Ellie, Torture, and the Abyss: The Moral Representation of Torture in The Last of Us Part II

In this article, which intends to contribute to the growing interest of legal studies in video games, I analyze the representation of torture in The Last of Us Part II, a video game released in 2020. I argue that, in the context of the game’s overall moral argument and generalized interest in the matter of violence, torture holds an exceptional status. This conclusion is brought forward through the in-depth analysis of a particular episode, the torture of Nora, which, I argue, constitutes the lowest point of the protagonist’s moral degeneration in her descent into violence. In my analysis, I also give special consideration to the game’s resonance with events from the United States’ recent history. Through its portrayal of torture, Part II contributes to both the development of the language of the video game medium and public discourse on the subject of torture more generally. I locate three issues in particular that, although successfully addressed by the game, otherwise afflict both the cultural perception of torture and its representation in video games.