symbolism of flowers. The flowers in Aerith's church in AC were most likely lilies, right?

And the meaning of flowers in general?

Pretty neat, huh? :gift:

That's really interesting, FFG! Thanks for posting that. :huggle:

A while ago I put up an essay about the 'water' association with Aerith on my site, but since it's going through a revamp, I'll paste it here rather than linking it.

Great post, MB! :yes: I totally agree!

And, something I have noticed in a few Anime I have seen is that they use water to symbolize consciousness (e.g. X). This ties in nicely with Nomura wanting to portray that consciousness remains even after death and that Aerith lives on in Cloud's subconscious mind.

A little OT, but I love when Cloud just stands in the rain, looking so content. In an episode of Bleach I saw the other day, Orihime said something along the lines of "Rain connects heaven and earth, even if the two never touch". :cleris: *Puts on pink-tinted glasses* Rain=Aerith's healing rain (Great Gospel); Earth=Aerith (I Earth); Heaven= Cloud (the heavens encompass the sky and clouds). :woot:

Interesting findings FF_G ! I think both Lily and yellow flowers/Daisy (on Cloud's desk) in AC are quite Clerisy symbolisms! :gift:

And since this topic be mentioned....Here's one:
Advent Children/AC: A=Aerith; C=Cloud

Sorry if that's an old talk here... :blush:

Going further into the lily symbolism...

There's not a clear definition of what each flower means, but last night I was watching "Imagine Me & You" and the florist there tells her lover the lily means "I dare you to love me!" The lily is also shown being held by the florist in one hand with her lovers hand in the other on the cover of the DVD. It's a pink lily.

Looking a but more into it myself, aside from it meaning purity, virginity, it also means "it's heavenly to be with you" -- that's the white lily. The yellow one means "I'm walking on air".

We used to kid about that when AC was first announced! :lol:

Very cool, Zelda! :gift: I remember reading somewhere that yellow flowers can mean "remember me", as well. :D

Some symbolism involving water from Anime-Myth.com:

The bolded parts tie in nicely with Nomura's portrayal of the consciousness of departed individuals living on in others. ^_^

And something from another site:

The first bolded quote= :cleris: ; the second bolded quote= :lmao: !

And...

The first quote= :cleris: !

The second quote is also definitely true for Cloud and Aerith. They cannot be together physically, even though they are connected on a spiritual level.

The third quote is reminiscent of "Calling". At the very beginning, we are shown bright fluffy clouds and a clearing sky.

Wow, thanks for that info, FFG! I'll have to make a reference to that in my essay, there's some great ideas there. :huggle:

No prob, MB! :huggle: Be sure to re-post your essay if you revamp it!

Lily is the flower of Virgin Mary.
Here is the "Virgin of Lily" for example.

There's also the Annunciation:


(I'm so sorry for big dimensions, unfortunately I can't change it :/ )

Here the lily is a symbol of good news and purity.
"Advent children"..."Mother"...the angel statue...the church...

It's also the emblem of French kings as Louis XIV. So lily is associated with royalty too.
Here a princess with lilies. But I'm not sure about this one lol.

Hope it might help you in your quest :)
(and sorry for spelling mistakes)

:shock: Wow!Coral~all pics are beautiful! thanx for your information!(*hug)

I do love the saying about Virgin Mary, though I don't mean to equal Aerith to purely innocence at all...But that image still relates to Aerith's spirits to me! :huggle:

You're welcome :huggle: I'm glad you like it!

Koi are a type of carp which is a symbol of Cloud and Aerith's love. Koi are also illegal in some places. Wouldn't that mean that carp is forbidden love? Oh my, how romantic.

I believe I've read something about a Japanese myth about a red (don't know if it could be pink, too) ribbon having to do with a promise, or that if you tie it around your pinky with someone else's, you're soulmates or together forever or something like that.

Sorry if that wasn't really coherent, I cried my eyes out while watching a movie like three hours ago, and that made me tired. :lol:

You mean the red string of fate?

It's said that before you were born, the gods tied two souls together by a red string, seen only by the gods, that bound them as soulmates. Only with each other that they can have true happiness, anyone else wouldn't be right, as they don't have that 'connection' between them.

There is a Chinese myth like this except the only difference is that their is no red ribbon. Instead it focuses more on fate: It's said that before you were born, the gods tied two souls together by yuan, seen only by the gods, that bound them as soulmates. Only with each other that they can have true happiness, anyone else wouldn't be right, as they don't have that 'connection' between them.

Yuan is best explained like this: the people that are supposed to be together will be together because heaven destined it to be this way. My mom said that Cloud/Aerith have yuan because they were fated to meet and fall in love not only that their love extends past death. Plus they can see each other even after Aerith's death. The Cait Sith prediction that they are perfect for each other is more evidence of this.

Cloud and Tifa have no yuan because their "potential love" is always blocked by their choices/experiences and heaven haven't tied their hearts together.

Speaking of "mother" in AC,Cloud says to Aerith "mother?" does that mean Aerith is his Mother???

Cloud knows Aerith is not his mother. Perhaps, he wanted to see his mother again before he "died" since he was murdered in the fire thus he took an comforting touch as "Mother".

Aerith does have three roles in the game. She is a sister to Tifa, a mother figure to the Planet but more importantly she is Cloud's girlfriend.

Sometimes a girlfriend is called "Mother" in the black community.

Oh, for Pete's sake, Cloud didn't really think Aerith was his mother. :rolleyes: The guy was on the brink of death and felt a comforting presence nearby. He muttered "Mother..." while drifting in and out of consciousness. Zack did the same thing in CC after falling through the church roof, calling Aerith "mom" while he was partially conscious.

Bah, that again?

Cloud simply mistook Aerith for Mrs. Strife, his biological mother. He thought he was dead and figured the first person he'd see in death is his real mom.

But then Aerith adds something like:
"But why does everyone call me Mother?"
So that's not something specific to Cloud or Zack. Kadaj calls her "Mother" too.

I think Aerith's character contains something extremely angelic and reassuring. What's more reassuring than your own mother when you feel alone and lost? Besides she's linked to the planet, and we often say "Mother Nature".

I think that's what AC reveals about Aerith: above all she's lovable. She's loved by children, by friends and by special persons.
She's loved from different points of view but she deserves it, not because she's Cloud's girlfriend but cause she helps and loves people.

Now deduce what you want :P

(sorry for spelling!)

ok thanks everyone I just wanted to clear that up xD

GAH! that mom thing annoys me to no end D; Its not like Tifa wasn't said to be motherly.

In alot of anime's it is natural when you are dying or have died to think of your mom. For example, in gundam seed, Nicol thinks of his mother after being slashed by Kira.

Calling Aeris 'mother' was, like, the biggest compliment he gave to anyone in the movie... >.>

He also thought of his mother when he was asleep in a bed at Aeris' house, but it's not like he was thinking "Gosh, the girl in the next room over really reminds me of my mother... I wonder if she'll adopt me..."---no.

xD HAHA! lol

I think that was more because of the comfort he felt <3