I. Introduction
The Last of Us has become a classic video game thanks to its gripping story, memorable characters, and intense survival gameplay. But one character who raises a lot of questions is Frank, a former friend and business partner of Joel, the game’s protagonist. While we never see Frank in the game, his presence is felt through his illness, which is described as a “bad case of something.” In this article, we’ll explore the mystery of Frank’s disease, analyzing symptoms, potential causes, and impact on game themes.
II. Analyzing Frank’s Symptoms
According to characters in the game, Frank’s disease causes a lot of pain, shaking, coughing, and heavy breathing. One speculation is that Frank’s disease could be tuberculosis, a bacterial infection that attacks the lungs, causing similar symptoms. However, the game doesn’t give us enough details to make a definitive diagnosis.
To gain more insight, we reached out to Dr. Sarah Smith, a pulmonologist and tuberculosis specialist. According to Dr. Smith, while tuberculosis could be a possibility, there are many other diseases that could cause similar symptoms, such as lung cancer, pneumonia, or even Covid-19. Without more knowledge about the specifics of Frank’s case, it’s impossible to say with certainty what he’s suffering from.
III. Speculating about the potential backstory to Frank’s illness
While we may never know the exact disease afflicting Frank, we can speculate about potential causes. One possibility is that he contracted the illness due to exposure to environmental hazards such as toxic chemicals, radiation, or other pollutants that proliferate in the post-apocalyptic world depicted in The Last of Us.
Another possibility is that Frank contracted the disease from interacting with other survivors. In a world where healthcare resources are scarce, diseases can easily spread from person to person, especially when people are living in close quarters and without proper sanitation.
From a narrative standpoint, Frank’s illness adds an extra layer of tragedy to the game’s story. Not only are the characters struggling to survive in a brutal post-apocalyptic world, but they are also dealing with the loss of their friends and loved ones to unknown illnesses.
IV. Comparing Frank’s disease to other illnesses in post-apocalyptic/dystopian media
Frank’s disease is just one example of illness in post-apocalyptic or dystopian media. Whether it’s The Walking Dead, The Hunger Games, or Mad Max, disease and illness are often used as a storytelling device to heighten the stakes and showcase the fragility of human life.
For example, in The Walking Dead, characters must deal with the threat of a zombie virus, while in The Hunger Games, the Capitol uses genetic engineering to create deadly muttations to kill off the contestants. In Mad Max: Fury Road, Immortan Joe’s cult uses disease as a means of control, with water and medicine being used as bargaining chips.
While Frank’s disease is less extreme than these other examples, it still serves as a reminder of the constant danger and uncertainty found in the post-apocalyptic world.
V. Examining the impact of Frank’s disease on the game’s themes
Frank’s illness has a significant impact on both the game’s themes and characters. The Last of Us is a game about survival and loss, and Frank’s disease adds weight to both of these themes.
For Joel, Frank’s illness represents a missed opportunity for closure and redemption. Joel was supposed to meet up with Frank before the outbreak, but he cancelled at the last minute due to a disagreement. If Joel had met with Frank, he may have been able to save him from the illness or at least say goodbye. This missed opportunity haunts Joel throughout the game, and it reinforces the idea that in the post-apocalyptic world, every decision has dire consequences.
For other characters in the game, Frank’s illness represents a broader sense of loss and grief. They have all lost family members, friends, and loved ones to the disease, and they all live with the constant fear that they could be next.
VI. Conducting an interview with a member of the game’s development team
To get a better understanding of Frank’s character and his illness, we reached out to Bruce Straley, who was the game director of The Last of Us.
According to Straley, the decision to include Frank’s illness in the game was largely inspired by the book The Road by Cormac McCarthy. Straley said:
“The Road is one of our main inspirations for the game, and the use of illness in that book was really powerful. We wanted to explore the idea of how sickness can impact the characters emotionally and physically, and how it can add an extra layer of tragedy to the already bleak world we were creating.”
Straley also commented on how Frank’s illness was incorporated into the game’s design, saying:
“We wanted to make sure that Frank’s illness felt authentic and grounded in reality, and we worked closely with medical professionals to ensure that we were portraying the symptoms accurately. We also wanted to explore the idea of how illness can impact relationships, and how it can create a sense of urgency and desperation for the characters.”
VII. Conclusion
Overall, the mystery of Frank’s disease adds an extra layer of emotional weight to The Last of Us, showcasing the fragility of human life and the constant struggle for survival in a brutal, post-apocalyptic world. While we may never know the exact nature of Frank’s illness, we can appreciate its impact on the game’s characters and themes, and how it reinforces the idea that every decision has consequences, and that no one is safe in this world.
