The Pinky Paradox: How One Little Finger Sealed the Fates of Booker DeWitt and Zachary Comstock

The world of BioShock Infinite is one of infinite possibilities, each shaped by choice, chance, and a haunting refrain: “There’s always a lighthouse. There’s always a man. There’s always a city.” Among the game’s myriad mysteries, one stands out as particularly enigmatic: Elizabeth’s missing pinky finger. This seemingly minor detail carries profound implications for the intertwined destinies of Booker DeWitt and his alternate reality counterpart, Zachary Comstock.

And the fact it was released a year too late to make it a smooth 100 year anniversary of its main story series of events. But I digress..

If you prefer to spare yourself from spoilers, this is probably a good time to close this article and go experience the masterpiece for yourself, yeah?

For those of you still with us, a brief refresher/overview:

That Darned Pinky: A Marker of Divergence

Elizabeth’s/Anna's pinky is severed during a key moment in the game’s backstory. As an infant, she is taken from Booker —a desperate man who sells her to erase his gambling debts—by the Lutece twins, under orders from Comstock. During the handoff, Booker has a change of heart and tries to take her back. In the ensuing struggle, Elizabeth’s pinky is caught in the closing dimensional tear, severing it from her body as she is pulled into Comstock’s reality.

This event leaves Elizabeth existing in two dimensions simultaneously. Her dual-dimensional nature grants her the ability to manipulate tears in space-time, making her central to Comstock’s plans to rule Columbia and spread his ideology across infinite worlds. However, her pinky’s separation also symbolizes the schism between Booker and Comstock, tying their fates to her existence.

Regarding the Luteces: Architects of the Multiverse

The Lutece twins, Rosalind and Robert, are pivotal figures in the discovery and manipulation of dimensional tears. Rosalind Lutece, a brilliant physicist, first uncovered the existence of parallel universes through her work on quantum mechanics and the phenomenon of "Lutece particles," which can suspend objects in midair. Her groundbreaking research led to the creation of the Lutece Device, a machine capable of opening tears between realities.

Robert Lutece, originally from an alternate reality, was brought into Rosalind’s world through one such tear. The two siblings, identical in all but gender, became partners in their exploration of the multiverse. Together, they refined the Lutece Device, enabling precise manipulation of tears and making it possible for Comstock to traverse realities. This technology became the foundation of Columbia’s floating city and the means by which Elizabeth was abducted.

The Luteces’ discovery, however, came with unforeseen consequences. Prolonged exposure to the Lutece Device rendered them "unstuck" in time and space, allowing them to exist across multiple realities simultaneously. This state of being gave them near-omniscient knowledge of the multiverse, enabling them to guide Booker and Elizabeth while cryptically hinting at their roles in the unfolding events.

Despite their brilliance, the Luteces were not immune to moral conflict. They initially assisted Comstock in his plans but later sought to undo the damage they had caused. Their playful yet enigmatic demeanor belied their guilt and determination to set things right, making them both architects of and witnesses to the multiverse’s tragic cycles.

Sins of the Father:

A Man Haunted by Choices

Booker DeWitt’s journey is one of redemption, driven by guilt over his past sins. When he utters the cryptic phrase, “Bring us the girl and wipe away the debt,” he unknowingly agrees to deliver his own daughter to another version of himself. Elizabeth’s severed pinky becomes a physical representation of the choices Booker has made and the ones he continues to face.

By the end of the game, it is revealed that Booker and Comstock are the same person, split by a critical choice: to accept or reject baptism after the Battle of Wounded Knee. Booker rejects the baptism, continuing down a path of self-loathing and debt. Comstock, in contrast, accepts it, reinventing himself as a prophet but becoming equally monstrous in his quest for power. Elizabeth’s pinky—a remnant of her father’s desperate struggle—is a constant reminder of this divergence.

A Man Consumed by Hubris

Comstock’s obsession with Elizabeth stems from his inability to produce an heir due to the side effects of exposure to the Lutece Device. To secure his legacy, he orchestrates Elizabeth’s abduction, unaware that his actions are the catalyst for his undoing. The severing of Elizabeth’s pinky, an unintended consequence of his plans, ensures her connection to the multiverse and her eventual role in dismantling his empire.

Comstock’s downfall is foreshadowed by his reliance on forces he cannot fully control, including the Luteces and Elizabeth herself. The pinky, though a small detail, underscores the irony of his fate: his pursuit of absolute power and control over destiny ultimately leads to his destruction.

The Universe Doesn't Like Its Peas Mixed With Its Porridge:

The Infinite Loop

Contrast to the Luteces, two separate entities from separate dimensions - Elizabeth/Anna being a single entity split into two (very unevenly - thankfully) ((the Burial at Sea DLC touching upon quite a different outcome)) provided her the same knowledge of the multiverse the Lutece's had, but at a FAAFO style and rate of learning and an organic method of controlling the tears. Her ability to open tears and traverse realities is both a gift and a curse, allowing her to uncover the truth about her origins and the intertwined fates of Booker and Comstock. By leading Booker to his baptismal moment and ensuring he drowns before the choice can be made, Elizabeth attempts to break the cycle.

Yet the game’s closing moments suggest that the cycle may persist in some form. The pinky, a seemingly insignificant detail, becomes a symbol of the game’s central theme: the inescapable nature of choice and consequence. Whether the loop is truly broken or merely reset, Elizabeth’s pinky remains a poignant reminder of the cost of trying to escape one’s fate.

You've Got Me Wrapped Around Your Finger

Elizabeth’s severed pinky is more than just a physical anomaly; it is the linchpin of BioShock Infinite’s narrative. It represents the fracturing of realities, the consequences of choice, and the enduring connection between Booker DeWitt and Zachary Comstock. Through this small yet profound detail, the game weaves a tale of redemption, power, and the infinite complexities of human decision-making. In the end, the pinky’s significance lies in its ability to bind the story’s disparate threads, sealing the fates of its characters in a web of infinite possibilities.

Will the circle be unbroken? By and by, by and by? Is a better home awaiting in the sky, in the sky? Only you can determine the answer to that.