Everything Ends as a Theme in Dark Souls
Dark Souls takes place in a dying world, one that saw greatness and prosperity, but has begun to fade purely due to the passage of time. The world of Lordran is one that is clearly decaying. The great city of Anor Londo, a place of enormous grandeur and wealth, is almost entirely empty. Most of the humans have been turned into mindless Hollows, and as is made evident by the importance of the Bonfire, much of the fire in the world has faded. That primarily leaves the Bonfires as the source of light and warmth, a remnant of the passing Age of Fire. The nature of a fire is that it will inevitably burn out and fade. Such is the case with the Age of Fire, and it will be the case with the Bonfires. Though most Bonfires stay lit when the player lights them, there are two that can go out under certain circumstances. It is a reminder that despite the fire’s importance, they can and will burn out. Like the city of Anor Londo or the great warriors and leaders of Lordran, the Bonfire is a beautiful thing that cannot last.
This comes to a head with the last Bonfire of the game. This Bonfire is guarded by Lord Gwyn, the former leader of Lordran. Through Dark Souls’ cryptic storytelling, it can be gathered that Gwyn saw the Age of Fire ending, but refused to accept it. He attempted to keep the literal and metaphorical fire lit. Nonetheless, Lordran is still falling apart around the player. When they face Gwyn in the final battle, he is not the great king of legend he was known to be. Even the one attempting to keep the fire lit has deteriorated, possibly accelerated by his attempts to stop the inevitable. After defeating Lord Gwyn, the last choice the player makes comes down to an unlit Bonfire. The player can choose to light it, succeeding Lord Gwyn and ensuring that the fight against darkness will continue, no matter how futile it may be. Alternatively, the player can simply walk away from the Bonfire, ending the Age of Fire and allowing the world to fully fall into darkness. Neither ending is considered bad or good; the choice is purely up to the player. To light a Bonfire is to continue living and struggling against all odds, but equally as important is leaving a Bonfire unlit, or perhaps letting it die out. The inevitability of darkness can be an uncomfortable thought, and the hope a fire provides is never understated. This makes it all the more meaningful to accept the inevitable rather than sacrifice what remains of humanity to keep a dying flame lit.