Warning: Spoilers Ahead
The Elder Scrolls is one of my favourite series in gaming, and I have sunk so many hours into Skyrim in particular. However, it was on a recent play through that I began considering something about one of the characters. Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of high functioning autism, is often mis-portrayed in media by people who do not understand it, yet one character in Skyrim shows a much more accurate depiction of the condition.
In Skyrim, when you go to the city of Markarth, one of the most notable residents is the mage Calcemo. Whenever you buy any Dwarven equipment or material, you will soon get a letter from him asking to buy it. He also has a role in a few other quests, and in all of these encounters with Calcemo, his personality is shown to be that of a scholar deeply obsessed with his work and very socially awkward. He isn’t annoying however, and comes off as rather genuine. While he is rude and snaps at you at first, this is shown to be due to being under a lot of stress and he immediately apologizes and goes out of his way to be nice.
The more I played and interacted with Calcemo during various quests, it became more apparent that even if the writers did not intend it, the character shows many signs of Asperger’s Syndrome. He is single-mindedly obsessed with his work, socially awkward, and has difficulty understanding nonverbal cues. However, it is also shown in the way he displays emotion. He is quick to anger when he is under stress the first time you meet him, but instantly regrets his outburst and shows himself to be a humble person. Given his outburst at times, such as asking to see his most important work, show that he has difficulty processing emotions, but this is due to how strong those emotions are. We also see that he has a very forgetful memory and often gets so obsessed with his work that he forgets appointments and having purchased items. This is not uncommon either, and it is the way it is shown that makes me realize it might be a sign of the condition.
Also important to note is his interactions with his nephew also show how he is only really comfortable around a few people, yet those people have formed strong bonds with him and truly admire and respect him. Another example is Faleen, the housecarl of the Jarl of Markarth. Calcemo loves her but is simply too awkward to talk to her. When helping him out with this, we find that others in Markarth are more than willing to help him and think highly of him. This includes strong supporters of the stormcloaks, who are not otherwise fond of elves. Faleen herself does reciprocate Calecmo’s feelings and we see from these that while Calcemo has social issues, he forms strong connections with people. This is much closer to how people with Asperger’s are in real life. They feel bad when they realize they offended someone or acted rude, and while having difficulty interacting with others, do manage to form strong bonds with people nonetheless. Just like in real life, Calcemo relies on those people and finds ways to compensate for his differences.
The fact that Calcemo managed to be a realistic and very positive depiction of Asperger’s (even if that wasn’t the intention) is very refreshing to me, especially with my own experiences regarding the condition. It is also good to see a depiction showing someone who has found their own way to cope. By diving headfirst into his work, while still keeping family and friends close and establishing bonds with unlikely people, Calcemo has found his coping mechanisms and thus leads a healthy life. It is a depiction that Bethesda should be proud of, because it does right by people with Asperger’s syndrome.
Disclaimer: The above was the opinion of the author and may not represent those of Real Otaku Gamer or its staff.