I understand that gods and their worshipers works in a particular way in the Forgotten Realms (and always has), and that it is hard to make real-world analogs to those relationships, but it is still staggering to me to not see any shade of abuse in Gale and Mystra's dynamic.
Like one of the core themes in BG3 appears to be "abuse of power" and that "the gods overreach." While in another Forgotten Realms tale, Mystra might be depicted as a benevolent figure, in this game I think she is neutral at best and cruel at worst.
All the companions in the game are wrestling with damage inflicted on their lives from overbearing and powerful figures. Astarion with Cazador. Wyll with Mizora. Karlach with Gortash and Zariel. Shadowheart with Shar. Lae'zel with Vlaakith (and the Githyanki militarized industrial complex as a whole honestly).
Why would Gale be the one outlier? Because he's not. Gale is, like the other companions, a victim. Or at least I think that was certainly the intention of the game narrative (and it is arguable how well it was depicted, but that I see no other explanation why Gale would be the only one who
isn't).
For Gale, he is a victim in his relationship with Mystra. While Mystra isn't (on the surface) as dispassionate and awful as the likes of Cazador or Shar, she is still the main guiding force in Gale's life and ultimately the reason Gale is in his situation (of course Gale's own hubris and ego as well, but those weren't born in a vacuum). She orders him to
take his own life because of a mistake. A mistake! And offers no explanation as to what he has done.
The whole Chosen thing: It comes with its perks but those come at the cost of freedome. Elminster is shown to be uncomfotable delivering Mystra's charge and charm - he is stalling as much as he can - and his parting words, as well as the letter you get in Gale's origin show that he disagrees with Mystra, but he cannot disobey her and Gale understands this. Following Mystra's command and detonating the Orb is also probably the most - or at least second most - disasterous ending you can get for the game. It shows how little regard for human life Mystra has (in Gale's Origin she flat out states this during the audience) and supports what Ketheric says about the gods, that humans are mere coppers in their purses. This holds true for Mystra as well. She might care for Gale to some degree, but "her first love was always the Weave" and she will try to use him as she sees fit when it seems like the quickest solution to a problem to her.
And this. Yes. While being a Chosen comes with incredible powers and "perks," it also comes with it a horrible burden of responsibility and servitude.
Anyway, obviously not everyone will see the story and characters the same. We all come into this with our own life experiences and opinions. But I definitely do believe Gale is meant to be a victim of abuse just as the others are--his damage is just a little less apparent and more under the surface.
