Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-86.46.22.35-20130403153709/@comment-25366375-20140902064151

Jim Logan wrote: Weedle McHairybug wrote: I thought MGS4 made very clear that Big Boss actually hated his clone progeny so much that he wouldn't even consider them his sons or even heirs to his will. Not to mention Liquid's statements to Solid Snake indicated that, assuming they even met, Big Boss actually was disgusted with his being "weak." Weedle's right here. At best, Big Boss would probably just see Eli as a means to an end. An extra set of hands to fire a gun. Nothing more. You guys are both right. It's as Big Boss says to Solid Snake; "I never thought of you as a son, but I always respected you as a soldier".

It would be interesting to see Big Boss give his clone a chance (in the form of a young Eli) only to be disappointed later by Liquid's supposed "weakness", and thus souring any relationship with his clones that he were to have in future, after all it seems like BB--especially as Venom Snake--only respects prowess on a battlefield and as a soldier. But, I'm getting off topic here.

Despite all my reasoning as to why I think Ishmael is not Solidus Snake, particularly in regards to the biggest issue which is age, I must admit that  the biblical sense of the name would fit him thematically. Even among the Snakes, Solidus is still the outcast. And indeed, if Solidus (as Ishmael) had any idea of BB's disgust in the Les Enfant Terribles project he would have to hide his face and his identity. If BB knew he was being watched over and assisted by one of his clones he would probably be appauled.

I can't remember enough of MGS2's story to recount Solidus' involvement in The Patriots, however this could also explain why Ishmael vanishes after the crash--to avoid Ocelot and cause some sort of internal issue. Maybe someone else can help me flesh that one out, for the sake of a good discussion rather than to prove it true.

64.33.250.214 wrote:

One way Kojima can rectify accelerated aging and make it fit in the current timeline, is by making the process work in reverse for Solidus. The opposite effect of how it was written into the other clones. Allowing him to age fast from the beginning, up until he would appear old enough to become President. Once the aging process reaches that point it should slow some. Otherwise suspicions would be raised, and there'd be risk of Solidus dying while in office. I must concede the parallels between the biblical Ishmael and the way you've painted Solidus Snake to be. And that retcon does sound Kojima-esque, I think. Though I don't believe this theory for one minute, I respect the reasoning you've come up with and it's fun to consider. :)

I haven't been converted by any stretch, but I like the theory. I'm still of the mind that Ishmael is a hallucination myself. Some sort of Dissociative Identity Disorder or something perhaps--but that's not as fun to discuss, is it?