Joel’s Enduring Love Affair with Coffee
The Last of Us Part II is a game steeped in complex emotions, difficult choices, and the ever-present specter of loss. Amidst the brutality and despair, moments of quiet reflection carry immense weight. One such moment, the scene where Ellie visits Joel’s grave, stands out as particularly poignant. But what’s the significance of her leaving coffee beans on his final resting place? This seemingly small act speaks volumes, acting as a powerful symbol of remembrance, regret, and ultimately, reconciliation. Ellie’s gesture is a complex act of remembrance, regret, and reconciliation, symbolizing shared moments, Joel’s influence on her, and her journey towards healing. It’s an emotional punctuation mark to their complicated relationship, expressed in the language only they truly understood.
Before we can decipher the meaning behind Ellie’s actions, it’s essential to understand the significance of coffee within The Last of Us universe, particularly as it relates to Joel. While the game isn’t overflowing with creature comforts or moments of levity, the recurring motif of coffee offers glimpses of normalcy and connection amidst the chaos. We see Joel collecting ingredients to brew it, savoring each sip as a brief escape from their grim reality.
It isn’t merely a beverage to Joel, it’s a small ritual, a reminder of a life before the apocalypse. He actively seeks out the necessary components, and in doing so, he’s attempting to recreate a sense of stability in an unstable world. He is not just finding a caffeine hit, he is grasping for something more, something of his old life that represents peace.
The moments where Joel brews coffee for Ellie are particularly telling. He isn’t simply providing her with sustenance, he’s offering her comfort and a sense of home. These quiet moments, sharing a warm drink in a hostile environment, become precious opportunities for bonding and connection. He is also displaying care for her, showing the tenderness he does not often let others see. The act of preparing coffee becomes a subtle but potent expression of his love and protectiveness. These memories will stick with Ellie.
The simple act of coffee being a recurring theme shows how it plays a significant role in the character’s memories. Coffee’s role as more than just a beverage, shows how it is a symbol of shared moments, and connection to the past for Joel and Ellie.
A Literal Tribute: Honoring a Beloved Pastime
At its most basic level, Ellie’s act of leaving coffee beans on Joel’s grave is a simple tribute to something he enjoyed in life. It’s a tangible way for her to remember him and honor his memory. People often leave meaningful objects on graves – flowers, mementos, small gifts – as a way to connect with the deceased and express their love and respect.
The coffee beans serve a similar purpose. They are a physical representation of Joel’s fondness for coffee, a small piece of his personality that Ellie can still touch and interact with. In a world where so much has been lost, these simple acts of remembrance become all the more meaningful. They offer a way to keep the memory of loved ones alive, even in the face of overwhelming grief. When every other piece of your life has been taken away, these tokens of memory are all that is left to make you feel alive.
The act could also be seen as Ellie speaking to Joel, even after his death. It shows that she remembers him and his preferences and that she is acknowledging him even in his death. This is a normal act of grief, wanting the person who is gone to still know that you remember them and that they matter.
Deeper Symbolism: Shared Memories and Lingering Regret
However, the significance of the coffee beans extends beyond a simple act of remembrance. Coffee, in this context, represents the specific shared moments and experiences between Joel and Ellie, the small pockets of normalcy they carved out amidst the chaos. The beans are more than just coffee, they are the memories of warmth, and comfort that those moments shared created.
It’s impossible to ignore the context of their fractured relationship leading up to Joel’s death. While they had rebuilt their bond after the events of the first game, Ellie still struggled with the lies Joel told her about the Fireflies and the cure. She felt robbed of her agency, and she carried a deep resentment towards him.
The coffee beans, therefore, could also symbolize Ellie’s regret. They could represent the things left unsaid, the apologies unspoken, and the reconciliation that never fully materialized. They are a reminder of the good times amidst the pain, a bittersweet acknowledgement of the love that existed between them, even in the face of conflict. She can not unsay her words, or go back and tell Joel that she forgives him.
Particularly poignant is the potential connection to Santa Barbara. When Ellie returns in the night, after leaving to find herself, Joel is in the process of brewing coffee when she comes home. This image is the last time we see him alive, and the coffee could be a symbol for coming home.
Coffee becomes a symbol for a second chance that Ellie realizes, too late, she cannot have. This might have been the first moment she truly understood that Joel was not immortal. As such, the coffee beans are the symbol of that moment, where she realizes everything and her chance to come back with open arms has passed.
Ellie’s Journey: Finding Peace in Forgiveness
Ellie’s decision to leave the coffee beans on Joel’s grave is intrinsically linked to her overall character arc in The Last of Us Part II. The game explores her journey through grief, revenge, and ultimately, towards a semblance of peace. The entire game pushes the player to decide whether or not the cycle of revenge is worth it.
Leaving the coffee beans can be interpreted as a significant step in that journey. It signifies her willingness to acknowledge the good in Joel, to remember the love they shared, and to begin the process of letting go of her anger and resentment. Her character arch focuses on realizing that revenge will not make her feel better, and that instead, she needs to forgive and move on.
The final scene of the game, where Ellie revisits the farm and leaves Joel’s guitar behind, further reinforces this interpretation. By letting go of the guitar, a symbol of their shared passion and their fractured relationship, she is symbolically letting go of the past and embracing the possibility of a future free from the burden of grief and revenge.
The coffee beans, therefore, represent an earlier step in that process, a small but meaningful act of forgiveness and acceptance. They show Ellie coming to terms with her past and recognizing the fact that while Joel might have made mistakes, he loved her deeply and did what he thought was best.
Unpacking Fan Theories and Varying Interpretations
Beyond the established canon, numerous fan theories seek to unpack the profound symbolism of Ellie’s actions, further enriching the narrative’s emotional tapestry. The act of leaving coffee beans is a complex moment that viewers might unpack differently. It is important to acknowledge that art is subjective, and that no one interpretation is the only valid one.
One theory proposes that in the scarcity of the post-apocalyptic world, leaving coffee beans is a substantial sacrifice, underscoring Ellie’s profound respect and love for Joel. A luxury in their harsh reality, the beans represent a deeply personal and valuable offering, far exceeding the worth of ordinary flowers.
Another interpretation suggests the coffee beans allude to specific plot points or characters within The Last of Us universe, creating a subtle nod to the wider narrative. For example, the coffee might remind her of Dina, or perhaps it reminds her of Jackson.
Moreover, some perceive the coffee beans as a symbol of new beginnings, drawing parallels to the beans’ innate potential for growth and renewal. Just as a coffee bean can blossom into a flourishing plant, Ellie’s act of remembrance holds the promise of healing and the possibility of a brighter future beyond the shadows of her past.
A Lasting Tribute
Ellie’s decision to place coffee beans on Joel’s grave is a powerful and multifaceted act. It’s a simple tribute to something he loved, a reminder of shared moments, a symbol of lingering regret, and a step towards forgiveness and healing.
In the end, the gesture speaks to the enduring power of love and connection, even in the face of loss and trauma. It is a testament to the complicated relationship between Ellie and Joel, a relationship defined by both love and conflict. The coffee beans represent all of that complexity, offering a poignant reminder of the enduring bonds that tie us together, even in the darkest of times.
The Last of Us Part II masterfully explores the complexities of the human condition, and Ellie’s act of leaving coffee beans on Joel’s grave is a microcosm of the game’s larger themes. It’s a moment that lingers in the memory, prompting us to reflect on our own relationships, our own losses, and our own journeys towards forgiveness and acceptance.
