[Part 1] Violet Evergarden Episode 4: You Won't be a Tool, but a Person Worthy of that Name

Note: This episode's analysis is divided into two parts. To my own surprise, I had a lot of things to say. Click here to access the second part. I have put the link at the end of this post as well.

Iris and Violet on the train to Kazaly

After her graduation from class in episode 3, Violet now finds herself in the middle of a mother-daughter conflict. Iris, Violet’s coworker, receives her first job request as a doll from her hometown – Kazaly. But alas! Disaster strikes. Iris hurts her right hand thanks to a fall down the stairs. As a result, Violet accompanies Iris on her trip back home to act as her hands. The business trip, however, forces Iris to face her feelings about herself, her feelings about her hometown, and her strained relationship with her mother.

Iris' Sense of Shame

Iris’ shame toward herself and discomfort with her hometown begins with Eamonn’s rejection of her love. She was so ashamed and embarrassed that she couldn’t bear to be in the same place as him. As a result, she develops negative feelings toward both herself and Kazaly. During the train ride to Kazaly, Violet notes that Kazaly is not a very notable place. It doesn’t seem to be rich in either history or natural resources. This fact may have further complicated Iris’ discomfort (and perhaps also shame) toward her hometown. This would also feed into her sense of shame if she extended it to herself and concluded that just like her hometown, she is nothing special.

I consider this scene where Iris first arrives in Kazaly and steps on a puddle to be a symbolization of her negative feelings. Her eye twitches as she looks at the puddle and her now-dirty left foot in annoyance.

Iris' expression the moment she steps into a puddle

Iris’ complicated feelings about herself and her hometown led her to move to Leiden. Moving away from the place she feels negatively about would help ease the shame and discomfort (temporarily, I would argue). She then aspires to be Leiden’s number one doll. If she becomes the number one doll, it will (1) eliminate her shame with herself (since she would be perceived as someone special), and (2) justify her absence from home.

Mother-Daughter Tension

Iris’ desire to be away from Kazaly, however, creates tension in her relationship with her mother. Her mother doesn’t want Iris to be so far away. She believes Iris should get married when the time comes and settle down in Kazaly.

In their refusal to back down from getting what they want, Iris and her mother eventually resort to lying. Iris lies about being a successful doll. If she admits not being successful yet, her parents would probably coerce her into returning home. On the other hand, her mother concocts the Sara Florent lie. She disguises her intention to get Iris to celebrate her birthday (and consider possible suitors) as a doll request. Iris finds out her mother’s lie during the trip to Kazaly, and her mother is revealed to also know that Iris has been lying about her success. These lies surely make their relationship grow increasingly sour.

Violet Enters the Story

It is in this complex situation that Violet finds herself in. Despite still struggling with emotions herself, Violet ends up helping Iris deal with her problems in intentional and unintentional ways.

First, Violet helps Iris with her negative feelings toward herself and her hometown. Although Violet labelled Kazaly as a mundane place, she follows it up by saying that being mundane is not a bad thing. Violet argues that special places typically invite conflict. Devastating wars have been fought to acquire strategic resources. Another instance of Violet (perhaps unintentionally, this time) improving Iris’ feelings can be seen after Iris tells Violet of her past with Eamonn. Violet notes that saying “I love you” appears to be something that takes a lot of courage to say. Thus, Violet allows Iris to remember her love confession not as something filled with shame, but as something filled with courage. Iris, then, learns to view herself and Kazaly in a more positive light.

This change in Iris’ view is symbolized by a familiar scene. She steps on a puddle again as she leaves Kazaly. This time, however, Iris smiles. Her negative feelings have turned into positive ones. I think Iris’ decision to send an apology letter to Eamonn also signifies a positive change in her character.

Iris smiles despite stepping on a puddle

Next, as Violet interacts with Iris and her mother, she actually helps improve their strained relationship. Violet tells Iris’ family about the love confession to Eamonn. Thought this is not a very tactful act, it allows Iris’ mother to finally know the root of Iris’ behavior. Moreover, Iris herself may not be able to confess such a thing directly to her mother, so Violet’s intervention can still be a good thing.

Violet also helps repair this mother-daughter relationship through her vulnerability with Iris. After getting scolded by Iris for spilling the beans about Eamonn to her family, Violet honestly admits that understanding emotions still does not come easily to her. Sometimes people lie. Sometimes they don’t tell the whole story. This makes things much more complicated to Violet. Iris’ reaction tells us that Violet’s statement struck a nerve. Iris realizes she is guilty. She realizes that that is exactly what has been damaging her relationship with her mother. They have been telling lies. It is Violet’s honesty that prompts Iris to realize that her and her mother’s dishonesty are obstacles in their relationship.

Iris' reaction upon hearing Violet's statement

Lastly, Violet helps mend this relationship by assisting Iris in writing a letter to her mother. If Iris finds it difficult to verbally say her true feelings, then a letter can do it. Such is Violet’s suggestion. This is a nice closure. Earlier, it was Violet who told the family of Iris problems. This time Iris is speaking for herself. It is always best to hear from the person themselves, isn’t it?

I believe Iris not mentioning Eamonn or the love confession to him signals that she has at least started sorting out her feelings. Perhaps Iris spent the night thinking things through! Through the letter, Iris informs her parents that she wishes to stay in Leiden because this is a decision she has made for herself. She isn’t going to give up on it. Iris’ feelings of shame toward herself and her hometown are no longer the motivators behind the decision to be away from home.

Alright! That is all for part one. Click here to go to part two. Thanks for reading!