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| creator = ] | creator = ]
| adapted_by = ] | adapted_by = ]
| affiliation = Assassin Brotherhood<br>] (briefly)<br>]<br>''Jackdaw'' crew
| portrayer = ] | portrayer = ]
| occupation = ]<br>]<br>]<br>]
| children = Jennifer Scott (daughter)<br>] (son)
| relatives = ] (grandson)<br>Io:nhiòte (great-granddaughter)<br>] (descendant)
| nationality = ] | nationality = ]
| origin = ], ], ]
| family = Bernard Kenway (father)<br>Linette Kenway (mother)
| spouse = Caroline Scott-Kenway (first)<br>Tessa Kenway (second)
}} }}


'''Edward James Kenway''' is a ] in ]'s '']'' video game franchise. He was introduced as a supporting character in '']'', a companion novel to the 2012 video game '']''. He subsequently appeared as the protagonist of the 2013 video game '']'' and its novelization, ''Assassin's Creed: Black Flag''. In the former, he is portrayed by Welsh actor ] through ]. Since ''Black Flag''<nowiki/>'s release, the character has made smaller appearances in several other works within the franchise. '''Edward James Kenway''' is a fictional character in ]'s '']'' video game franchise. He was introduced as a supporting character in '']'', a companion novel to the 2012 video game '']''. He subsequently appeared as the protagonist of the 2013 video game, '']'', and its novelization, ''Assassin's Creed: Black Flag''. In the former, he is portrayed by ] actor ] through ]. Since ''Black Flag''<nowiki/>'s release, the character has made further appearances in several other works within the franchise.


Within the series' ], Edward is a ] ]-turned-] who is fundamental in establishing a short-lived ] in the ] in the early 18th-century. In the process, he becomes caught in the conflict between the Assassin Brotherhood (inspired by the real-life ]), who fight for peace and freedom, and the ] (inspired by the ] military order), who desire peace through control. Initially helping both sides for personal gain, he eventually has a change of heart and formally joins the Assassins after his retirement from piracy. Later in life, he settles down in ], becoming one of the co-leaders of the local branch of the Brotherhood, until his murder by the Templars in 1735. Edward is the father of ], who would go on to become a high-ranking Templar and the main antagonist of ''Assassin's Creed III''; the grandfather of ], Haytham's son with a ] woman and the protagonist of ''Assassin's Creed III''; and an ancestor of ], the protagonist of the modern-day portions of the first five main games in the series. Within the series' ], Edward was born in 1693 into a family of Welsh farmers, but his ambitions to improve his lifestyle eventually prompt him to become a ] and later a ], operating in the ] during the final decades of the ]. During this time, he plays an important role in the establishment of a short-lived ], and inadvertently becomes caught in the conflict between the Assassin Brotherhood (inspired by the real-life ]) and the Templar Order (inspired by the ] military order). Initially helping both sides for personal gain, he eventually has a change of heart and joins the Assassins following his retirement from piracy. Later in life, he settles down in ], becoming one of the co-leaders of the local branch of the Brotherhood, until his murder by the Templars in 1735. Edward is the father of ], who would go on to become a high-ranking Templar and the main antagonist of ''Assassin's Creed III''; the grandfather of ], Haytham's son and the protagonist of ''Assassin's Creed III''; and an ancestor of ], the protagonist of the modern-day sequences of the first five main games in the series.


Edward has received a positive reception for his charm and characterization as a ] and ], and is considered to be one of the series' most popular characters. Various merchandise for the character, as with other of the series' protagonists, has been released. Edward has received a positive reception for his charm and characterization as a ] and ] and is considered to be one of the series' most popular characters. Various merchandise for the character, as with other of the series' protagonists, has been released.


==Creation and development== ==Creation and development==
Lead scriptwriter for ''Black Flag'' Darby McDevitt observed that previous series protagonists have joined the Assassin Brotherhood without much deliberation, often as part of a coming of age moment, as their personal goals are already naturally aligned with that of the organization's. For ''Black Flag'', the developmental team wanted to explore the Assassins' tenets, their "creed", from a new perspective. The idea of a talented and shrewd pirate, a cynical and jaded man who comes into contact with the Assassins, was mooted and proposed as the protagonist who presents this different point of view and who may not share the Assassins' worldview or adherence to a higher purpose or ideal.<ref name="VG247" /> The whole thrust of the story then became a constant conflict within Edward over the very idea of the Creed, even as he co-opts some of the Assassins' methods and tactics for his personal gain.<ref name="Uncharted" /><ref name="NYT" /> The lead scriptwriter for ''Black Flag'', ], observed that previous series protagonists have joined the Assassin Brotherhood without much deliberation, often as part of a coming of age moment, as their personal goals are already naturally aligned with that of the organization's. For ''Black Flag'', the developmental team wanted to explore the Assassins' tenets, their "creed", from a new perspective. The idea of a talented and shrewd pirate, a cynical and jaded man who comes into contact with the Assassins, was mooted and proposed as the protagonist who presents this different point of view and who may not share the Assassins' worldview or adherence to a higher purpose or ideal.<ref name="VG247" /> The whole thrust of the story then became a constant conflict within Edward over the very idea of the Creed, even as he co-opts some of the Assassins' methods and tactics for his personal gain.<ref name="Uncharted" /><ref name="NYT" />


