Arthas Menethil is a major character from Blizzard Entertainment's Warcraft universe of games, novels and media. He starts out as the noble prince of lordaeron who wants to protect his people but then his soul becomes corrupted by the sword Frostmourne. He stabs his father in the face and then proceeds to wage war on his own kingdom.
He is also the mortal host to the Lich King and is the commander of the Scourge, an evil undead legion intent on wiping out all life from the face of Azeroth in order to raise them as members of the Scourge. The Lich King is the final boss of the titular expansion.
What makes him sympathetic?[]
- At first, Arthas was a noble prince who cared deeply about his people and wanted to protect them, sometimes even risking his own life for them. He had a sense of right and wrong and was disgusted by people and creatures who committed acts of evil.
- He genuinely loved Jaina Proudmoore and even wanted to marry her.
- He loved his father, King Terenas.
- He respected his mentor, Uther.
- He liked his friend, Muradin Bronzebeard.
- Even though he does some questionable things like burning down Stratholme, he does them because he doesn't want the undead plague to be spread to other parts of his kingdom.
- Arthas allows his soul to be corrupted by the power of Frostmourne because he wants to use to power to stop the undead forces and save his people.
- After his soul is corrupted, his moral agency becomes impaired which means that he is not entirely responsible for the atrocities he has committed afterwards.
- Arthas has a genuine friendship with his servant, Kel'thuzad.
- In his last moments before his death, Arthas feels deep remorse about all the evil acts he has committed and reconciles with the ghost of his father.