baby girl
By the age of seven, Marlene Wallace has seen the world almost end three times: once in a race between a corporate menace and an otherworldly madman; again by said otherworldly madman's remnants and a global plague; once more by a would-be madman who can't seem to find his shirt.
More importantly, it's not just the world coming to an end: it's her world. Losing her birth parents to uber-corporation Shinra and being adopted by the resistance movement's most vocal leader, Marlene is at the center of the Planet's struggle. She is taken as a hostage not once, but twice. Nevertheless, even if she does not understand the greater powers at work, when such powers threaten to tear her family apart, she'll put up a fight.
In summary, she's one tough cookie.
the Jenova war
Although the events within would be known to the masses as the Jenova War, on the simplest level, Final Fantasy VII can be called a story of redemption. It is one lost soul's search for identity and love for who he is. The arenas in which he finds himself, however, are slightly more complex. Stuck between a rock in a hard place -- self-proclaimed deity Sephiroth and mega-corporation-turned-totalitarian-government Shinra -- Cloud Strife must first uncover the secrets of his past before he can step up as a true hero. And he does it all with millions of lives resting in his hands.
One such life is that of Marlene Wallace. Marlene is introduced to Cloud as the four-year-old daughter of Barret Wallace, the leader of anti-Shinra group AVALANCHE. Although she was adopted, it is abundantly clear that she means everything to Barret, and her future is always on his mind.
She acts as most children do; she's impressionable but without the understanding of the darkness around her. She pours all the love her child's heart can muster onto her adoring adoptive father and her unofficial foster mother Tifa Lockheart, hanging on to their every word as if they were the two greatest people to tread the unworthy earth.
Marlene can be found at the 7th Heaven--Tifa Lockheart's bar and unconventional family's home. She is never seen interacting with people outside of her guardians and the few members of AVALANCHE that have assembled, but she does not seem to mind the lack of playmates her age. On the contrary, she is perfectly content with the adults that have accepted her so willingly. Sadly, this isolation is more than likely accepted because the horrible life of near-poverty in the Sector 7 slums is all she knows.
Although she does not accompany them on their dangerous journey, Marlene is a constant reminder to her father and his companions that the futures of millions of innocent people depend on their every action. We learn that the Ancient Aerith gives up her freedom when the girl's life is in danger, but the issue takes center stage when Shinra decides to take her has a hostage to keep AVALANCHE in line. When the team finally has an advantage over Shinra and -- potentially -- Sephiroth, Cloud chooses to comply with Shinra's demands in exchange for Marlene's safety.
famille a trois
Although the story of Final Fantasy VII has always been a personal one driven by memories and relationships, the novella On The Way To A Smile reduces the scale from a global conflict to the struggle of a single family.
When Marlene's stand-in mother Tifa and hero Cloud Strife decide to pursue a relationship, Marlene is entrusted in the pair while her adoptive father travels the world.
From this point onward, Marlene is acknowledged as part of a "family of three"--later a "family of four". Her narrative payoff evolves from that of Barret's motivation to the crux in a relationship as it builds and breaks. Although it is important to remember that she is still very important to Barret, his story is treated more as an anecdote in the latest conflict.
Although told from Tifa's perspective, the focus is on Cloud as he falters in the face of happiness. Marlene is presented as a measure for his breakdown. Her presence in the house transforms Cloud and Tifa's living situation from one of a new couple to that of a family. Most importantly, they have responsibilities beyond a romance or their respective businesses, and their quality of life is measured by their ability to spend time together as a family--Cloud, Tifa, and Marlene.
With this is mind, it is not a coincidence that Marlene is the first to address the change in Cloud. She tells Tifa that Cloud has been ignoring her when he used to give her his full attention. Similarly, when a the riff in the household is too large to ignore, Marlene is the first to articulate it, lamenting to her father that Cloud and Tifa aren't getting along. This confession serves as a painful reminder that, just as it was during the Jenova War, innocent lives depend on their actions, and Cloud and Tifa maintain civility for Marlene's sake.
the stigma
It takes a new face to balance out the struggling family: a little boy named Denzel.