McDevitt explained that ''Black Flag'' is at its core a story of immorality and repentance, and Edward Kenway is a married man whose strained relationship with his wife is one of the central struggles in the game.<ref name="Repentance" /> McDewitt describe Edward as a "raucous and bawdy chap" who also has a few significant close relationships with other women in the story, and that his primary motivation in ''Black Flag'' is to get rich and prove himself a "man of quality' to his family and betters".<ref name="Repentance" /> As for his personality, McDevitt said Edward "is a pirate who yearns for freedom much like the Assassins do, but loathes the sense of responsibility that a truly functional freedom requires" and that the narrative intends to explore "at what point would Edward realize his brand of freedom is too chaotic to function for very long.”<ref name="Uncharted" /> McDevitt compared Edward to his grandson Ratonhnhaké꞉ton, better known as ], the protagonist of ''Black Flag's'' antecedent ''Assassin's Creed III'', and described his character arc as a counterpoint in someway. McDevitt explained that ''Black Flag'' is at its core a story of immorality and repentance, and Edward Kenway is a married man whose strained relationship with his wife is one of the central struggles in the game.<ref name="Repentance" /> McDewitt describe Edward as a "raucous and bawdy chap" who also has a few significant close relationships with other women in the story, and that his primary motivation in ''Black Flag'' is to get rich and prove himself a "man of quality' to his family and betters".<ref name="Repentance" /> As for his personality, McDevitt said Edward "is a pirate who yearns for freedom much like the Assassins do, but loathes the sense of responsibility that a truly functional freedom requires" and that the narrative intends to explore "at what point would Edward realize his brand of freedom is too chaotic to function for very long.”<ref name="Uncharted" /> McDevitt compared Edward to his grandson Ratonhnhaké꞉ton, better known as ], the protagonist of ''Black Flag's'' antecedent ''Assassin's Creed III'', and described his character arc as a counterpoint in someway.
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===Portrayal=== ===Portrayal===
] ]
Edward Kenway is voiced by Matt Ryan, who also portrayed the character in a motion capture studio.<ref name="Truth" /> McDevitt admitted that the character and his back story became far more influenced by the ] than he had originally intended; the developmental team only decided to build their story around a Welsh pirate when they cast Ryan as the voice and image of the character. McDevitt originally envisioned Edward to hail from an ] port town like ], ], or ], but deliberately left his background blank prior to the finalization of the casting process because he wanted to draw from whichever actor was chosen. McDevitt praised Ryan for the charisma and the personality he brought to the character, but recalled that he initially read his lines in a ]. Ryan was then asked to speak in his natural ], which ultimately prompted McDevitt to finalize Edward as a Welsh character from Swansea, which matches his actor's cultural background. McDevitt consulted Ryan's father for ideas as he wanted to include some colloquial Welsh phrases into the game's dialogue.<ref name="Wales" /> Edward Kenway is voiced by ], who also portrayed the character in a motion capture studio.<ref name="Truth" /> McDevitt admitted that the character and his back story became far more influenced by the ] than he had originally intended; the developmental team only decided to build their story around a Welsh pirate when they cast Ryan as the voice and image of the character. McDevitt originally envisioned Edward to hail from an ] port town like ], ], or ], but deliberately left his background blank prior to the finalization of the casting process because he wanted to draw from whichever actor was chosen. McDevitt praised Ryan for the charisma and the personality he brought to the character, but recalled that he initially read his lines in a ]. Ryan was then asked to speak in his natural ], which ultimately prompted McDevitt to finalize Edward as a Welsh character from Swansea, which matches his actor's cultural background. McDevitt consulted Ryan's father for ideas as he wanted to include some colloquial Welsh phrases into the game's dialogue.<ref name="Wales" />


Ryan noted that unlike the majority of the game's cast of characters who are fictionalized versions of historical figures, Edward is an original character. To prepare for the role, Ryan was asked to read books recommended by McDevitt as part of their research of the time period, as the game's developmental team wanted to avoid the usual tropes and archetypes associated with the depiction of piracy in popular fiction.<ref name="Truth" /> Ryan noted that unlike the majority of the game's cast of characters who are fictionalized versions of historical figures, Edward is an original character. To prepare for the role, Ryan was asked to read books recommended by McDevitt as part of their research of the time period, as the game's developmental team wanted to avoid the usual tropes and archetypes associated with the depiction of piracy in popular fiction.<ref name="Truth" />

==Fictional character biography==
As a Welshman born into a family of farmers in 1693, Edward Kenway is from a low socio-economic background. At some point in his life, he fell in love with a wealthy girl named Caroline Scott. Disobeying the wishes of her parents, Caroline left her comfortable life to marry Edward. Unsatisfied with his wages on the farm, Edward quickly became a drunkard with dreams of becoming rich as a privateer. Caroline lost faith in Edward and left him while concealing her pregnancy.

Edward left his homeland to search for his fortune, first as a privateer, then as a pirate. He was active in the ] from 1712 to 1722 during the later years of the ] and was known for his close relationship with the likes of ], ], ] and ]. He commanded the ''Jackdaw'', a brig he had captured from the ] in 1715, and inadvertently became involved in the Assassins' and the Templars' search for an ancient place called the Observatory, which Edward intended to use for personal gain. Although Edward's career in piracy was largely a success, helping to establish an independent ] in ], he began to reflect on his life after the Republic's collapse in 1718, as well as the deaths of many of his allies. Eventually, he decided to join the Assassin Brotherhood, who sought to preserve peace and the freedom of mankind, and helped them eliminate their Templar rivals and seal away the Observatory.

In 1722, Edward was informed of Caroline's passing two years prior and the existence of his daughter, Jennifer, and arranged to meet the latter. One year later, he retired from piracy for good and relocated to ] with Jennifer, donating the ''Jackdaw'' to the Assassins. He used his gained wealth to buy an estate in Queen Anne's Square, and took up responsibilities as a member of the Assassin Brotherhood, eventually becoming one of the co-leaders of the British Brotherhood alongside a man named Miko. During this time, Edward met and married Tessa Stephenson-Oakley, the daughter of a wealthy landowner, and had his second child with her: ]. In 1735, he was murdered in his estate by agents acting under orders from Reginald Birch, one of his employees and, secretly, the Grand Master of the British Rite of Templars. Following Edward's death, Birch, taking advantage of the fact that Edward had never told his son of his true affiliations, manipulated Haytham into joining the Templars. Though Haytham learned the truth and killed Birch in revenge years later, he chose to stay a Templar.


==Appearances== ==Appearances==
===''Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag''=== ===''Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag''===
In ''Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag'', the player experiences Edward's life and exploits in the ] and the west coast of the African continent as part of a simulation played by a silent protagonist who works as a research analyst at Abstergo Entertainment, a corporate front of the Templar Order in the modern era. The plot of ''Black Flag'' follows Edward's interactions with fictionalized versions of historical figures who were active during the ], including ], ], ], Mary Read, ], ], ], Blackbeard, Anne Bonny, and ]. In the ] depicted in ''Black Flag'', Edward is personally involved with several notable incidents that occurred during the time period, including the founding of the ] at ] on ] island, Blackbeard's blockade of ], the ], and ]. In '']'', the player experiences Edward's life and exploits in the ] and the western African coast as part of a simulation played by a silent protagonist who works as a research analyst at Abstergo Entertainment, a corporate front of the Templar Order in the modern era. Abstergo is interested in Edward's memories because of his involvement with both Assassins and Templars during the ], as well as his pursuit of the Observatory, an ancient site built by the First Civilization.


]
After learning about a mysterious location known as the Observatory, which he erroneously believes as housing treasure that would set him up financially for life, Edward is determined to secure access at any cost. He actively avoids choosing a side permanently, and is willing to utilize opportunities from both the Templars and the Assassins to achieve his goal. He begins to have a change of heart following the death of Read, who had consistently appealed to Edward's conscience throughout their friendship, and permanently sides with the Assassins towards the end of his piracy career. In the ending of ''Black Flag'', he is reunited with Jennifer, a daughter he never knew he had and who would insist on using her mother's surname Scott as an adult.
The game's backstory establishes that Edward comes from a low socio-economic background and married a wealthy girl named Caroline Scott, though their relationship became strained over time due to Edward's ambitious dreams of earning a fortune as a privateer. After Caroline eventually lost faith in him and left, Edward decided to pursue his dream and traveled to the ], where he quickly turned to piracy. He also befriended a number of fellow pirates including ], ], ], ] and ], and helped them establish an independent ] in ].

