Jecht & Yunalesca
An installment in the "The Real Story of Spira" chapter of Ultimania Omega. This contains brief character analyses of Jecht and Yunalesca.
Jecht
The True Character of a Foul-Mouthed, Shy Genius
Overconfident and arrogant, proud of his own genius and a dislike for effort—that is the image of Jecht that emerges from Tidus' recollections, but what kind of person was he really?
He was often gossiped about as someone who "hated practice." However, considering he repeatedly trained in the sea, he might have thought showing effort was uncool and thus hid the truth. His confident words like "I'm the best" (Japanese: “I’m special”) could also have come from the fact that he was the kind of person who couldn't maintain his confidence without talking big.
Regardless of the accuracy of these speculations, the fact that he was talked about for 10 years after disappearing proves that Jecht had a charm that more than made up for his flaws.
Rough Love for His Son
Contrary to his rough behavior, Jecht loved his son Tidus with all his heart. The mocking words, starting with "You're gonna cry," likely came from his desire to "make his weak son strong." For him, it was a form of tough love, akin to a lion throwing its cub off a cliff. However, such words and actions were only taken at face value by his son, resulting in a rift between them.
For Jecht, Tidus remained frozen in time as the boy he had left behind. He retained the image of his son as "weak," “and someone who needs to be protected,” always dreaming of Tidus' growth, while he looks at with him resentment. Jecht’s thoughts can be seen in fragments of visions when Tidus is exposed to Sin's toxin.
Through the Journey
The truth is Jecht did not die at sea 10 years ago, but was transported to Spira by Sin. His state of mind and position, upon suddenly arriving in an unfamiliar world, were similar to Tidus'. He was anxious, lonely, and desperately wanted to return to Zanarkand, to his wife and son, and resume his old life. He joined Braska's pilgrimage hoping it would help him return to his world. For a long time, he was unable to let go of this hope.
However, through the journey, he learned about the current situation in Spira and began to understand his own fate. Along the way, he developed a friendship with Braska and Auron, and as they became inseparable, he discovered his role in Spira. In the end, he entrusted his greatest wish—to raise and watch over his son—to his comrade Auron, while he sacrificed his life for Braska.
Yunalesca
As the Foundation of Yevon's Teachings
Her act of defeating 'Sin' with the Final Summoning ultimately gave birth to Yevon's teachings.
The doctrine of Yevon's teachings, which promotes stagnation and hopes for the Final Summoning, is exactly the same as her assertion. Also, considering that she waits for those who seek the Final Summoning and speaks of the teachings as "hope," it's clear that she knows the content of the teachings and wants people to follow them. In fact, her ideology wouldn't have spread without the teachings.
When Zanarkand inevitably faced destruction, the summoner Yevon, the ruler of the city, tried to preserve the memories of the city. As a result, Sin was born, hope became necessary—and today, the ideology of Yunalesca, daughter of Yevon, continues to live on through the temple, spiritually ruling over Bevelle and Spira.
For Whom Does the Spiral Continue?
Judging from her words and actions, it's natural to think that Yunalesca stayed behind purely out of concern for Spira and to maintain the best means. However, the following interpretation is also possible.
Yunalesca and her husband escaped Zanarkand at the time of Sin's birth. According to Yevon's teachings, the summoner Yevon taught his daughter how to defeat Sin. This leaves room to suspect a conspiracy between Yunalesca and Yevon.
The destruction of Spira as a result of Sin was not originally what summoner Yevon intended. The destruction of a world containing dreams could even jeopardize the existence of those dreams. Hence, one could think that Yevon entrusted the Final Summoning to his daughter to prevent this. To ensure the survival of Yu Yevon and to avoid complete despair and world destruction, he left a sliver of hope to his daughter. Yunalesca might have accepted this and stayed in the world.
Or, perhaps, Yunalesca herself might have wanted to keep her father's presence alive deep in her heart. She was also an inhabitant of Zanarkand and Yevon's daughter. She might have continued to teach the Final Summoning to preserve the city's memories and her father, as well as ensure Spira's survival. Of course, all of this remains speculation.
Contrast with Yuna: Concerning Their Fathers
Yunalesca remained in Spira for 1,000 years to preserve the Final Summoning. Whether this was because she felt she had to give hope to the people of Spira, or to retain her father and homeland, no one knows the truth. In any case, she didn't (or couldn't) escape the framework her father created. This is a decisive difference from Yuna, who inherited her father's will and sought to surpass him. Yunalesca, who clashed ideologically with this young woman bearing a similar name, was ultimately defeated in all respects.