Ashfur was allowed into StarClan...
Feb 24, 2017 0:18:52 GMT -5
mintedstar/fur🦇, Kibui, and 3 more like this
Post by Ligerfrost on Feb 24, 2017 0:18:52 GMT -5
Because they pitied him.
Literally that is the only reason he is there.
It is indisputable.
The question is: Why did they pity him? (Other than the reason outside of the books...aka Author bias)
I think I have a theory that could explain why StarClan pitied Ashfur.
Okay Before I go any further I'm going to say this. IN NO WAY DO I SUPPORT ASHFUR OR BELIEVE HE IS INNOCENT OR FEEL HE SHOULD BE EXCUSED FROM HIS ACTIONS!
Now that that is out of the way... I'll start my theory.
It all starts with what Ashfur feels for Squirrelflight. Now a lot of the fandom believe he had 'obsessive love' for Squirrelflight...which is really just an obsession for Squirrelflight.
Now while every person who has ever been in love holds some level of obsession toward the person they love, it doesn't mean that all obsession equals love. However is possible to mistake obsession for love. Which could be the easy answer for my theory. That StarClan mistook Ashfur's obsession for Squirelflight as love.
But I believe they pitied him because he became obsessed Squirrelflight...and never received help.
Let me explain. I spoke to a few people who had degrees in Psychology as well as a person who was a Therapist. I did my best to explain Ashfur's situation and his behavior after his rejection. (I tried not to mention they're cats) I asked what steps needed to occur in order for him to have moved on from Squirreflight. And while there were a few differences here and there the majority of what was the same.
In order to break an individual of an obsession they needed :
A ) To spend time away from the obsession/avoid the obsession
B ) Have a strong support system
C ) Time
All of these things were necessary to help break an obsession. Now while Ashfur had plenty of the last thing mentioned...time. but as for the other two...not so much.
I know the first thing someone is going to say is...he had Ferncloud...except did he really have her? In the Original Series when they were apprentices they were practically tied to the hip...but in the later books we hardly see them together. In fact there is no proof at all he had any support after the break up from the Clan. I don't really remember many cats telling Ashfur that there will be other she-cats. That everything will be okay. In fact Ashfur himself said 'No one saw how much he was suffering' There was never any mention that anyone was trying to help him get over Squirrelflight. And one thing that I notice that gets mentioned in rants often about Ashfur (I'm guilty of this as well) is we say that Ashfur should have just moved on and gotten over Squirrelflight...except even normal break ups aren't that easy and the hurt individual usually has someone supporting them helping them to help them move on. In fact the only break ups that don't have one of the individuals suffering from heartache is when the split was mutual...If we have no proof that anyone was helping Ashfur move on then how could we expect him to? I know someone's gonna mention that he could have at least have talked to his sister...true but would that have helped him or hindered him? His sister is in a happy relationship with a mate who loves her as much as she loves him, would she be able to empathize with him? And would he believe her words to be genuine ? Ironically the best cat to have been Ashfur's support system was Daisy. She could understand his feelings and they could have supported each other to help each other get over their unrequited love. But given that Ashfur seems to be a Clan purist, I doubt he's ever have many conversations with Daisy. I don't even think they crossed paths often. So It's questionable if Ashfur had an actual support system. It's true he was popular in the Clan but that doesn't mean he had someone helping him move on from Squirrelflight.
Now when it comes to Avoidance...there was no hope of that. Because of the way of Clan life there was no way he could avoid Squirrelflight. (Heck they sleep in the same den) Let me explain. When it comes to avoidance they meant not looking or speaking or being in the area of the obsession. And depending on how badly obsessed they were meant the more avoidance needed. Ashfur clearly had an unhealthy obsession because he resorted to violence (Which can happen to people who have an unhealthy obsession) This meant he needed to go cold turkey. He didn't need to see her, speak to her, be anywhere he could run into her or something (or someone) associated with her...you see how there's a problem there.
Now I'm not saying that Ashfur's innocent and that he should be excused for his actions...not at all but what I am saying is he wasn't gonna be able to move on without all these steps. If Ashfur had actually been exposed for his involvement in all his attempted murders he would have deserved the punishments given to him. Though I noticed the most likely punishment (banishment) could potentially have helped him move on.
I guess the point of what I'm trying to make is...Ashfur had no hope of moving on and getting over his obsession of Squirrelflight, the Ashfur we saw was always going to happen. Even if Squirrelflight chose him this still had the potential of happening because of his level of obsession... it's likely the relationship would have failed and his response to that failure could have been aimed toward Squirrelflight or her family/friends.
If Firestar had sent Ashfur on a solo mission to find Graystripe, he possibly could have come back a different cat and if StarClan knew this then it's likely the reason they let him in. Though I feel like there is a stipulation that he isn't allowed near Squirrelflight or her family and that he's not allowed to be apart of prophecies or ceremonies...
But that's a different theory in itself.
But there is another question I want to ask...