In 1715, Edward inadvertently becomes caught in the Assassin-Templar conflict after killing a rogue Assassin, Duncan Walpole, who planned to defect to the Templars. Impersonating Walpole, Edward attends a Templar meeting in ], where he learns that the Caribbean Templars, led by ], seek the Observatory, which will allow them to rule the world from the shadows. Mistakenly believing the Observatory to be housing a vast treasure, Edward decides to seek out ], the only man who knows its location. During his search, Edward is introduced to the Assassins by Mary, revealed to be an Assassin herself, who tries to push Edward to abandon his selfish ways and join the Brotherhood. He also witnesses the collapse of the Pirate Republic due to an ideological split between its leaders, and the deaths of most of his friends over the following years.

] after joining the Assassins]]
Edward eventually secures an alliance with Roberts, who takes him to the Observatory, revealed to be a surveillance facility. However, Roberts then betrays Edward and turns him over to the British authorities, who imprison him in ]. Edward escapes with the help of Ah Tabai, the Assassin Mentor, and has a change of heart after witnessing Mary's death, deciding to join the Assassins in her honor. After assassinating Roberts and the Templars to prevent them from misusing the Observatory, Edward receives a letter informing him of Caroline's passing and the existence of his hitherto unknown daughter, Jennifer Scott. Wishing to make amends for his past actions, Edward retires from piracy in order to focus on his new Assassin duties and raising Jennifer, and returns to ]. Years later, he fathers a second child, ], and becomes a leader of the British Brotherhood based in ].


===Other appearances=== ===Other appearances===
Edward's first appearance in the ''Assassin's Creed'' franchise is in the 2012 novel '']'', authored by ] using his ] Oliver Bowden, as the father of its point of view character, ]. The novel is presented as Haytham's journal, which recounts the events leading to Edward's eventual fate, and serves to bridge the narrative gap between ''Black Flag'' and ''Assassin's Creed III'' which stars the character's progeny. He is the central focus of ''Assassin's Creed: Black Flag'', the novelization of the 2013 video game, also authored by Gill. Edward's first appearance in the franchise was in the 2012 novel '']'' by ], which follows the perspective of his son, Haytham, and recounts the events leading up to Edward's eventual fate. The novel establishes that Edward kept a journal documenting his extensive research on the First Civilization, which was sought by Reginald Birch, his property manager and, secretly, the Grand Master of the British Templars. In 1735, Edward was killed by mercenaries sent by Birch to break into his mansion in ] and steal his journal. This also allowed Birch to take Haytham under his wing and indoctrinate him into the Templar Order. Although Haytham eventually discovered the truth years later and avenged his father, he chose to stay a Templar.

Edward is also featured in ''Assassin's Creed: Black Flag'', the novelization of the 2013 video game, and ''Assassin's Creed: Awakening'', a non-canonical ] adaptation of the game, written by Takashi Yano and illustrated by ]. In 2017, Edward appeared in the third issue of the ''Assassin's Creed: Reflections'' ] ], which recounts his encounter with infamous pirate ]. He is also the protagonist of the ] ''Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple'', which follows his search for Pieces of Eden in ] a few years after the events of ''Black Flag'' and began publishing in April 2023.


Edward's legacy and his mansion serve as a plot point in the 2015 game '']'', which is set in London during the 1860s, over a century after his death. He is also featured in ''Dead Men's Gold'', a story arc from the 2018 mobile spin-off game ''Assassin's Creed: Rebellion'', which serves as a prequel to the introduction sequence of ''Black Flag''. Like other series protagonists, Edward's outfit has been an unlockable cosmetic option in most subsequent releases, including the ] version of ''Assassin's Creed III'' released in 2019. Edward's legacy and his mansion serve as a plot point in the 2015 game '']'', in which the protagonists search for a Shroud of Eden found by Edward during his travels. He is also featured in ''Dead Men's Gold'', a story arc from the 2018 ] spin-off game '']'', which serves as a prequel to the introduction sequence of ''Black Flag''. Like other series protagonists, Edward's outfit has been an unlockable cosmetic option in most subsequent releases, including the ] version of ''Assassin's Creed III'', released in 2019.


The character has also been referenced outside the ''Assassin's Creed'' series, most notably in the 2020 game '']''. A statue of Edward can be found in an underground Assassin Tomb in London, as part of a non-canonical crossover event between the ''Assassin's Creed'' and '']'' franchises. Outside the ''Assassin's Creed'' series, Edward has been referenced in the 2020 game '']'', where a statue of the character can be found in an underground Assassin Tomb in London, as part of a non-canonical ] between the ''Assassin's Creed'' and '']'' franchises.


==Promotion and merchandise== ==Promotion and merchandise==
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==Reception== ==Reception==
] ]
Edward Kenway has been well received by video game journalists, with high placements on several "top character" ranking lists of ''Assassin's Creed'' series protagonists.<ref name=SC>{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/assassins-creed-every-assassin-ranked-worst-best/|title=Assassin's Creed: Every Assassin Ranked, Worst to Best|website=] |date=22 June 2017}}</ref><ref name=CBR>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/assassins-creed-5-best-protagonists-ranked/|title=Assassin's Creed's 5 Best Protagonists, Ranked|date=15 July 2020}}</ref><ref name=Gamer>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thegamer.com/assassins-creed-best-assassins/|title = Assassin's Creed: All the Assassins, Ranked from Worst to Best|date = 31 May 2020}}</ref><ref name="Ranked"/> ''VideoGamer.com'' ranked him among the best pirates in video games.<ref name="VG"/> Edward Kenway has been well received by video game journalists, with high placements on several "top character" ranking lists of ''Assassin's Creed'' series protagonists.<ref name=SC>{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/assassins-creed-every-assassin-ranked-worst-best/|title=Assassin's Creed: Every Assassin Ranked, Worst to Best|website=]|date=22 June 2017|access-date=19 December 2020|archive-date=14 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514143634/https://screenrant.com/assassins-creed-every-assassin-ranked-worst-best/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=CBR>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/assassins-creed-5-best-protagonists-ranked/|title=Assassin's Creed's 5 Best Protagonists, Ranked|date=15 July 2020|access-date=19 December 2020|archive-date=21 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221232319/https://www.cbr.com/assassins-creed-5-best-protagonists-ranked/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Gamer>{{Cite web|url = https://www.thegamer.com/assassins-creed-best-assassins/|title = Assassin's Creed: All the Assassins, Ranked from Worst to Best|date = 31 May 2020|access-date = 19 December 2020|archive-date = 27 June 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200627100130/https://www.thegamer.com/assassins-creed-best-assassins/|url-status = live}}</ref><ref name="Ranked"/> ''VideoGamer.com'' ranked him among the best pirates in video games.<ref name="VG"/>