Denzel is from the affluent upper plate that overlooked the slums in which Marlene was raised. However, the demolition of Sector 7 makes the two children more alike than one would think. He is orphaned in the initial bombing and loses his later guardians to the aftermath of Meteor. He miraculously survives on his own in the city's ruins before Cloud brings him back to the bar.
Marlene treats Denzel like an older brother after he is adopted by Cloud and Tifa. The two make helping Cloud manage his orders a nightly ritual, and Marlene always turns to Denzel for help--Cloud is only consulted when not even Denzel can read the mystery word. In turn, Marlene takes it upon herself to help Denzel when he is too sick to leave his bed.
Denzel suffers from a terminal illness known as Geostigma. The Geostigma epidemic first crops up after the Lifestream rose to protect the Planet from Meteor. Many victims were killed instantly in Midgar where the Lifestream was concentrated, though other cases develop as far away as Wutai. Geostigma is the body's rejection of Jenova cells, resulting in ugly, black scars that cause the victim unbearable pain. It is considered a death sentence. Nevertheless, Marlene sits at Denzel's side, brings him meals, and prays for his recovery--a heartbreaking image, to say the least.
Unbeknownst to the rest of the house, Cloud develops his own case of Geostigma. He chooses to keep it under wraps (literally) until it finally tears the family apart. Marlene will have none of this.
Just as she did when Tifa and Cloud's relationship first faltered, Marlene confronts the problem with bluntness only a child can convey. She tells Cloud outright that she wants nothing to do with him when he won't listen to his family, and she refuses to go home with him until he concedes.
This well-meant temper tantrum is surprising considering the circumstances. Yes Cloud has fallen into the depths of depression -- inadvertently taking his family with him -- but Marlene had escaped her kidnappers only moments before the outburst! One would think she's be grateful to see such a familiar face.
menace a trois
In addition to the Geostigma epidemic, the Planet is plagued by remnants of Sephiroth--three young men who exist solely to fulfill his Reunion. They do so by rounding up the afflicted children of the world, however, the leader Kadaj gives specific orders to abduct a healthy Marlene.
Although it is never explicitly stated, the reasons she was targeted are more than likely similar to those of Shinra two years prior: she is close to the primary threat. There is no doubt Kadaj knows that Cloud is one of few people capable of preventing the Reunion, and that Marlene is close to him.
ray of sunshine
Although arguably closest to Cloud, Tifa, Denzel and -- of course -- her beloved Papa, Marlene affects all those around her. Even if Tifa first attributes Marlene's avoidance of Cloud in Final Fantasy VII to shyness, she doesn't appear to have a qualms with being the center of attention.
During On The Way To A Smile while neighbors gather in the construction of Tifa's new bar, Marlene becomes the project's unofficial mascot. She's an adorable, upbeat, and friendly break from all the work; she's there to give them a boost just by being the cute little thing that she is, and her insistence to participate in any way she can (official juice taster!) makes her all the more endearing. There's little doubt that AVALANCHE regards her in much of the same way.
This is notable when we consider there is no indication that Marlene met the people who fought alongside her father and Tifa until they are reunited against Sephiroth's remnants. Perhaps it is because she is so accustomed to being around adults, but she is unintimidated by the likes of Vincent Valentine or the beast Red XIII. If they're good friends with Papa, Tifa and Cloud, that must be enough for Marlene.
but what about the perpetually shirtless madman!
That's Japanese for "really lame".
Given how much the theme of family is drilled into the audience's head during Advent Children and On The Way To A Smile, the fact that Marlene and her family aren't even mentioned in passing is a little surprising, if not sloppy on the part of the writers. Her whereabouts should have been acknowledge when her home -- the city of Edge -- is under siege. It would have done more to solidify the FFVII mythology -- to strengthen the interwoven, overarching narrative of the entire Compilation -- if nothing else.
But I digress.
disclaimer
disclaimer
Sunshine is designed and maintained by Stacey Anne and is not to be duplicated in any way. Final Fantasy VII and Marlene Wallace are copyright Square Enix and Sony; no infringement is intended in the making of this site. All designs are optimized for Firefox, Safari, and Opera. "Japanese Foliage" brush courtesy of Designfruit.com