For an action franchise, the John Wick films are rife with symbolism. Non simply do the names of characters echo Greek and Roman mythology, just the narrative structure is almost Shakespearean, and the action sequences are often balletic. For a trio of films that began with a hitman being pulled out of retirement to avenge the death of his canis familiaris, they are surprisingly elegant. Their main protagonist, a man of economic discussion choice and surly charisma, also sports a fair corporeality of tattoos, and in fact, ink is on display a lot throughout the films.

Is in that location deep significance backside John Wick'southward tattoos, or equally they simply there to set him autonomously from all the other gun-toting tough guys in Hollywood? Exercise the tattoos on the members of his aristocracy assassin'southward guild have any meaning, including the highest-ranking members, similar The Adjudicator? Permit'south pause downwards the meaning of John Wick's tattoos and the tattoos of the John Wick Universe.

10 HE MAY BE A MARINE CORPS VET

Though John Wick's backstory hasn't been touched on yet in the films, his impressive manus-to-hand combat skill, firearm proficiency, body language, and tattoos point that he has a groundwork in the military. Given the way he dispenses violent vengeance against all those foolish plenty to stand up in his path, there'south practiced reason to believe he'southward a Marine Corps vet.

The tattoo across his dorsum that reads "Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat", translated from Latin into, "fortune favors the bold", is reminiscent of the motto for the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines. Their spelling is, "Fortes Fortuna Juvat", but its meaning is like. Tattoos with similar slogans are not uncommon in many branches of the war machine.

9 HE COULD Exist (OR USED TO BE) A Human OF FAITH

In the shower scene of the commencement John Wick picture, we get a articulate wait at his tattoos. Below the scrawling Latin phrase, "Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat", we see two hands cupped in prayer. They are presented over a cross, with rays radiating from its three visible points.

This indicates that John could be a man of faith, so devoted to his chosen college ability or indicate of worship that he got the pious tattoo placed betwixt his shoulders blades. His mission of vengeance is against most religions, merely his archetype of a "fallen affections" sort of anti-hero, of a one time skilful man tainted by the sin of his erstwhile life, would fit the narrative of the films.

eight HE'S POSSIBLY A PAGAN

"Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat" has been interpreted differently from different Latin scholars, and seeing that it'southward a dead language, they will continue to debate on the meaning behind the phrase. Some believe information technology to say, "It is just the stiff ones that Fortuna comes to salvage.".

Fortuna was the Roman Goddess of Fortune and Good Luck, seen as a guiding figure of opportunity and fate. She could anoint or curse your actions, depending on her whim. Despite the praying hands on his back, John Wick could believe in Fortuna and take more pagan beliefs, living his life co-ordinate to the will of Luck'south guidance.

seven HE'S DONE SOME Time

Given his history with the Ruska Roma as an orphaned child, and the fact that they're a segmentation of the High Table filled with Belarussian assassins, Wick might take washed some things on behalf of his adopted family that landed him in a Russian prison given the wolf tattoo on his right shoulder.

Snarling wolves, tigers, or leopards are known as "oskals", translated from Russian to mean "Big Grin", and get placed on prisoners that are aggressive in the confront of authorization. If he wasn't in a Russian prison, he may have gotten tattooed by the Ruska Roma themselves for insubordination in his younger years.

6 HE WAS IN THE RUSSIAN MOB

In the outset John Wick film, we learn that he worked for the Tarasov family unit, an influential clan within the Russian mob. Iosef Tarasov fabricated the colossal error of stealing John Wick's car and killing his puppy, a souvenir from his late wife, even though Wick had put in many years of loyal service.

In the shoutout in the underground lodge, we see that Iosef has several tattoos, including a back tattoo (although not similar to Wick'south). It'southward possible that during his time affiliated with this family unit, Wick got some of the tattoos he has on his dorsum and shoulders, such as the snarling wolf, the face in the flames, or the cross on his left shoulder.

v HE'S A FAN OF Fine art

One of the near prominent tattoos John Wick has is the praying hands on his dorsum over a cantankerous. The hands themselves are a near identical copy to "Study of the Hands of an Apostle", a pen-an-ink drawing done by German language artist Albrecht Dürer. It's considered i of the finest examples of white highlighting with black ink on blue paper.

By having the delineation of Dürer's most famous work on his dorsum, it could signal that John Wick has a more sensitive and cultured side apart from all the violence. Considering the lavish lifestyle of some of his associates, and the prestige of the Loftier Tabular array, it stands to reason he could take retired from the hitman dissonance with an appreciation for such finely honed artistry.

4 HE'S PROUD OF HIS ADOPTED FAMILY

Every bit revealed inParabellum,John Wick's real proper name is Jardani Jovonovich, and he grew upward an orphan. He was adopted into the Ruska Roma crime syndicate and clean-cut by The Director, who molded him into the world's nigh elite assassinator. Her exacting and decisive mitt-molded him as a fighter and a dancer, which is one of the reasons his movements are so fluid.

His tattoos may commemorate his time spent in service to the family, indicating his deep levels of commitment and devotion. We see that the other dancers under the Director'due south vigilant eye also avowal large tattoos that embrace their backs, shoulders, and arms. The obsessive drills she puts them through ensure that in the moment, their bodies will move independently of their minds, and they volition be ruthless killing machines without having to think.

3 TATTOOS COULD Point ALLEGIANCES

Just as John Wick institute sanctuary with the Ruska Roma and began his career as an assassin working for prominent Russian families, then too could the tattoos of the other characters in the John Wick Universe indicate allegiances to their specific cohorts.

Russian mob and prison house tattoos tend to reflect i's deeds and accomplishments, so it stands to reason that the assassins that pledge themselves to a clan under the purview of the High Table acquire pieces of ink with certain specific contracts, like their first hit, or most prominent hit.

2 THE TATTOOS REVEAL ASSASSIN ETHOS

John Wick selected "Fortis Fortuna Aduivat" to bow across his dorsum higher up a set up of praying hands, indicating he'south a decisive man of action. His deportment are assuming, and he is in a higher place fear, and he lives his life co-ordinate to his own moral code and terms of bear.

The Adjudicator inJohn Wick Parabellumhas the word "Einfühlung"tattooed beyond her neck. This is a German word that translates to "empathy", which is an ironic choice of ink given the nature of her position with the High Tabular array. Possibly information technology's a reminder to express an understanding of another person'southward frame of reference and to judge everyone adequately.

1 TATTOOS REPRESENT A DIVISION FROM Guild

The High Table and its covert guild of elite assassins is a group not unlike the alleged Illuminati - a mysterious entity apart from society only nonetheless involved in all of its machinations. All of its agents work inside the confines of its laws and doctrines, and seem to care very piffling for the rules of normal club.

This could exist a reason for so many of the associates under the High Table sporting copious tattoos. Their ink visually signifies being apart from society in a symbolic way. A prime instance of this is the operators seen inJohn Wick Chapter 2,who perform socially adequate roles, yet covered in ink that wouldn't be advisable for that position in previous decades.

NEXT: ten Things Well-nigh The John Wick Movies That Brand No Sense

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Kayleena Pierce-Bohen (1380 Manufactures Published)

Kayleena has been raised on Star Wars and Indiana Jones from the crib. A film vitrify, she has a Western drove of 250+ titles and counting that she's particularly proud of. When she isn't writing for ScreenRant, CBR, or The Gamer, she'southward working on her fiction novel, lifting weights, going to synthwave concerts, or cosplaying. With degrees in anthropology and archaeology, she plans to go along pretending to be Lara Croft equally long equally she can.

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