In a recent social media post, Square Enix provided insights into the symbolism behind the yellow flowers that Aerith sells in Final Fantasy VII Remake (FFVII Remake), shedding light on the deeper meaning of Aerith’s journey.
The explanation centers around a specific dialogue in Chapter 17 of the game, following Cloud and the party’s reunion with Aerith on the 65th floor of the Shinra Building. In this pivotal scene, surrounded by the enigmatic Whispers, Aerith divulges that the Shinra Electric Power Company is not the ultimate adversary and that a greater threat looms.
Aerith, expressing the toll the Whispers take on her, utters the words, “Follow them. The yellow flowers.” In the original Japanese text, the line differs slightly, with Aerith stating, “The yellow flowers were guiding me.”
According to the FFVII Remake Scenario Staff, the yellow flowers symbolize the myriad experiences and emotions Aerith has encountered since her introduction in Sector 8. They also represent those experiences and feelings that have been “taken away” by the Whispers.
The symbolism is intricately woven into various instances, including the flower trampled by the people of Midgar in the game’s opening, the flower Cloud receives during their initial encounter, and a hypothetical flower that signifies the potential for future bloom on the planet. The staff explains that Aerith, confronted with the Whispers, grapples with the notion that, akin to the withering flower in the scene, she appears to be diminishing with each interaction with these mystical entities.