Matt Purslow from '']'' described Edward as the "true secret weapon" of ''Black Flag'', the central element that binds the game's disparate elements and features together, and argued that it manages to avoid the pitfalls of over-reliance on ] plot devices like its predecessors due to the narrative focus on Edward’s personal journey.<ref name="IGN"/> He found the character's privateer-turned-pirate background, a chancer looking for profit whose decision to steal the robes of a member of the Assassins sparks his growth from rebel to honorable captain, to be a "fresh perspective to the overarching narrative of the series".<ref name="IGN"/> Andrei Dobra from '']'' interpreted McDevitt's statements about Edward in an interview with '']'' as indicative of a belief that the popularity of ''Black Flag'' is largely because the character is an unusual protagonist who trumps many established tropes concerning heroes in the franchise.<ref name="Softpedia"/> In an article which offers an impression of '']'' Jordan Ramée from '']'' reflected on his gameplay experience with Edward in ''Black Flag'' fondly, where combat sequences often involved head-on confrontation of foes and that Edward solves many of his problems as a pirate that's making the most of the tools of an Assassin.<ref name="Valhalla"/> Evan Stallworth Carr from '']'' found Edward Kenway to be "a deeply interesting character" who displays a "charismatic and outgoing personality" for his pirate persona. On the other hand, Carr opined that he does not fit well into the lore of the series, which in his view ultimately hurt the plot of ''Black Flag''.<ref name="DailyCal"/> Stephen Totilo was of the opinion that while the subplot involving the wife he left behind paid off beautifully at its conclusion, Edward is a "forgettable lead" and his character arc is "shallow".<ref name="NYT"/> Matt Purslow from '']'' described Edward as the "true secret weapon" of ''Black Flag'', the central element that binds the game's disparate elements and features together, and argued that it manages to avoid the pitfalls of over-reliance on ] plot devices like its predecessors due to the narrative focus on Edward's personal journey.<ref name="IGN"/> He found the character's privateer-turned-pirate background, a chancer looking for profit whose decision to steal the robes of a member of the Assassins sparks his growth from rebel to honorable captain, to be a "fresh perspective to the overarching narrative of the series".<ref name="IGN"/> Andrei Dobra from '']'' interpreted McDevitt's statements about Edward in an interview with '']'' as indicative of a belief that the popularity of ''Black Flag'' is largely because the character is an unusual protagonist who trumps many established tropes concerning heroes in the franchise.<ref name="Softpedia"/> In an article which offers an impression of '']'' Jordan Ramée from '']'' reflected on his gameplay experience with Edward in ''Black Flag'' fondly, where combat sequences often involved head-on confrontation of foes and that Edward solves many of his problems as a pirate that's making the most of the tools of an Assassin.<ref name="Valhalla"/> Evan Stallworth Carr from '']'' found Edward Kenway to be "a deeply interesting character" who displays a "charismatic and outgoing personality" for his pirate persona. On the other hand, Carr opined that he does not fit well into the lore of the series, which in his view ultimately hurt the plot of ''Black Flag''.<ref name="DailyCal"/> Stephen Totilo was of the opinion that while the subplot involving the wife he left behind paid off beautifully at its conclusion, Edward is a "forgettable lead" and his character arc is "shallow".<ref name="NYT"/>


The ending sequence of ''Black Flag'' has attracted praise for its depiction of Edward's character development. Tom Phillips from '']'' found it to be a "surprisingly mature conclusion for a series all about stabbing people in the neck", as Kenway finally gives up a life of piracy to settle down with his newly-discovered daughter, and that it took the entirety of the narrative of ''Black Flag'' where his experiences of the deaths of all of his close friends and loved ones lead him to making a sensible decision about his life.<ref name="Euro"/> Erik Kain from '']'' found the final moments of ''Black Flag'' to be "surprisingly beautiful", describing the finale as an "oddly sad and redemptive" contemplation of the character's loss which segues to his conversation with his daughter which is both playful and regretful in tone.<ref name="Forbes"/> The ending sequence of ''Black Flag'' has attracted praise for its depiction of Edward's character development. Tom Phillips from '']'' found it to be a "surprisingly mature conclusion for a series all about stabbing people in the neck", as Kenway finally gives up a life of piracy to settle down with his newly discovered daughter, and that it took the entirety of the narrative of ''Black Flag'' where his experiences of the deaths of all of his close friends and loved ones lead him to making a sensible decision about his life.<ref name="Euro"/> Erik Kain from '']'' found the final moments of ''Black Flag'' to be "surprisingly beautiful", describing the finale as an "oddly sad and redemptive" contemplation of the character's loss which segues to his conversation with his daughter which is both playful and regretful in tone.<ref name="Forbes"/>


===Analysis=== ===Analysis===
Nick Dinicola from '']'' found the narrative approach by ''Black Flag'' to be interesting, as its lead character does not become an official member of the Brotherhood of Assassins by the ending of the game; instead, the story explores both sides of the long-running Assassin-Templar conflict from the perspective of an indifferent protagonist, and allows players a better sense of the Assassins' code of conduct as Edward gradually becomes sympathetic to their cause and acknowledges that their creed is “the beginning of wisdom.”<ref name="Pop"/> In his paper which examines the representation of female characters in the ''Assassin’s Creed'' Series published by St. Mary’s University of Minnesota, Stephen J. Fishburne described Edward Kenway as "capturing the ideal of masculinity and the self-made man to the greatest extent" amongst other male protagonists in the series, and noted that "the consequences of his irresponsibility are really only felt by those around him" because he is still considered the "hero of ''Black Flag''".<ref name="Gender"/> In a paper which analyzes the cultural depiction of piracy in video games, Eugen Pfister said the depiction of pirates as rebels but not revolutionaries in ''Black Flag'' is historically accurate. Pfister noted that while Edward mostly acts ethically and adheres to his own code of conduct as he tries to do the “right thing”, he becomes a “gentleman of fortune” of his own volition in the first place, and that even more importantly, he seeks no redemption for his violent actions when it comes to exploring and hunting for victims. This is reinforced by the game's mechanics, which encourages constant pillaging and raiding of merchant ships to improve the performance of Edward's flagship and offers the character "no incentive to ponder the possibility of becoming an honest man again".<ref name="FIAR"/> Nick Dinicola from '']'' found the narrative approach by ''Black Flag'' to be interesting, as its lead character does not become an official member of the Brotherhood of Assassins by the ending of the game; instead, the story explores both sides of the long-running Assassin-Templar conflict from the perspective of an indifferent protagonist, and allows players a better sense of the Assassins' code of conduct as Edward gradually becomes sympathetic to their cause and acknowledges that their creed is “the beginning of wisdom.”<ref name="Pop"/> In his paper which examines the representation of female characters in the ''Assassin’s Creed'' Series published by St. Mary's University of Minnesota, Stephen J. Fishburne described Edward Kenway as "capturing the ideal of masculinity and the self-made man to the greatest extent" amongst other male protagonists in the series, and noted that "the consequences of his irresponsibility are really only felt by those around him" because he is still considered the "hero of ''Black Flag''".<ref name="Gender"/> In a paper which analyzes the cultural depiction of piracy in video games, Eugen Pfister said the depiction of pirates as rebels but not revolutionaries in ''Black Flag'' is historically accurate. Pfister noted that while Edward mostly acts ethically and adheres to his own code of conduct as he tries to do the “right thing”, he becomes a “gentleman of fortune” of his own volition in the first place, and that even more importantly, he seeks no redemption for his violent actions when it comes to exploring and hunting for victims. This is reinforced by the game's mechanics, which encourages constant pillaging and raiding of merchant ships to improve the performance of Edward's flagship and offers the character "no incentive to ponder the possibility of becoming an honest man again".<ref name="FIAR"/>


