Decoding the Deepest Fears of Each Persona Protagonist

Article Key Points

The protagonists and party members in the Persona franchise are forced to confront their deepest fears, which often leads to their awakening of Persona abilities.

Every main character possesses a distinct apprehension, including survivor's remorse, solitude, pyrophobia, fear of being forsaken, and the dread of losing their independence. These anxieties are frequently derived from distressing experiences in their history, such as the loss of a cherished individual or childhood trauma, drastically influencing their growth as individuals within the games.

The protagonists in the Persona franchise may be mostly silent, but that doesn't mean they lack fears. Some characters, like Makoto Yuki, keep their fears hidden, while others, like Maya Amano, have fears stemming from traumatic childhood experiences. Persona is a franchise that centers around self-acceptance, often requiring characters to confront their greatest fears.

Within the Persona series, both the protagonists and their party members are often forced to confront their deepest fears and regrets. However, the protagonists seem to easily acknowledge and accept their fears, whereas their friends may have to endure significant challenges, such as going missing or facing potential death, if they refuse to confront their fears. This is exemplified in Persona 4. By facing their fears or confronting life-threatening situations, Persona's heroes and companions gain the ability to awaken their Persona.

Boy with Earring: Survivor's guilt

Tatsuya Suou: Loneliness

Maya Amano: Fire

Makoto Yuki: Loneliness

Kotone Shiomi: Loneliness

Yu Narukami: Abandonment

Ren Amamiya: Losing his freedom

The Biggest Fear of Each Persona Protagonist Explained

Boy with Earring/Naoya Toudou (Revelations: Persona)

The protagonist in the games is simply known as 'Boy with Earring', but in the Persona manga adaptation, he is referred to as Naoya Toudou. Unlike the games, Naoya does not possess a specific fear, but in the manga, he experiences survivors' guilt stemming from the untimely death of his twin brother, Kazuya. Naoya holds himself responsible for indirectly causing Kazuya's demise, as he was struck by a trick while attempting to purchase a manga for Naoya. In order to console his grieving mother, he assumes the identity of Kazuya. This internal struggle leads Naoya to develop an identity crisis, prompting him to pierce his ear as a reminder that he is, in fact, Naoya and not Kazuya.

Tatsuya Suou (Persona 2: Innocent Sin)

Tatsuya's main fear revolves around loneliness. In order to fulfill his duty of saving the world, he had to let go of his friends and the close connections he shared with them. However, due to his fear of being alone, he chose to reject this proposition. The roots of his fear of loneliness can be traced back to the strained relationship he has with his own family. Tatsuya feels a sense of envy towards his older brother who has achieved great success, he feels shame towards his father who is a disgraced ex-police officer, whom he sees as a coward, and he is disappointed with his mother for her passiveness when his father was dismissed from the police force.

Maya Amano (Persona 2: Eternal Punishment)

Maya, the protagonist of Eternal Punishment, harbors a deep fear of fire. During her childhood, Maya confided in her friends about her impending relocation, prompting them to lock her inside the shrine frequented during their playful adventures. Tragically, an arsonist ignited the shrine overnight while Maya remained trapped. Miraculously, Maya's Persona awakened, shielding her from certain death. However, the traumatic incident inflicted severe injuries upon her, ultimately leading to the development of her crippling pyrophobia.

Makoto Yuki (Persona 3)

The initial protagonist in Persona 3 exhibits an extreme level of stoicism, displaying a remarkable absence of fear. Death holds no terror for him, and his own safety is of little concern. However, there are subtle indications that he may harbor a fear of solitude. As he comes to recognize the significance of human life and the connections he has cultivated with his companions, he becomes more hesitant to confront his adversaries and terminate the Dark Hour. The underlying dread that haunts him is the prospect of finishing the battle and finding himself alone, trapped in a purposeless existence.

Kotone Shiomi (Persona 3 Portable)

Meet the alternative female protagonist in Persona 3 Portable, embodying a vivid and spirited persona that contrasts with Makoto's demeanor. However, beneath her cheerful facade, she shares Makoto's fear of loneliness. In the world of Persona Q2, she stands alone as the sole Persona user fighting against the odds. As Kotone exists outside the canonical Persona timeline, her companions are unfamiliar with her, leading to a distressing lack of camaraderie that results in confusion and a profound breakdown.

Yu Narukami (Persona 4)

Yu Narukami, the protagonist of Persona, stands out as a character with great depth. His primary fear revolves around abandonment. Specifically, he is haunted by the thought that once the investigation is concluded, he and his companions will inevitably drift apart. As he contemplates his eventual departure from Inaba, he fears losing touch with his friends, thus plunging back into a state of loneliness. This fear may stem from his prior experience of his parents moving abroad for work, leaving him behind and necessitating his relocation to Inaba, where he now resides with his uncle and cousin.

Ren Amamiya (Persona 5)

Ren, the leader of the Phantom Thieves, experiences a unique and complex fear compared to the other protagonists. Specifically, he dreads the possibility of losing his freedom, a concern that may not be immediately apparent due to his stoic demeanor when he was imprisoned. Prior to the events depicted in Persona 5, Ren found himself in a situation where he intervened to protect a woman from a drunken man. Unfortunately, the drunkard stumbled and injured himself, subsequently accusing Ren of assault and subjecting him to probation. This incident has left Ren with an apprehension towards interacting with others, as he constantly worries about inadvertently causing harm and facing further blame. However, it is during these challenging times that his Persona awakens.

Persona 5 Royal is a JRPG franchise available on multiple platforms including PS4, PS5, Switch, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S. It was released on March 31, 2020, and was developed and published by Atlus. The game features mature content with an ESRB rating of M for Mature, including blood, drug reference, partial nudity, sexual themes, strong language, and violence. The estimated gameplay time to beat the game is 100 hours, and it has received a Metascore rating of 95. PS Plus availability for this game is not applicable.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I find the exploration of the deepest fears of each Persona protagonist in this article to be intriguing and thought-provoking. The concept of each character having to confront their fears in order to awaken their Persona abilities adds depth and complexity to their journeys. It highlights the idea that personal growth and self-acceptance are essential for unlocking one's true potential.

The article also delves into the fears of the party members, which further emphasizes the importance of facing one's fears and regrets. The idea that the protagonists easily acknowledge and accept their fears, while their friends may face significant challenges if they refuse to do so, is a compelling dynamic that showcases the different ways people deal with their fears. Overall, this article provides an insightful perspective on the fears and struggles of the Persona protagonists, making their stories even more relatable and compelling.