Who is Arlene in Tower of God? Explained

Modified Nov 15, 2024 04:30 GMT

Who is Arlene in Tower of God? Explained (Images via Telecom Animation Film, WEBTOON/SIU)

One of the many ways in which the Tower of God manhwa is unique is that some of its most influential characters are those who’ve yet to fully or significantly appear on screen. Arlene Grace is one such character, arguably being one of the single most important people in the entire series as fans currently understand it.

However, her lack of true presence has led many to ask “who is Arlene in Tower of God” for not being able to remember her role in the series as it’s been told thus far. Arlene Grace is the mother of protagonist 25th Bam, an ex-Great Warrior who climbed the Tower with Jahad and the other Ten Great Family Leaders, and is implied to be one of FUG’s founders.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers from the manhwa.

Arlene’s origins and history, explained

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While the above answers the question of “who is Arlene in Tower of God,” it doesn’t fully explain who she is and her origins in the series. As mentioned above, her origins lie as being one of the 13 Great Warriors who climbed the Tower up to its 134th floor with King Jahad and the Ten Great Family Leaders. Like Jahad and the others, she was an Irregular who entered the Tower of her own will rather than being invited in by Headon.

Jahad had loved Arlene, but she did not reciprocate those feelings for him. Instead, she fell in love with V, another one of the 13 Great Warriors. Likewise, the two were united against Jahad’s decision to stop climbing the Tower at the 134th Floor and become its king, accusing him of being blinded by falsehoods. Jahad later proposed to Arlene, but she rejected his offer of marriage and instead ran away with V, who she was still in love with.

This led to the two of them forming an organization to oppose Jahad, which is implied to have become FUG. Their main goal was liberating the Key to the 135th Floor he held, and was supported in doing so by the rest of the Great Warriors, the future Ten Great Family Leaders. They eventually lost this battle and went into hiding. However, after Arlene had a child, Jahad hunted her down and murdered it in front of her over her hate and lack of love towards him.

Bam, also known as Jue Viole Grace, is said to be Arlene's child, and believed to be the one Jahad killed in Tower of God (Image via The Answer Studio)

Arlene was grief stricken to the point of wanting death, but was unable to die due to the immortality contract she made. V eventually chose death as a means of giving her a way back to Jahad’s side, but his death instead made her bitter enough to find a way out of the Tower so she could resurrect her child. She preserved her child’s body using a mysterious spell, hence her belief that she could somehow resurrect it.

Eventually, she found her way out of the Tower, and offered the child to the God outside of the Tower in the hopes that it would bring it back to life. She also said the child would return to the Tower, obtain the Thorn left behind by God’s messenger, take revenge on Jahad and the Ten Great Families, and lead the Tower to greater heights. However, it’s unknown what happened to her after this point.

Arlen Grace's role in Tower of God

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Fespite her epic origins, Arlene’s most significant role in Tower of God is as Bam’s mother. Likewise, he is heavily implied to be the child described above, with multiple characters in the series calling him Arlene and/or V’s son. This is also further supported by recent chapters, which saw Enkidu in Poe Bidau Bellerire’s body find a spirit that called itself V inside of Bam. Likewise, since Bam is the child she prophesied to kill Jahad, this is obviously her most important role.

However, she is also significant as one of the implicit founders of FUG alongside V. Further supporting this is the fact that Grace Mirchea Luslec, the current leader of FUG, was shown to be working for Arlene and V’s group as their split from the Great Warriors transpired. His sharing the Grace surname with Arlene also further supports this.

In summation

Rachel is also suggested to have a connection to Bam's mother Arlene in Tower of God (Image via Telecom Animation Film)

The answer to “who is Arlene in Tower of God” lies in her major contributions to the series as fans know it. Firstly, Arlene is Bam’s mother, whom she birthed with V and prophesied would return to the Tower to kill the Ten Great Family Leaders. Secondly, she is an ex-Great Warrior who is implied to be responsible for the formation of FUG.