Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-27907368-20160506131212/@comment-27620479-20160519222037

Still, I don't believe red marks Determination. I'm willing to accept Fate, but it was argued not to be a trait, so I went with Hope, because that's what Asgore noticed, what Chara gave to (and their death took away from) monsters, and that would also explain why Chara was willing to follow presumably the player's (or if not, Frisk's) guidance.

My first argument against Determination is that it would make the barrier inconsistent. If there are souls, that are defined by the power that is needed to cross or break the barrier, then Chara and Frisk should (have) be(en) able to walk across it as they were/are. We know that a monster absorbing a human soul can pass, and absorbed monster souls can (in vast quantity) substitute a human soul. In both cases, the single identified power required is technically on the same point and in the same body, and I haven't seen an explanation that tells why shouldn't a single powerful soul have the same ability (even if holding hands or so doesn't work because the souls are spread out). Or shouldn't a soul that is defined by that power have less than 1% more (the genocide requirements clearly show that there are over a hundred monsters) of it?

My second argument against it, is that Determination is a common trait of all human souls, which have different colors, while monster souls, which pretty much lack it, are all white. There is no mention anywhere that monsters can't be consistently just or patient or whatever, and it is heavily implied that they can be kind (Toriel) and brave (Undyne). So I think determination amplifies other colors, instead of having it's own, specific one.