Castlevania masterfully crafts its characters through deep emotional turmoil, making them some of the most compelling figures in contemporary animation. Among them, two of Dracula’s closest, Alucard and Isaac, undergo dramatic transformations. While Alucard, his half-human son, is rescued by Trevor and Sypha, Isaac’s transformation stems largely from Dracula himself.
Isaac, a devoted follower of Dracula, begins his journey convinced that humanity is beyond redemption. But his journey takes an unanticipated turn, not by the use of violence or revenge, but by acts of small kindness that gradually awaken his desire to live. Ironically, it was Dracula himself who planted the seeds of this transformation, leading Isaac toward something he never believed he could have: growth.
Dracula’s influence on Issac in Castlevania: The first act of kindness
In Castlevania, Dracula and Isaac share a bond rooted in suffering. Isaac, who was once a slave, was one of the few mortals Dracula found worthy of his respect, simply because of his unshakeable loyalty.
In spite of his inherent misanthropy, Dracula did something remarkable, he rescued Isaac from a certain death, sending him off through a portal before his certain death at the hands of Trevor, Sypha, and Alucard.
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This was a turning point for Issac. An immortal deciding to spare a mortal life goes against Isaac’s opinion that there is no kindness in the world anymore. It subconsciously puts forth the possibility in him that perhaps not all connections are rooted in pain and manipulation.
Somewhere within Dracula, there was still some remnant of his wife Lisa’s love lingering, and that’s why he was able to exhibit a brief moment of mercy. This was not solely about saving Isaac but also giving him an option, a future where he could determine his own path rather than blindly following revenge.
The journey of growth: From destruction to rebuilding
Isaac’s history is among the saddest in the Castlevania: Nocturne series. He began as a youth who cared for someone enough to wish to assist them, even if the person was his cruel slavemaster.
To him, love was devotion, and he desired knowledge to heal those he cared about. But rather than being rewarded with gratitude or appreciation, Isaac was rewarded with cruelty and betrayal.
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This distorted his view of love, causing him to think attachment only led to suffering. When Dracula caught up with him, Isaac had already reached the conclusion that kindness was a weakness and humanity had earned its fate.
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His blind devotion to Dracula wasn’t for revenge; it was for having someone who understood his pain, someone who understood the world in his own manner. But then Dracula, in his last moment, offered Isaac something that he never expected, a future beyond destruction.
After Dracula’s death, Isaac initially remains resolute in his belief that humanity must be eradicated. However, his journey slowly exposes him to moments of unexpected kindness: a shopkeeper who addresses him with respect, a captain who urges him to look for something more than revenge and encounters with people who contradict his vision.
Each act of kindness chips away at the walls he built around himself, and Isaac starts doubting if vengeance is really a fulfilling thing to do or whether there is indeed more to life than destruction. Unlike Alucard, whom Trevor and Sypha guide into hope, Isaac has to make these realizations by himself. His change is very personal, and thus making it one of the most powerful arcs in the series.
Castlevania anime is currently available to stream on Netflix.
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