Summary
WhenDoki Doki Literature Clubfirst dropped, players were confused by its cutesy appearance and how it contradicted its psychological horror tag. Booting up the game, however, brought players all the answers needed.Doki Doki Literature Club’s Monika, the game’s main antagonist, goes through the player’s computer files and deletes the other girls to be closer to the player. She aims to trap the player with her for all eternity in the name of “love”. But that isn’t love.
Confusing obsessive behaviors with love isn’t something people want to do.DDLC’s portrayal ofthe Yandere tropethrough Monika, though well done, runs the risk of normalizing this toxic behavior. A Yandere character is one who will do anything to get closer to their loved one, often to a brutal end. They’ll appear sweet and loving before revealing how crazy and deranged they truly are. This is exactly how Monika acts; she’s more than happy to see the player enter the club, but she can’t stand not being a romantic option.
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Monika’s Obsession in Doki Doki Literature Club
Monika’s ability to get into the player’s computer andDDLC’s game filesto bring the two of them closer together naturally shocked and scared many. Being so obsessive, enough to break out of the game and directly view the player’s personal information, is terrifying. But of course, this was also meant to be the appeal to Monika. She’s designed to be this creepy and dangerous. That’s her selling point, that’s what people are supposed to like about her—and that’s her downfall.
The Real Consequences of Obsession
Selling a character based on their darkest attributes can only come around to bite one in the butt. This inherently normalizes and encourages this behavior and runs the risk of having people look for this kind of “dedication” in their real relationships. However, it’s important to drill into fans' minds that this is unhealthy behavior and actions. Separating fiction from reality in a world where the two are quickly merging is imperative. Fans can like Monika all they want as a fictional character, as well as otherpopular female Yanderes, but they should acknowledge the dangers of such behavior and not seek her out in IRL relationships for obvious reasons.
This kind of behavior can also target those who are low on their luck in relations in general. The idea could be that someone is finally around to be obsessed with them and only them until this damages them to the point of becoming reliant on this obsessive individual. Unlike withDDLC’s good ending, there isn’t much of a chance for that in these scenarios.
Why Monika Gets Away With It
She isn’t real. There’s no real risk to getting attached to Monika or to liking her character. Whenplayers delete Monika, there’s not a risk to that either. No one blames people for being attached to pixels because at the end of the day that’s all she is: pixels. She isn’t threatening players to cut everyone else off and she isn’t demanding that players never leave her behind, at least not literally.
Narratively, her obsessive behavior works for the world that she lives in. She’s being overlooked by her three club mates,Doki Doki Literature Club’sYuri, Natsuki, and Sayori. Though all four of them have their own appeal, the original game doesn’t let her be a romantic option despite her overwhelming love for the player. She isn’t intended to exist outside the literature club until she decides she deserves to be selfish and take the player for herself. Raising the other club mates' negative aspects so that Monika is the only appealing one, until she goes crazy, makes sense for her case.
Doki Doki Literature Club!
WHERE TO PLAY
Hi, Monika here!Welcome to the Literature Club! It’s always been a dream of mine to make something special out of the things I love. Now that you’re a club member, you’re able to help me make that dream come true in this cute game!Every day is full of chit-chat and fun activities with all of my adorable and unique club members:Sayori, the youthful bundle of sunshine who values happiness the most;Natsuki, the deceivingly cute girl who packs an assertive punch;Yuri, the timid and mysterious one who finds comfort in the world of books;…And, of course, Monika, the leader of the club! That’s me!I’m super excited for you to make friends with everyone and help the Literature Club become a more intimate place for all my members. But I can tell already that you’re a sweetheart—will you promise to spend the most time with me? ♥This game is not suitable for childrenor those who are easily disturbed.
