Dragon Age II dragged the player character out of darkspawn-infested Ferelden and plunked them right smack in the middle of chaotic Kirkwall. Between rampant blood magic and stubborn Qunari, Hawke often wound up the only person willing and able to set things right -- but that kind of tension takes its toll. Given the circumstances of Hawke's life before Kirkwall, which placed responsibility for the safety and well-being of their entire family on the eldest child's shoulders, it's no wonder some of the best responses in-game were born from sarcasm.
The game's dialogue system gave players three ways to verbally address the issues Hawke faced in Kirkwall: Diplomatic/Helpful, Humorous/Charming and Aggressive/Direct. Diplomatic Hawke often seemed like a pushover, while aggressive Hawke came across violently disagreeable. The happy medium was often humor and charm, which came laced with a heavy dose of sarcasm.
The unspoken answer when it comes to sarcastic Hawke is, "Yes, I did just say that, and it was hilarious. Right?" As the oldest child of the Hawke family, a lot of responsibilities where forced into the future Champion of Kirkwall following the death of their father, Malcolm. They never asked for that responsibility, but because of the position they found themselves in at home, it seemed to carry over into real-world responsibility for everything around them.
All of the characters, including Hawke, have random bits of dialogue they spout while out wandering around and taking care of business. Hawke's sarcastic mutterings often reflect their frustration with always being the person who has to make things right. "Hawke this, Hawke that, why does everything fall to me?" they say. It's a good question from someone who's been forced into a position of responsibility they never really wanted, but unfortunately, it never gets answered.
Hawke can also be heard saying, things like, "What earth-shattering matter requires my attention this time?" and "Where are we going? How should I know? Do I look like the leader of this merry band of misfits?" Constantly pointing out that they never asked to be in charge, while reflecting their inner-struggle with the burden of responsibility, these comments are Hawke's way of acknowledging that no one else is going to step up, so it's up to them.
The things occurred in Kirkwall that lifted Hawke to stardom were often ridiculous, and chances are (had someone with half a brain been in charge) could have been avoided. Having very little authority but being put in a position to make things right often forced a sarcastic Hawke to point out the absurdity of the situation. Maybe they thought, by being absurd, they would help others recognize how preposterous everything was. Instead, it usually provoked dismay and disbelief that someone could be so insensitive to the tragedy festering in Kirkwall.
For example, when Hawke is tasked by Knight-Templar Emeric to investigate a series of missing women, Hawke finds a bag of human bones. When presented to Emeric, the templar mulls over the fact that they probably won't find the missing women now. Sarcastic Hawke, much to the dismay of absolutely everyone within earshot, says, "If they're not dead, watch out for a bunch of boneless women flopping through the streets."
What else is there to say, really? It's obvious to everyone the women are dead, but Hawke and party saw so much bizarre and inexplicable nonsense in Kirkwall that it wouldn't be that surprising if a bunch of floppy, boneless women were the next threat to deal with. When no one else can see the absurdity of everything happening in Kirkwall, the only way to get their point across is through making fun of the situation.
Sarcastic Hawke, though obviously inwardly struggling with so many issues that they become impossible to count, loves the attention their outlandish responses provoke. Negative attention, laughs and even scorn are welcomed because it means people are noticing them. Everything about Hawke, regardless of their nature of response, screams for acknowledgement.
From the bright red smear across the bridge of their nose to the way they insert themselves into matters that don't actually concern them, everything about Hawke is a loud cry for someone to notice them and their efforts to make a difference in the world. Maybe it comes from doing so much for their family only to have their mother ask for more, but Hawke wants anyone to see them.
Hawke, like so many people, craves that pat on the back no one bothers to offer. They want to know they're doing a good job. However, since no one will tell them their efforts are appreciated, Hawke goes out of their way to boisterously provoke others to notice and respond. Sometimes those pokes come in the form of sarcasm -- a clever, carefree jab to show off Hawke's intelligence and falsely display a sense of security they don't actually feel.
Sarcasm follows Hawke all the way to the Inquisition, where they face the Fade alongside the Inquisitor and their party while making numerous jabs at the absolute absurdity of it all. This even includes a quip about the Chantry owing them an apology because the Fade looks nothing like the Maker's bosom. Hawke's sarcasm, while at times disconcerting, forces everyone (including the player) to remember that no matter what life throws at them, there's nothing a little mockery can't make more tolerable. This makes sarcastic Hawke the best version of Hawke to play, especially in dark, uncertain times.
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