» Fri May 27, 2011 10:28 pm
Actually, I had to choose Neutral, but it depends on the ending path you choose.
Joshua was a very, very bad man. A characterization with which few would disagree. The question becomes is he forgiven and redeemed? (Either in a religious sense by God or in a secular sense through self-actualization.)
If you play Daniel's Ending: Joshua is condemned—technically he was already condemned, this just seals his fate. If you play Joshua's Ending: he is redeemed and saved.
The key to understanding (both his and the player's) is to play the Joshua Ending with the sparing of S-I-W option. Listen carefully to his (Joshua's) exposition and he wraps it up and puts a nice little bow on it. He admits to using God and religion and twisting them to rationalize his own agenda. (the classic Ends Justify the Means defense. Something with which we here in the US are oh, so familiar.) In the middle you can almost hear the tumblers fall into place as he has the epiphany wherein—again in a religious context, he sees the light, unlocks his soul, confesses, seeks forgiveness and receives salvation. (Whether from God or himself is determined strictly from the player's viewpoint.
One has to give the writers props for succinctly packaging an entire story arc in one speech. All the answers to all the questions and the real Joshua Graham just stood up. (most of you aren't old enough to get the "To Tell The Truth" reference, so I'll point it out.) The Burning Man has left the building.