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist|30em|refs= {{Reflist|30em|refs=
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|title=The making of Assassin's Creed 4: origins, reparations & uncharted waters|author=Dave Cook |date=January 20, 2014 |publisher=VG247|access-date=December 18, 2020}}</ref>
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<ref name="Softpedia">{{cite web|url=https://news.softpedia.com/news/Assassin-s-Creed-4-Succeeds-Because-of-Its-Unusual-Protagonist-Ubisoft-Believes-419090.shtml
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|title=Assassin's Creed 4 Succeeds Because of Its Unusual Protagonist, Ubisoft Believes|author=Andrei Dobra |date=January 21, 2014 |publisher=Softpedia|access-date=December 18, 2020}}</ref>
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<ref name="NYT">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/30/arts/video-games/assassins-creed-iv-black-flag-delves-into-pirate-lore.html
<ref name="Wales">{{cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/pirate-hero-new-assassins-creed-6074652|title=Shiver me timbers! Pirate hero in new Assassin's Creed is a Welshman!|author=Kathryn Williams|date=September 22, 2013|website=]|access-date=December 18, 2020|archive-date=2 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202212025/https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/pirate-hero-new-assassins-creed-6074652|url-status=live}}</ref>
|title=Does It Say 'Arrgh' When You Make a Kill?|author= Stephen Totilo|date=October 29, 2013 |work=New York Times|access-date=December 18, 2020}}</ref>
<ref name="Repentance">{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2013/5/3/4296282/assassins-creed-4-black-flag-story-of-sex-and-repentance-outlined|title=Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag story of sex and repentance outlined by lead scriptwriter|date=May 3, 2013|work=]|access-date=December 18, 2020}}</ref> <ref name="Statue">{{Cite web|url=https://comicbook.com/news/assassins-creed-iv-black-flag-edward-kenway-statue-revealed-by-mcfarlane-toys/|title=Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag Edward Kenway Statue Revealed By McFarlane Toys|date=September 6, 2017|author=Scott Johnson|publisher=Comicbook.com|access-date=December 18, 2020|archive-date=10 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810115505/https://comicbook.com/news/assassins-creed-iv-black-flag-edward-kenway-statue-revealed-by-mcfarlane-toys/|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Truth">{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2013/7/22/4543968/truth-and-fantasy-in-assassins-creed-4-black-flag|author=Colin Campbell|title=Truth and fantasy in Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag|date=July 22, 2013|work=]|access-date=December 18, 2020}}</ref> <ref name=VG>{{cite web|url=https://www.videogamer.com/features/the-best-ever-pirates-in-video-games-ever|title=The best ever pirates in video games ever|author=Alice Bell|date=March 23, 2018|publisher=Videogamer.com|access-date=December 18, 2020|archive-date=28 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230428233044/https://www.videogamer.com/features/the-best-ever-pirates-in-video-games-ever/|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Wales">{{cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/pirate-hero-new-assassins-creed-6074652|title=Shiver me timbers! Pirate hero in new Assassin's Creed is a Welshman!|author=Kathryn Williams|date=September 22, 2013|website=]|access-date=December 18, 2020}}</ref> <ref name="IGN">{{cite web|url=https://sea.ign.com/feature/161853/the-evolution-of-assassins-creed-from-the-holy-land-to-valhalla|title=The Evolution of Assassin's Creed: From the Holy Land to Valhalla|author=Matt Purslow|date=July 9, 2020|website=]|access-date=December 18, 2020|archive-date=28 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220428105809/https://sea.ign.com/feature/161853/the-evolution-of-assassins-creed-from-the-holy-land-to-valhalla|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Statue">{{Cite web|url=https://comicbook.com/news/assassins-creed-iv-black-flag-edward-kenway-statue-revealed-by-mcfarlane-toys/|title=Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag Edward Kenway Statue Revealed By McFarlane Toys|date= September 6, 2017|author=Scott Johnson|publisher=Comicbook.com|access-date=December 18, 2020}}</ref> <ref name="Valhalla">{{cite web |last=Ramée |first=Jordan |date=July 13, 2020 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/assassins-creed-valhalla-reminds-me-of-playing-bla/1100-6479587/ |title=Assassin's Creed Valhalla Reminds Me Of Playing Black Flag |website=GameSpot |access-date=December 18, 2020 |archive-date=5 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201105153655/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/assassins-creed-valhalla-reminds-me-of-playing-bla/1100-6479587/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="DailyCal">{{cite web|url=https://www.dailycal.org/2013/11/07/4th-installment-assassins-creed-makes-lackluster-plot-killer-gameplay/|title=4th installment of 'Assassin's Creed' makes up for lackluster plot with killer gameplay|author=Evan Stallworth Carr|date=November 7, 2013|publisher=]|access-date=December 18, 2020|archive-date=22 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220522020755/https://www.dailycal.org/2013/11/07/4th-installment-assassins-creed-makes-lackluster-plot-killer-gameplay/|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name=VG>{{cite web|url=https://www.videogamer.com/features/the-best-ever-pirates-in-video-games-ever|title=The best ever pirates in video games ever
<ref name="Euro">{{cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-11-15-assassins-creed-4-black-flag-ending-analysis|title=The Assassins' Propaganda|author=Tom Phillips|date=November 27, 2013|publisher=Eurogamer|access-date=December 18, 2020|archive-date=10 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410163512/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-11-15-assassins-creed-4-black-flag-ending-analysis|url-status=live}}</ref>
|author=Alice Bell |date=March 23, 2018 |publisher=Videogamer.com|access-date=December 18, 2020}}</ref>
<ref name="IGN">{{cite web|url=https://sea.ign.com/feature/161853/the-evolution-of-assassins-creed-from-the-holy-land-to-valhalla|title=The Evolution of Assassin's Creed: From the Holy Land to Valhalla|author=Matt Purslow|date= July 9, 2020|website=]|access-date=December 18, 2020}}</ref> <ref name="Pop">{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/183738-the-assassins-propaganda-2495638918.html|title=The Assassins' Propaganda|author=Nick Dinicola|date=July 29, 2014|publisher=Pop Matters|access-date=December 18, 2020|archive-date=14 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614033907/https://www.popmatters.com/183738-the-assassins-propaganda-2495638918.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
⚫ <ref name="Forbes">{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2013/12/10/the-surprisingly-beautiful-ending-of-assassins-creed-iv-black-flag/?sh=d25f9681d429|title=The Surprisingly Beautiful Ending Of 'Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag'|author=Erik Kain|date=December 10, 2013|work=Forbes|access-date=December 18, 2020|archive-date=25 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425082918/https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2013/12/10/the-surprisingly-beautiful-ending-of-assassins-creed-iv-black-flag/?sh=d25f9681d429|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Valhalla">{{cite web |last= Ramée|first=Jordan |date= July 13, 2020 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/assassins-creed-valhalla-reminds-me-of-playing-bla/1100-6479587/|title=Assassin's Creed Valhalla Reminds Me Of Playing Black Flag |website=GameSpot |access-date=December 18, 2020}}</ref>
<ref name="DailyCal">{{cite web|url=https://www.dailycal.org/2013/11/07/4th-installment-assassins-creed-makes-lackluster-plot-killer-gameplay/|title=4th installment of 'Assassin's Creed' makes up for lackluster plot with killer gameplay|author=Evan Stallworth Carr |date=November 7, 2013|publisher=]|access-date=December 18, 2020}}</ref> <ref name="Ranked">{{cite web|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/the-assassins-of-assassins-creed-ranked-from-worst-to-best/|title=The assassins of Assassin's Creed, ranked from worst to best|author=Andy Kelly|date=October 23, 2018|publisher=PC Gamer|access-date=December 11, 2020|archive-date=9 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409052611/https://www.pcgamer.com/the-assassins-of-assassins-creed-ranked-from-worst-to-best/|url-status=live}}</ref>
⚫ <ref name="Gender">{{cite journal|author=Stephen J. Fishbune|title="Competent, Capable, and Practically Dressed": The Representation of Women in the Assassin's Creed Series|url=http://research.monm.edu/mjur/files/2019/02/MJUR-i09-2018-2-Fishbune.pdf|location=Minnesota|publisher=St. Mary’s University of Minnesota|date=2018|access-date=December 18, 2020|archive-date=12 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200712053138/http://research.monm.edu/mjur/files/2019/02/MJUR-i09-2018-2-Fishbune.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Euro">{{cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-11-15-assassins-creed-4-black-flag-ending-analysis|title=The Assassins' Propaganda
|author=Tom Phillips|date= November 27, 2013|publisher=Eurogamer|access-date=December 18, 2020}}</ref>
<ref name="Pop">{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/183738-the-assassins-propaganda-2495638918.html|title=The Assassins' Propaganda
|author=Nick Dinicola|date= July 29, 2014|publisher=Pop Matters|access-date=December 18, 2020}}</ref>
⚫ <ref name="Forbes">{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2013/12/10/the-surprisingly-beautiful-ending-of-assassins-creed-iv-black-flag/?sh=d25f9681d429|title=The Surprisingly Beautiful Ending Of 'Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag'|author=Erik Kain|date= December 10, 2013 |work=Forbes|access-date=December 18, 2020}}</ref>
<ref name="Ranked">{{cite web|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/the-assassins-of-assassins-creed-ranked-from-worst-to-best/|title=The assassins of Assassin's Creed, ranked from worst to best|author=Andy Kelly |date=October 23, 2018|publisher=PC Gamer|access-date=December 11, 2020}}</ref>
⚫ <ref name="Gender">{{cite journal |author=Stephen J. Fishbune |title="Competent, Capable, and Practically Dressed": The Representation of Women in the Assassin's Creed Series|url=http://research.monm.edu/mjur/files/2019/02/MJUR-i09-2018-2-Fishbune.pdf|location= Minnesota |publisher=St. Mary’s University of Minnesota |date=2018|access-date=December 18, 2020}}</ref>
<ref name="FIAR">{{cite journal |author=Eugen Pfister|title="In a world without gold, we might have been heroes!" Cultural Imaginations of Piracy in Video Games|volume= 11|pages= 30–43|publisher=FIAR|date=September 2018|issue=2}}</ref> <ref name="FIAR">{{cite journal |author=Eugen Pfister|title="In a world without gold, we might have been heroes!" Cultural Imaginations of Piracy in Video Games|volume= 11|pages= 30–43|publisher=FIAR|date=September 2018|issue=2}}</ref>
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Latest revision as of 21:30, 23 December 2024

