Amour De Soi & Loki

As much as some of the scenes between Sylvie and Loki in Loki s1ep4 “The Nexus Event” have been shot in a way that out of context looks hella romantic (and quite frankly even in context the interpretation of that cinematography and dialogue as romantic love is more than valid) I do see another kind of emotion more prominent here.   What I see is Loki looking at someone that he can respect. Someone who´s skills he can appreciate and someone that is not unpleasant to be around. If he can perceive so much value in another person that every circumstance tells him is the same as him just grown up in ana shaped by a different reality, then he can´t be devoid of value himself, can´t he?

When Loki is able to look at Sylvie and comfort her, reassure her of her worth and place in the world he might be able to do the same for himself! 

Self-love, as wikipedia tells, stands between being a “basic human necessity” and a “moral flaw, akin to vanity and selfishness”. The greek “Philautia” was divided in an “unhealthy,  self-obsessed love” and  “self-compassion”,  but there is another kind of distinction maybe more fitting here: Both terms also referring to the love one has for oneself “amour de soi” contrasts with “amour-propre”, the later being the kind that “is dependent on what other people think and which arises only with society”.  “Amour de soi” on the other hand “does not involve seeing oneself as others see one” and is according to Rousseau, “compatible with wholeness and happiness.” While “guiding us to seek others´ approval and recognition, amour-propre can contribute positively to virtue” but it is also “subject to corruption, thereby causing vice and misery. “ The scene in 1x4 is about another person, but following the show´s premise it is simultaneously also a moment of self-discovery and self-perception.  In being the other person´s judgement of the “amour-propre” aka. the outside preceptor of Sylvie, Loki simultaneously becomes the voice of “amour de soi” for himself (and all Lokis), if we follow the argument of them being the same person.   Moreover with Sylvie initiating the touch it is likely that she in turn becomes the outside preceptor of Loki providing the “amour-propre”. Despite her previous harsh words she is not ad odds with Loki in this moment, she appreciates him. Later we have Mobius M. Mobius swooping in and telling Loki he can be a good person and providing another dose of “amour-propre” from a “true” outside preceptor.  In learning about Sylvie and getting to know her Loki is learning about himself, just as he did in the scene on Jotunheim, hence maybe the parallel with the touch on the underarm.  The touch of the Frost Giant Raze reveals something previously hidden from Loki, Sylvie´s and subsequently his own touch might unveil and teach more.  The newly gained knowledge that he is a Frost Giant must have shattered both his capability to love himself as well as the trust in others being able to love him. He got to know that he was truly different, even worse, he was something the society he grew up perceived as different with a very bad connotation, openly hated and looked down upon. 

How can he love that, how can others love that? In getting to know and getting closer to Sylvie, and thus to himself, Loki might gain a satisfying answer to that. Maybe this will mean that Lokis´ daydream illusions will start to look different, not a coronation that is imitating Thor his colour and “qualities” but some of Loki´s own and an audience that can celebrate, cheer and appreciate those. The synthesis of “amour de soi” and “amour-propre”. 

(Disclaimer: I do wholeheartedly support all forms of the Sylvie/Loki ship. This is not at all meant to speak against it. Keep sailing!) | Loki Laufeyson, Sylvie Laufeydottir,  The Frost Giant Raze | Loki s1ep4 “The Nexus Event” & “Thor” (2011) |