Talk:Hollow Knight/@comment-29660464-20180115030558/@comment-28377406-20180121071756

After many failed attempts at creating the perfect vessel, The Pale King finally created one that was completely hollow, or so he thought, hence giving it the title 'The Hollow Knight'. However as the flashback in the birthplace revealed, The Hollow Knight briefly looked back at the player, displaying some form of sympathy, proving that it was not completely hollow and that The Pale King's judgement was wrong. This is supported by the White Lady's dialogue '''Its supposed strength was ill-judged. It was tarnished by an idea instilled.' '''Thus this vessel, while not completely hollow, was sealed in the temple along with the plague.

On the other hand, the player (I'll just refer to him as the Knight) was possibly completely hollow. There are many evidence supporting this. First of all The White Lady's dialogue once again. '''But you. You are free of such blemishes. You could contain that thing inside.' ''The White lady herself mentioned that The Knight was completely hollow and could attempt the task of absorbing the plague. Secondly, Hornet's dream nail dialogue in the Abyss. '...It faced the void, and ascends unscathed... Could it unite such vast darkness?... ', suggesting that once again, The Knight is truly hollow.

However that said, it is possible (just my assumption) that at this point in time, both The Knight, as well as The Hollow Knight could be similar in terms of how 'hollow' they are. While it is hinted that The Knight is completely hollow, he (it?) has been shown to display emotion or at the very least, care for others (in a way). Once good example of this is the flower quest. Not only does The Knight bring the flower to the grave of the traitor's child, The Knight can also give the flower to Elderbug, which not only lifts his spirit, but changes his perception of the world and having dreams. (Personally I do this in every playthrough apart from speedruns, I still talk to him though)

Possibly what sets The Hollow Knight and The Knight apart, is the Void Heart. As seen in the White Lady's dialogue, 'That pulsing emptiness... Truly, it has been transformed by the revelations it found. Does it... feel anything? Triumph? Or hate? If it does, I cannot sense it.' Alternatively you can look at Hornet's dialogue at the Black Egg Temple 'To break the Dreamer's seals would alone be considered an impossible task, but to accept that void inside yourself, that casts you as something rather exceptional.' This could explain why it is after The Knight acquires the Void Heart, that the Radiance could be fought. Notice the description of the Void Heart 'An emptiness that was hidden within, now unconstrained. Unifies the void under the bearer's will. This charm is a part of its bearer and can not be unequipped.

But that's my 2 cents on the matter. I hope it answers some questions.