[Part 1] Violet Evergarden Episode 5: You Write Letters That Bring People Together?

Note: This episode's analysis is divided into two parts. Click here to access the second part. I have put the link at the end of this post as well.

We seem to have jumped ahead quite a bit in time in Episode 5 of Violet Evergarden. Violet is apparently skillful and capable enough to take on a request from Princess Charlotte of the Drossel Kingdom. (I don’t think Violet would be entrusted with such a heavy responsibility if she’s only got like, less than five experiences under her belt.) Violet is tasked to write public love letters to Prince Damian of the Flugel Kingdom, to whom Charlotte is engaged.

Thematically, the episode generally explores authenticity. Although letters can help people express their feelings, it’s not always the case that people will always write authentically. It’s not always the case either that beauty or overt displays of emotion is a sure indicator of its authenticity. Though this theme is mainly presented through Princess Charlotte and Prince Damian’s story, I’d like to propose that the same theme is echoed through the princess’ relationship with her lady-in-waiting, Alberta.

Pretenses

Princess Charlotte of the Drossel Kingdom seems to generally be frustrated at pretenses. Three things from the episode strongly tell us that this is the case: Charlotte’s initial interaction with Violet, Charlotte’s negative experience in her 10th birthday party, and her dissatisfaction with the (initial) public love letters.

There are two interesting things I’d like to mention from Violet’s first meeting with Princess Charlotte. First, the princess asks the doll a significant question: Is it acceptable to be in a loveless marriage? At this point Charlotte does not know how Damian really feels, so she might be convinced that she is about to enter a loveless marriage. I think Charlotte asking Violet about this is a sign that the issue is bothering her. If there’s no love in the marriage, then the marriage is a pretense – merely a marriage of convenience to unite their warring countries. Then, after asking this question (to which Violet answers she doesn’t know), Charlotte notes how expressionless Violet is. It’s as if she’s really talking to a doll. The princess might be more sensitive to this due to her problem with pretense. She might have interpreted Violet’s lack of expressions as a sign that she is not being authentic.

Violet's first conversation with Princess Charlotte

Princess Charlotte’s flashback of her 10th birthday party also tells us of her dislike of pretenses. Even though it’s called a “birthday party”, Charlotte didn’t feel like her birthday was being celebrated. It became an event to consider future suitors done under the pretense of a birthday party. Naturally (and rightfully so!) Charlotte was frustrated with the event. Moreover, Charlotte most likely had to endure all the discomfort by putting on a pretense that she was alright. This must have added to Charlotte’s frustration. She only got to finally express how she truly felt in that garden. All the glamour and lavishness of the party could not make up for the pretenses.

The initial public love letters, too, are a pretense. Charlotte herself says that the letters – despite how poetic, beautiful, and romantic they sound – are all a lie. They contain no real emotions. The princess still doesn’t know how the prince really feels. Like what Alberta said, the letters are made to convince the people of how good the marriage will be. They are largely for the people, not the prince and the princess. That’s why the princess behaved dismissively toward the public-love-letter affair. She does not get up on time to properly welcome Violet and even allows Violet to write whatever she wants. Princess Charlotte is not interested in pretenses.

The Search for Authenticity

Princess Charlotte’s dislike of pretenses is what led her to fall for Prince Damian, a person who showed her authenticity at her 10th birthday party. He genuinely interacted with her as a person, even stating that it was the worst birthday party ever! That casual interaction made Charlotte happy. The princess must have felt truly seen and acknowledged.

Prince Damian

So when the public love letters suddenly change into handwritten ones, Charlotte naturally gets very invested in them. Why the sudden change? It is because the letters are now authentic. They are now written by the sender themselves and not delegated to a doll. Well, the doll might still be helping the prince or princess, just like how Violet is seen giving advice to Charlotte, but what’s important is that the letters mostly consist of the prince and princess’ own words. This sense of authenticity is reflected in the voice-overs. Once they switch to handwritten letters, it is the voices of the prince and princess respectively that read the letters. Previously, the voices that read the letters belong to messengers. Yes, the handwritten letters may not be as poetic and beautiful as the dolls’ letters, but they are authentic and truthful.

Click here to read part 2 of the analysis.