Clarke Griffin from The 100: Is She Truly Annoying or Just Misunderstood?

Many fans of The 100 have expressed mixed feelings about Clarke Griffin as a character. Some viewers find her to be overly idealized, while others, like myself, had to stop watching after the first season due to her character's incredible selfishness and hypocrisy.

While it's acknowledgment that Clarke is essential to stirring up drama and chaos in the show, her development into a character to hate is quite significant. Her actions are often self-serving, masked under the guise of protecting "her people". Her belief in doing what she perceives to be the "right" thing is just another layer of frustration for viewers.

Clarke's Selfish Actions and Hypocrisy

In the first season, Clarke is depicted as willing to have sex with numerous characters, not purely for sexual satisfaction, but as a means to gain power and favors. This behavior is often viewed as explicitly selfish and self-serving. For instance, sex with other characters is portrayed as a tool to shape alliances, secure her position, or gain influence.

Even her "selfless" actions, such as the night blood ritual, are questioned. Clarke's act was more about her image and future power, rather than genuine concern for her people. Fans are left to wonder if her actions align more with her selfish desires than with any truly altruistic impulses.

Further Examinations

The character of Clarke continues to develop in a way that makes watching the show a second time through an even more frustrating experience. Her pious attitude and conviction that she is always acting for the greater good become increasingly frustrating as her actions often lead to tragic outcomes. This makes the show harder to enjoy, knowing beforehand the problems that arise from her actions.

The writers have created a character that inspires universal hate, demonstrating how far a beloved character can fall in the eyes of the audience. The world of The 100 is often filled with hypocrisy, where the survival of the individual and family is prioritized over the survival of the human race as a whole. Characters like Clarke, who are willing to kill anyone except her mother to ensure the survival of their species, further illustrate this point.

Heroes as Villains in The 100

Throughout the series, the traditional heroes, like Clarke, are often revealed to be as flawed and selfish as the antagonists. The moral ambiguity in the series is one of its core appeals, as characters are portrayed in ways that provoke intense ethical debates. The show forces viewers to reconsider their initial impressions of what makes a hero and what motivates them.

For instance, the events in season 5 where Clarke's mother and Octavia force people to eat human meat raise profound questions about the lengths characters can go to in the name of survival. The narrative often portrays the wrong actions becoming right, which adds another layer of complexity to the characters and the story.

Overall, the character of Clarke Griffin faces a significant transformation throughout The 100, evolving from a complex character to one that many fans find difficult to sympathize with due to her selfish and hypocritical actions. However, it's important to note that the show's deliberate character development challenges the audience, pushing them to consider the true nature of heroism and the moral gray areas inherent in human nature.