Summary
One of the most iconic parts of thePersonaseries is the use of the Major Arcana to represent NPCs for the games' Social Link and Confidant mechanics. Each character that the player can form a Social Link with or can become a Confidant is represented by one of the 22 Major Arcana of the standard Tarot decks, with the protagonist usually represented by the Fool. These characters tend to follow tropes associated with their Major Arcana, but the Hierophant, in particular, has been very similar in the past few entries and should explore a new type of character inPersona 6.
In traditional Tarot readings, the Hierophant is usually represented by a religious leader or enlightened figure standing before two followers. This card tends to represent a teacher or mentor who imparts spiritual knowledge to the reader or helps in guiding their life choices from a position of wisdom and experience. As such, theHierophant in thePersonaseriestends to be an older, authoritative figure in the protagonist’s life, but the use of these tropes has led to the past fewPersonagames having very similar Hierophant characters when this Major Arcana could represent so much more.
Bunkichi and Mitsuko
Sojiro Sakura
Persona 5
Although the Hierophant Arcana has existed within thePersonaseries since the original title, the past couple of entries have featured very similar representatives of the Arcana inPersona 4’s DojimaandPersona 5’s Sojiro. InPersona 4, Dojima is the uncle and guardian of the protagonist, whom he lives with during his time in Inaba. Dojima is a gruff, middle-aged detective who is tough but fair and ultimately develops a good relationship with his nephew, who helps him learn to be a better father to his daughter, Nanako.
InPersona 5, theHierophant is represented by Sojiro, the owner of Cafe Leblanc and guardian of the protagonist, Joker, as he serves his probation. Sojiro’s Confidant follows a very similar arc to Dojima’s inPersona 4, as he acts as a gruff but kind life mentor to Joker as the two grow closer and Joker helps him become a better father to Futaba. While these characters individually are well-written and compelling additions to their respective games,Persona 6should move on from the stereotypical gruff father figure for the Hierophant and instead take a cue from the series' past.
Past representatives of the Hierophant have been much more diverse in their characterization. Kei Nanjo is a playable character in both the originalPersonaandPersona 2: Eternal Punishmentand acts as an older brother to the group, offering a more logical take on events.Persona 3also featured a unique Hierophant depiction in the form ofBunkichi and Mitsuko, an older couple who run a bookstore the player can visit, and act like grandparents to the protagonist. InPersona 3,Shinjiro’s Persona Arcana is the Hierophant, and in The Answer epilogue forPersona 3 FES, Metis, the sister of Aigis, is also represented by this Arcana.
Persona 6should break from the father figures ofPersona 4andPersona 5for its Hierophant representative and instead get more creative with a potential brotherly or sisterly figure like Kei Nanjo,Persona 3’s Shinjiro Aragaki, or The Answer’s Metis. The game could even introduce a motherly figure to represent the Hierophant, since this type of representative for the Arcana has never been seen in the series. While it’s important that the Hierophant Arcana still follows some of the traditional tropes associated with the Tarot card, the form in which these tropes take should be a fresh experience inPersona 6.