Assassin's Creed character

Fictional character
Edward Kenway
Assassin's Creed character
First appearanceAssassin's Creed: Forsaken (2012)
First gameAssassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (2013)
Created byUbisoft
Adapted byOliver Bowden
Portrayed byMatt Ryan
In-universe information
OriginSwansea, Wales, Great Britain
NationalityWelsh

Edward James Kenway is a fictional character in Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed video game franchise. He was introduced as a supporting character in Assassin's Creed: Forsaken, a companion novel to the 2012 video game Assassin's Creed III. He subsequently appeared as the protagonist of the 2013 video game, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, and its novelization, Assassin's Creed: Black Flag. In the former, he is portrayed by Welsh actor Matt Ryan through performance capture. Since Black Flag's release, the character has made further appearances in several other works within the franchise.

Within the series' alternate historical setting, Edward was born in 1693 into a family of Welsh farmers, but his ambitions to improve his lifestyle eventually prompt him to become a privateer and later a pirate, operating in the Caribbean during the final decades of the Golden Age of Piracy. During this time, he plays an important role in the establishment of a short-lived Pirate Republic, and inadvertently becomes caught in the conflict between the Assassin Brotherhood (inspired by the real-life Order of Assassins) and the Templar Order (inspired by the Knights Templar military order). Initially helping both sides for personal gain, he eventually has a change of heart and joins the Assassins following his retirement from piracy. Later in life, he settles down in London, becoming one of the co-leaders of the local branch of the Brotherhood, until his murder by the Templars in 1735. Edward is the father of Haytham Kenway, who would go on to become a high-ranking Templar and the main antagonist of Assassin's Creed III; the grandfather of Ratonhnhaké꞉ton / Connor, Haytham's son and the protagonist of Assassin's Creed III; and an ancestor of Desmond Miles, the protagonist of the modern-day sequences of the first five main games in the series.

Edward has received a positive reception for his charm and characterization as a morally ambiguous protagonist and self-made man and is considered to be one of the series' most popular characters. Various merchandise for the character, as with other of the series' protagonists, has been released.

Creation and development

The lead scriptwriter for Black Flag, Darby McDevitt, observed that previous series protagonists have joined the Assassin Brotherhood without much deliberation, often as part of a coming of age moment, as their personal goals are already naturally aligned with that of the organization's. For Black Flag, the developmental team wanted to explore the Assassins' tenets, their "creed", from a new perspective. The idea of a talented and shrewd pirate, a cynical and jaded man who comes into contact with the Assassins, was mooted and proposed as the protagonist who presents this different point of view and who may not share the Assassins' worldview or adherence to a higher purpose or ideal. The whole thrust of the story then became a constant conflict within Edward over the very idea of the Creed, even as he co-opts some of the Assassins' methods and tactics for his personal gain.

