Themes and Psychological Constructs

• Survivor’s Guilt and Moral Injury:
  Gi-hun’s victory is overshadowed by profound guilt, a hallmark of survivor’s guilt. His inability to celebrate the prize money reflects moral injury—the trauma of violating one’s ethical code (e.g., surviving through others’ deaths). This is compounded by Sae-byeok’s death, which symbolizes the collapse of hope (her goal to reunite her family) and Gi-hun’s helplessness to save her.
• Dehumanization and Cognitive Dissonance:
  The Squid Game’s final round reduces adults to childlike aggression, juxtaposing innocence with brutality. Players experience cognitive dissonance as they rationalize violence for survival. Sang-woo exemplifies this, transitioning from a morally upright businessman to a killer, his psyche fractured by desperation and greed.
• PTSD and Dissociation:
  Post-game, Gi-hun exhibits symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): hypervigilance, emotional numbness, and social withdrawal. His dissociation is evident in his inability to spend the prize money or reconnect with his daughter, symbolizing a fractured self-identity.
• Institutional Betrayal and Obedience:
  The Front Man’s role (a former winner turned enforcer) mirrors Stockholm Syndrome and institutional complicity. His backstory with Detective Hwang Jun-ho critiques systems that normalize violence, paralleling the Milgram Experiment on obedience to authority.

Character Analysis

• Gi-hun:
  His arc transitions from selfishness to martyrdom. Winning the game strips him of purpose, reflecting existential crisis. His red hair symbolizes a rupture from his past, while his decision to return to the game illustrates a trauma re-enactment, seeking control over unresolved pain.
• Sang-woo:
  A study in moral decay, Sang-woo’s suicide is both an act of atonement and avoidance. His final plea regarding his mother reveals lingering humanity, yet his actions underscore the corrosive effects of shame and societal pressure (e.g., maintaining status as a Seoul National alumnus).
• Sae-byeok:
  Her death amplifies themes of hopelessness and systemic oppression. As a North Korean defector, her narrative critiques societal structures that marginalize the vulnerable, her demise symbolizing the extinguishing of resilience under capitalism.

3. Societal and Structural Critique

• Capitalism as a Dehumanizing Force:
  The VIPs epitomize the objectification of human life for entertainment, mirroring capitalist exploitation. The games reflect Social Darwinism, where individuals are pitted against each other for survival, eroding empathy.
• Cycles of Trauma and Violence:
  Gi-hun’s choice to confront the organizers highlights intergenerational trauma—a desire to break cycles of exploitation. However, his quest for revenge risks perpetuating violence, questioning whether redemption is possible within oppressive systems.

4. Psychological Theories Applied

• Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs:
  Survival needs dominate the games, negating higher-order needs (e.g., belonging, self-actualization). Players regress to base instincts, exemplified by alliances dissolving under threat.
• Moral Disengagement (Bandura):
  Participants justify violence through euphemistic labeling (e.g., “games”) and diffusion of responsibility (blaming the system). This facilitates atrocities like Sang-woo’s betrayal.
• Learned Helplessness:
  Repeated trauma conditions players to accept cruelty, yet Gi-hun’s final defiance challenges this, suggesting resilience can emerge from agency.

5. Symbolism and Director’s Intent

• The Squid Game:
  The childhood game’s violent reinterpretation critiques how capitalism corrupts innocence. The physical struggle between Gi-hun and Sang-woo mirrors internal conflicts between integrity and survival.
• The Prize Money:
  A MacGuffin representing empty promises of capitalism. Gi-hun’s refusal to use it underscores the futility of material wealth in healing psychological wounds.
• The Homeless Man:
  Gi-hun’s initial neglect and subsequent aid reflect his struggle to reclaim empathy, symbolizing societal indifference and the possibility of redemption.

Conclusion

The final episodes dissect the psyche under extreme stress, emphasizing trauma’s enduring grip and societal structures that perpetuate suffering. Gi-hun’s unresolved ending challenges viewers to confront whether systemic change or personal vengeance can address deep-rooted psychological and societal wounds. The series ultimately serves as a harrowing exploration of human fragility and resilience within oppressive systems.