Finally, after much prodding, she gets Sae-Byeok to open up. She melts what she previously referred to as "Sae-Byeok's coldness" and, with warmth, Sae-Byeok's tears unfreeze and fall down. Ji-yeong is helping her by expressing emotions, confronting her feelings, and regaining her humanity. But why does Ji-yeong feel the urge to make Sae-Byeok want and hope? for two reasons. First, she's been intending on sacrificing herself for Sae-Byeok from the beginning of the game. From telling Sae-Byeok she'll make sure she wins, to letting her go first when they eventually roll their marbles, Ji-yeong makes calculated moves to set the stage for her sacrifice. She convinces Sae-Byeok to agree to a one-round game early on in their conversation, and she needs to assert this. The second reason Ji-yeong nurtures Sae-Byeok's ability to dream is that she wants her sacrifice to have significance; that is, she wants Sae-Byeok to have a full life; that she wants to give Sae-Byeok a reason to live and a reason to hope. Sae-Byeok has a glimmer of hope and thus the elements for healing, and Ji-yeong recognizes this and seeks to help Sae-Byeok in doing so.
Also, Ji-yeong is so hostile to religion. The false virtue of a deeply religious person has played a major role in harming her and, worse, killing her. Yes, in her mind, she's already dead, but it's not too late to save her. She's worth so much. She's smart, empathetic, funny, and her smile is full of life, but society around her offers her no support. It's highly focused on material things, on the cold, callous race for She does end up in the game, but it makes no difference to her because she is already dead. She doesn't enter the game desperate to escape her debt; not that she wouldn't like to, but she doesn't care about winning that much, which distinguishes her from everyone else in the competition; she's in the game because someone handed her a calling card when she exited prison, so she joins the game because she has nothing else to do, nowhere else to go, and no one to go to. However, within the game, she understands that, while feeling empty on the inside, she may be able to help someone else. Ji-yeong is completely devoid of hope when she joins the game, but the prospect of aiding Sae-Byeok gives her reason to hope again, however fleetingly.
Ironically, Ji-yeong finds purpose in her life through this game that appears so terrifying to all of the participants who are seeking to win the money. She sees no use in living; she feels there is nothing left for her in the world, but only by dying for Sae-Byeok can she regain her self-worth. Ji-yeong has most likely been suicidal for a long time, yet suicide is an empty death. It's illogical, but this death is meaningful. Because the marble game requires one of two people to die, her death is genuinely selfless, or as near to selfless as a person can get. Ji-yeong's death is genuinely selfless via her earnest desire to connect with Sae-Byeok and her honest manner in doing so. Sae-Byeok's gift of her name is a gesture she makes to signify her trust, which Ji-yeong joyfully wins. It's not the first time Sae-Byeok gives her name away in the show; she also gave it to Gi-Hun, and it makes Ji-yeong's reaction all the more lovely.
[2021©softywicce]
Date: November 14, 2021
Author: softywicce
Title: Squid Game: A Character Review & A Story of Friendship (Part 3)
Article No.: 5—
Author's Note
Hello! This is the third part of this article, it was supposed to be published last Friday but I was so busy and Taylor Swift just released her Album Red (Taylor's Version) and so I took the time to savor the moment. I also want to write an article about it but I'll think about the content first. Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy it!
To those who are willing to sponsor, thank you in advance and thank you so much! I will always owe you my growth and my dedication (ʃƪ＾3＾)♡
Ahhh this part made me cry. Knowing that if she will get the chance to win but has nowhere to go so she chose to give up knowing that this other girls has family, brother waiting.