McDevitt explained that Black Flag is at its core a story of immorality and repentance, and Edward Kenway is a married man whose strained relationship with his wife is one of the central struggles in the game. McDewitt describe Edward as a "raucous and bawdy chap" who also has a few significant close relationships with other women in the story, and that his primary motivation in Black Flag is to get rich and prove himself a "man of quality' to his family and betters". As for his personality, McDevitt said Edward "is a pirate who yearns for freedom much like the Assassins do, but loathes the sense of responsibility that a truly functional freedom requires" and that the narrative intends to explore "at what point would Edward realize his brand of freedom is too chaotic to function for very long.” McDevitt compared Edward to his grandson Ratonhnhaké꞉ton, better known as Connor, the protagonist of Black Flag's antecedent Assassin's Creed III, and described his character arc as a counterpoint in someway.

Portrayal

Ryan provided the voice and likeness for Edward Kenway

Edward Kenway is voiced by Matt Ryan, who also portrayed the character in a motion capture studio. McDevitt admitted that the character and his back story became far more influenced by the culture of Wales than he had originally intended; the developmental team only decided to build their story around a Welsh pirate when they cast Ryan as the voice and image of the character. McDevitt originally envisioned Edward to hail from an English port town like Bristol, Portsmouth, or Manchester, but deliberately left his background blank prior to the finalization of the casting process because he wanted to draw from whichever actor was chosen. McDevitt praised Ryan for the charisma and the personality he brought to the character, but recalled that he initially read his lines in a West County accent. Ryan was then asked to speak in his natural Welsh accent, which ultimately prompted McDevitt to finalize Edward as a Welsh character from Swansea, which matches his actor's cultural background. McDevitt consulted Ryan's father for ideas as he wanted to include some colloquial Welsh phrases into the game's dialogue.

Ryan noted that unlike the majority of the game's cast of characters who are fictionalized versions of historical figures, Edward is an original character. To prepare for the role, Ryan was asked to read books recommended by McDevitt as part of their research of the time period, as the game's developmental team wanted to avoid the usual tropes and archetypes associated with the depiction of piracy in popular fiction.

Appearances

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag

In Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, the player experiences Edward's life and exploits in the West Indies and the western African coast as part of a simulation played by a silent protagonist who works as a research analyst at Abstergo Entertainment, a corporate front of the Templar Order in the modern era. Abstergo is interested in Edward's memories because of his involvement with both Assassins and Templars during the Golden Age of Piracy, as well as his pursuit of the Observatory, an ancient site built by the First Civilization.

Edward Kenway's flag after becoming a pirate.

The game's backstory establishes that Edward comes from a low socio-economic background and married a wealthy girl named Caroline Scott, though their relationship became strained over time due to Edward's ambitious dreams of earning a fortune as a privateer. After Caroline eventually lost faith in him and left, Edward decided to pursue his dream and traveled to the Caribbean, where he quickly turned to piracy. He also befriended a number of fellow pirates including Stede Bonnet, Blackbeard, Benjamin Hornigold, Charles Vane and Mary Read, and helped them establish an independent Pirate Republic in Nassau.

In 1715, Edward inadvertently becomes caught in the Assassin-Templar conflict after killing a rogue Assassin, Duncan Walpole, who planned to defect to the Templars. Impersonating Walpole, Edward attends a Templar meeting in Havana, where he learns that the Caribbean Templars, led by Laureano de Torres y Ayala, seek the Observatory, which will allow them to rule the world from the shadows. Mistakenly believing the Observatory to be housing a vast treasure, Edward decides to seek out Bartholomew Roberts, the only man who knows its location. During his search, Edward is introduced to the Assassins by Mary, revealed to be an Assassin herself, who tries to push Edward to abandon his selfish ways and join the Brotherhood. He also witnesses the collapse of the Pirate Republic due to an ideological split between its leaders, and the deaths of most of his friends over the following years.

Edward Kenway's Jolly Roger after joining the Assassins

Edward eventually secures an alliance with Roberts, who takes him to the Observatory, revealed to be a surveillance facility. However, Roberts then betrays Edward and turns him over to the British authorities, who imprison him in Kingston, Jamaica. Edward escapes with the help of Ah Tabai, the Assassin Mentor, and has a change of heart after witnessing Mary's death, deciding to join the Assassins in her honor. After assassinating Roberts and the Templars to prevent them from misusing the Observatory, Edward receives a letter informing him of Caroline's passing and the existence of his hitherto unknown daughter, Jennifer Scott. Wishing to make amends for his past actions, Edward retires from piracy in order to focus on his new Assassin duties and raising Jennifer, and returns to England. Years later, he fathers a second child, Haytham Kenway, and becomes a leader of the British Brotherhood based in London.

Other appearances

Edward's first appearance in the franchise was in the 2012 novel Assassin's Creed: Forsaken by Oliver Bowden, which follows the perspective of his son, Haytham, and recounts the events leading up to Edward's eventual fate. The novel establishes that Edward kept a journal documenting his extensive research on the First Civilization, which was sought by Reginald Birch, his property manager and, secretly, the Grand Master of the British Templars. In 1735, Edward was killed by mercenaries sent by Birch to break into his mansion in Queen Anne's Square and steal his journal. This also allowed Birch to take Haytham under his wing and indoctrinate him into the Templar Order. Although Haytham eventually discovered the truth years later and avenged his father, he chose to stay a Templar.

Edward is also featured in Assassin's Creed: Black Flag, the novelization of the 2013 video game, and Assassin's Creed: Awakening, a non-canonical manga adaptation of the game, written by Takashi Yano and illustrated by Kenji Oiwa. In 2017, Edward appeared in the third issue of the Assassin's Creed: Reflections comic book miniseries, which recounts his encounter with infamous pirate Edward "Ned" Low. He is also the protagonist of the webtoon Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple, which follows his search for Pieces of Eden in Southeast Asia a few years after the events of Black Flag and began publishing in April 2023.

Edward's legacy and his mansion serve as a plot point in the 2015 game Assassin's Creed Syndicate, in which the protagonists search for a Shroud of Eden found by Edward during his travels. He is also featured in Dead Men's Gold, a story arc from the 2018 mobile spin-off game Assassin's Creed: Rebellion, which serves as a prequel to the introduction sequence of Black Flag. Like other series protagonists, Edward's outfit has been an unlockable cosmetic option in most subsequent releases, including the remastered version of Assassin's Creed III, released in 2019.

Outside the Assassin's Creed series, Edward has been referenced in the 2020 game Watch Dogs: Legion, where a statue of the character can be found in an underground Assassin Tomb in London, as part of a non-canonical crossover between the Assassin's Creed and Watch Dogs franchises.

Promotion and merchandise

In conjunction with Ubisoft, Todd McFarlane and his McFarlane Toys Design Group designed a highly detailed, hand-painted, and cold-cast resin limited-edition statue of Edward Kenway. Only one thousand pieces were created and distributed worldwide, and each statue includes a Certificate of Authenticity hand-signed by McFarlane.