If Obsessive Ashfur the Ashfur you see? Or do you see the self entitled, purist Ashfur who was offended Squirrelflight (a half kittypet) chose someone else over him? both or neither?
What do you think?
Literally that is the only reason he is there.
It is indisputable.
The question is: Why did they pity him? (Other than the reason outside of the books...aka Author bias)
I think I have a theory that could explain why StarClan pitied Ashfur.
Okay Before I go any further I'm going to say this. IN NO WAY DO I SUPPORT ASHFUR OR BELIEVE HE IS INNOCENT OR FEEL HE SHOULD BE EXCUSED FROM HIS ACTIONS!
Now that that is out of the way... I'll start my theory.
It all starts with what Ashfur feels for Squirrelflight. Now a lot of the fandom believe he had 'obsessive love' for Squirrelflight...which is really just an obsession for Squirrelflight.
Now while every person who has ever been in love holds some level of obsession toward the person they love, it doesn't mean that all obsession equals love. However is possible to mistake obsession for love. Which could be the easy answer for my theory. That StarClan mistook Ashfur's obsession for Squirelflight as love.
But I believe they pitied him because he became obsessed Squirrelflight...and never received help.
Let me explain. I spoke to a few people who had degrees in Psychology as well as a person who was a Therapist. I did my best to explain Ashfur's situation and his behavior after his rejection. (I tried not to mention they're cats) I asked what steps needed to occur in order for him to have moved on from Squirreflight. And while there were a few differences here and there the majority of what was the same.
In order to break an individual of an obsession they needed :
A ) To spend time away from the obsession/avoid the obsession
B ) Have a strong support system
C ) Time
All of these things were necessary to help break an obsession. Now while Ashfur had plenty of the last thing mentioned...time. but as for the other two...not so much.
I know the first thing someone is going to say is...he had Ferncloud...except did he really have her? In the Original Series when they were apprentices they were practically tied to the hip...but in the later books we hardly see them together. In fact there is no proof at all he had any support after the break up from the Clan. I don't really remember many cats telling Ashfur that there will be other she-cats. That everything will be okay. In fact Ashfur himself said 'No one saw how much he was suffering' There was never any mention that anyone was trying to help him get over Squirrelflight. And one thing that I notice that gets mentioned in rants often about Ashfur (I'm guilty of this as well) is we say that Ashfur should have just moved on and gotten over Squirrelflight...except even normal break ups aren't that easy and the hurt individual usually has someone supporting them helping them to help them move on. In fact the only break ups that don't have one of the individuals suffering from heartache is when the split was mutual...If we have no proof that anyone was helping Ashfur move on then how could we expect him to? I know someone's gonna mention that he could have at least have talked to his sister...true but would that have helped him or hindered him? His sister is in a happy relationship with a mate who loves her as much as she loves him, would she be able to empathize with him? And would he believe her words to be genuine ? Ironically the best cat to have been Ashfur's support system was Daisy. She could understand his feelings and they could have supported each other to help each other get over their unrequited love. But given that Ashfur seems to be a Clan purist, I doubt he's ever have many conversations with Daisy. I don't even think they crossed paths often. So It's questionable if Ashfur had an actual support system. It's true he was popular in the Clan but that doesn't mean he had someone helping him move on from Squirrelflight.
Now when it comes to Avoidance...there was no hope of that. Because of the way of Clan life there was no way he could avoid Squirrelflight. (Heck they sleep in the same den) Let me explain. When it comes to avoidance they meant not looking or speaking or being in the area of the obsession. And depending on how badly obsessed they were meant the more avoidance needed. Ashfur clearly had an unhealthy obsession because he resorted to violence (Which can happen to people who have an unhealthy obsession) This meant he needed to go cold turkey. He didn't need to see her, speak to her, be anywhere he could run into her or something (or someone) associated with her...you see how there's a problem there.
Now I'm not saying that Ashfur's innocent and that he should be excused for his actions...not at all but what I am saying is he wasn't gonna be able to move on without all these steps. If Ashfur had actually been exposed for his involvement in all his attempted murders he would have deserved the punishments given to him. Though I noticed the most likely punishment (banishment) could potentially have helped him move on.
I guess the point of what I'm trying to make is...Ashfur had no hope of moving on and getting over his obsession of Squirrelflight, the Ashfur we saw was always going to happen. Even if Squirrelflight chose him this still had the potential of happening because of his level of obsession... it's likely the relationship would have failed and his response to that failure could have been aimed toward Squirrelflight or her family/friends.
If Firestar had sent Ashfur on a solo mission to find Graystripe, he possibly could have come back a different cat and if StarClan knew this then it's likely the reason they let him in. Though I feel like there is a stipulation that he isn't allowed near Squirrelflight or her family and that he's not allowed to be apart of prophecies or ceremonies...
But that's a different theory in itself.
But there is another question I want to ask...
If Obsessive Ashfur the Ashfur you see? Or do you see the self entitled, purist Ashfur who was offended Squirrelflight (a half kittypet) chose someone else over him? both or neither?
What do you think?