The latest developments in Hazbin Hotel have sparked a debate over the exact meaning of the line "Great Alastor Altruist died for his friends." So, what does Alastor Altruist mean? Is there a special meaning?
Spoiler Warning: This article contains spoilers about Hazbin Hotel season 1's finale, so proceed with caution.
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Is Altruist Alastor's Last Name?
Some subtitles for the animated series featured the line "Great Alastor Altruist died for his friends" with the adjective "altruist" capitalized and not separated from Alastor's name by a comma.
This led some viewers to the misconception that Altruist could be Alastor's last name. However, this is an unlikely interpretation.
Until that point, "Altruist" is never mentioned as Alastor's surname. The alliteration is cool, but it would hardly be appropriate for the overlord of hell.
Instead, the adjective is taken to mean a selfless person who puts the good of others above his own, though Alastor is more than a bit ironic in its use.
What Does 'Alastor Altruist Died for His Friends' Mean?
Alastor ironically sings the line "Great Alastor Altruist died for his friends" in the final song of Hazbin Hotel season 1.
If we read this line in its proper context, it becomes obvious that Alastor is making fun of the other characters and doesn't really believe it.
At that point, he is separated from Charlie and the rest of the cast, who believe that Alastor died for them.
However, the demon has not died. The lyrics he sings suggest that he's mocking the fact that his friends hail him as their savior:
This place reeks of death, there's a chill in the air
And I barely escaped being killed by a hair
"Great Alastor, altruist, died for his friends"
Sorry to disappoint, that is not where this ends
I'm hungry for freedom like never before
The constraints of my deal surely have a backdoor
Once I figure out how to unclip my wings
Guess who will be pulling all the strings?
Alastor has supported Charlie's plans for the sinners' rehabilitation, not because he shares her vision, but for his own amusement.
Here, he seems to be rejecting the idea of becoming the sort of villain who gets redeemed in the end.
His intention to become the one who pulls the strings seems rather menacing.
On the other hand, some fans think that his "Sorry to disappoint" line could simply be a response to his friends' misconception that he's dead, and that he could otherwise have warmed up to Charlie's initiative.
This appears unlikely, given the demon's consistent interest in his pursuits so far.
Hopefully, a second season will come out soon to clear up any misunderstandings about Alastor's iconic line.
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