Reception

A cosplayer recreating Edward Kenway's unhooded appearance.

Edward Kenway has been well received by video game journalists, with high placements on several "top character" ranking lists of Assassin's Creed series protagonists. VideoGamer.com ranked him among the best pirates in video games.

Matt Purslow from IGN described Edward as the "true secret weapon" of Black Flag, the central element that binds the game's disparate elements and features together, and argued that it manages to avoid the pitfalls of over-reliance on MacGuffin plot devices like its predecessors due to the narrative focus on Edward's personal journey. He found the character's privateer-turned-pirate background, a chancer looking for profit whose decision to steal the robes of a member of the Assassins sparks his growth from rebel to honorable captain, to be a "fresh perspective to the overarching narrative of the series". Andrei Dobra from Softpedia interpreted McDevitt's statements about Edward in an interview with VG247 as indicative of a belief that the popularity of Black Flag is largely because the character is an unusual protagonist who trumps many established tropes concerning heroes in the franchise. In an article which offers an impression of Assassin's Creed: Valhalla Jordan Ramée from GameSpot reflected on his gameplay experience with Edward in Black Flag fondly, where combat sequences often involved head-on confrontation of foes and that Edward solves many of his problems as a pirate that's making the most of the tools of an Assassin. Evan Stallworth Carr from The Daily Californian found Edward Kenway to be "a deeply interesting character" who displays a "charismatic and outgoing personality" for his pirate persona. On the other hand, Carr opined that he does not fit well into the lore of the series, which in his view ultimately hurt the plot of Black Flag. Stephen Totilo was of the opinion that while the subplot involving the wife he left behind paid off beautifully at its conclusion, Edward is a "forgettable lead" and his character arc is "shallow".

The ending sequence of Black Flag has attracted praise for its depiction of Edward's character development. Tom Phillips from Eurogamer found it to be a "surprisingly mature conclusion for a series all about stabbing people in the neck", as Kenway finally gives up a life of piracy to settle down with his newly discovered daughter, and that it took the entirety of the narrative of Black Flag where his experiences of the deaths of all of his close friends and loved ones lead him to making a sensible decision about his life. Erik Kain from Forbes found the final moments of Black Flag to be "surprisingly beautiful", describing the finale as an "oddly sad and redemptive" contemplation of the character's loss which segues to his conversation with his daughter which is both playful and regretful in tone.

Analysis

Nick Dinicola from Pop Matters found the narrative approach by Black Flag to be interesting, as its lead character does not become an official member of the Brotherhood of Assassins by the ending of the game; instead, the story explores both sides of the long-running Assassin-Templar conflict from the perspective of an indifferent protagonist, and allows players a better sense of the Assassins' code of conduct as Edward gradually becomes sympathetic to their cause and acknowledges that their creed is “the beginning of wisdom.” In his paper which examines the representation of female characters in the Assassin’s Creed Series published by St. Mary's University of Minnesota, Stephen J. Fishburne described Edward Kenway as "capturing the ideal of masculinity and the self-made man to the greatest extent" amongst other male protagonists in the series, and noted that "the consequences of his irresponsibility are really only felt by those around him" because he is still considered the "hero of Black Flag". In a paper which analyzes the cultural depiction of piracy in video games, Eugen Pfister said the depiction of pirates as rebels but not revolutionaries in Black Flag is historically accurate. Pfister noted that while Edward mostly acts ethically and adheres to his own code of conduct as he tries to do the “right thing”, he becomes a “gentleman of fortune” of his own volition in the first place, and that even more importantly, he seeks no redemption for his violent actions when it comes to exploring and hunting for victims. This is reinforced by the game's mechanics, which encourages constant pillaging and raiding of merchant ships to improve the performance of Edward's flagship and offers the character "no incentive to ponder the possibility of becoming an honest man again".

References

  1. Brenna Hillier (9 July 2013). "Assassin's Creed 4's hero is a "counterpoint" to AC3's Connor". VG247. Archived from the original on 15 April 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  2. ^ Dave Cook (20 January 2014). "The making of Assassin's Creed 4: origins, reparations & uncharted waters". VG247. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  3. ^ Stephen Totilo (29 October 2013). "Does It Say 'Arrgh' When You Make a Kill?". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  4. ^ "Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag story of sex and repentance outlined by lead scriptwriter". Polygon. 3 May 2013. Archived from the original on 4 September 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  5. ^ Colin Campbell (22 July 2013). "Truth and fantasy in Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag". Polygon. Archived from the original on 27 June 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  6. Kathryn Williams (22 September 2013). "Shiver me timbers! Pirate hero in new Assassin's Creed is a Welshman!". Wales Online. Archived from the original on 2 February 2021. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  7. Scott Johnson (6 September 2017). "Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag Edward Kenway Statue Revealed By McFarlane Toys". Comicbook.com. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  8. "Assassin's Creed: Every Assassin Ranked, Worst to Best". Screen Rant. 22 June 2017. Archived from the original on 14 May 2021. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  9. "Assassin's Creed's 5 Best Protagonists, Ranked". 15 July 2020. Archived from the original on 21 February 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  10. "Assassin's Creed: All the Assassins, Ranked from Worst to Best". 31 May 2020. Archived from the original on 27 June 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  11. Andy Kelly (23 October 2018). "The assassins of Assassin's Creed, ranked from worst to best". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 9 April 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  12. Alice Bell (23 March 2018). "The best ever pirates in video games ever". Videogamer.com. Archived from the original on 28 April 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  13. ^ Matt Purslow (9 July 2020). "The Evolution of Assassin's Creed: From the Holy Land to Valhalla". IGN. Archived from the original on 28 April 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  14. Andrei Dobra (21 January 2014). "Assassin's Creed 4 Succeeds Because of Its Unusual Protagonist, Ubisoft Believes". Softpedia. Archived from the original on 21 November 2021. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  15. Ramée, Jordan (13 July 2020). "Assassin's Creed Valhalla Reminds Me Of Playing Black Flag". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 5 November 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  16. Evan Stallworth Carr (7 November 2013). "4th installment of 'Assassin's Creed' makes up for lackluster plot with killer gameplay". The Daily Californian. Archived from the original on 22 May 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  17. Tom Phillips (27 November 2013). "The Assassins' Propaganda". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 10 April 2019. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  18. Erik Kain (10 December 2013). "The Surprisingly Beautiful Ending Of 'Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag'". Forbes. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  19. Nick Dinicola (29 July 2014). "The Assassins' Propaganda". Pop Matters. Archived from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  20. Stephen J. Fishbune (2018). ""Competent, Capable, and Practically Dressed": The Representation of Women in the Assassin's Creed Series" (PDF). Minnesota: St. Mary’s University of Minnesota. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 July 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2020. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  21. Eugen Pfister (September 2018). ""In a world without gold, we might have been heroes!" Cultural Imaginations of Piracy in Video Games". 11 (2). FIAR: 30–43. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

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