Over the last few days there has been a surge in Winter Schnee appreciation posts with regard to her sister, Weiss, and obv on the back of that there has been many negative comments about the Schneesters in regard to their younger sibling, Whitley.





First, I wish to state.

In no way is Whitley a ‘bad guy’, but rather a young boy being a bit of a brat due to the rhetoric drummed into his head by their Father at their place in the world and Jacques Schnee’s world view in general. Coupling this with the neglect of his Mother. Of course the young man is going to be sour.

And he is no different from the Weiss we first met back in Vol 1, who was also a bit of a brat.

Whitley has so much potential to change and grow due to his tender age.

However, laying the blame at Winter’s and Weiss feet is hardly fair.

I would like to direct you to @rwby-analysis​ “People forget..” post. and I would suggest reading it as they make very good points that I would just end up repeating here.



With concern to the perceived abandonment of Whitley by his older siblings, many factors have to be kept in mind.



1) AGE!

Winter is 23 at the start of Vol 1, recently graduated from Atlas as graduation is at 21/21.

Weiss is 17 at the start of vol 1, only recently left the safety of the Schnee mansion and all of its trappings, ie luxury and awful parents, and the comfort of Klein.

Whitley (and this is a huge guess) could be anywhere from 12 to as old as 14 by the time we finally meet him. Inclined to believe 14 due to his height compared to Weiss in heels.

That puts nearly a decade between Winter and Whitley, and this is important.

Winter, leaving to attend Atlas at 17, meaning Whitley was 8. She was raised in a country and a household that prized themselves on active suppression of and not showing emotion, whilst suffering years of emotional abuse and neglect.

Winter more than likely began attendance at Atlas with a very limited skillset, ie fighting skill, figuring out the hereditary semblance and summoning by herself.

And that limited skill set is hardly something she could pass down to a 8 year old who had shown no skill or aptitude, however, it is something that she could pass down to a 12 year old sister who HAD shown aptitude. Passing that knowledge onto Whitley when he got older or showed aptitude for it would fall on both sisters, but mainly Weiss who was there whilst Winter was at boarding school.

However, you cant teach someone something if they simply cannot do it.

Which is alluded to when Weiss asks Whitley,

As Winter progressed and learned more at Atlas, and thereby improving herself, she evidently passed down that knowledge and began challenging Weiss in ways that she had never been. Preparing her and giving Weiss the tools she would need to begin carving out her own path from out under their Father’s iron grip.

Other things that Winter would go on to learn would be of a strict military nature, hardly fitting for an 8 year old boy.





2) OPPORTUNITY.

Winter then went into the Military, more than likely signed up before graduation without consulting her father, signing an ironclad contract even he couldnt fight against. This is what more than likely caused Winter to lose her Heiress title, as a punishment or to strong arm her back to the fold.

There is a good chance that Jacques told Winter she was no longer part of the family, limiting her contact with her siblings.

As Klein alludes to Weiss when she absconds in the middle of the night.

“After tonight, Winter will be your only family.”

We can guess that Winter had access to Weiss from 12 - 17, up until she was written out. And only continued training and guiding her sister when she had the chance and in the best way she knew how.





We have no point of reference as to the exact reason why Whitley dislikes his siblings, only that he does and we can speculate till the cows come home whether it is by personal choice or brain washing by his Father.





It stands to reason that if Whitley doesnt like his siblings that he would not find either of them inspiring and have no wish to spend time with them, no matter if they sought him out or listen to them if they tried to give him advice.

3) AFFECTION

This is painstakingly covered in @rwby-analysis Winter post. However, i would like to add.

We know whilst growing up, Winter did her best to stand up for her sibling’s in lieu of their Mother’s absence.



We also know that Weiss cares for Whitley by how hurt she was at his perceived betrayal and wanting Weiss to lose her heiress status so he could take her place.

4)OTHER DECIDING FACTORS (and modern parallels )

A) More than likely at 17, Winter did not know how to move in the real world outside her gilded cage, ie. Taking care of her own clothes, something as simple as cooking and all the everyday skills that poor folks learn by living an ordinary life.

She was in a military boarding school, no place for a child and in no position to take custody of said child. At 17 how could she provide for herself and her sibling with no money, no knowledge of how the real world works and no way to gain employment.

Weiss is also facing similar issues.

Still at 23 and 18, neither sister is in a position to take on custody of a teenager.

B) Fighting JACQUES SCHNEE for custody.



Neither Winter or Weiss has the resources to go up against the deep coffers of the SDC or the caliber of lawyers on retainer to the conglomerate. Never mind the PR and undermining of the pair in the media by Jacques.

A person fully prepared to gaslight the world as to the mental health of Weiss.

Again, in order to gain custody, Winter and Weiss would need to prove that they can take care of the health and well being of a teenager.

If Winter stayed in the military to provide money for all three, she would still have long stints away on deployment, leaving Whitley in the legal care of Weiss.

(and this all boils down to if Whitley wants to live with his sisters.)

C) Yes, whilst it is possible that both Weiss and Winter could have take it upon themselves to teach Whitley in combat to the point where he could have excelled enough without the hereditary semblance of glyphs and summoning, solely relying on dust usage which is at their disposal on a huge scale, as we have seen with the likes of Roman and Mercury,

The difference is that Roman and Mercury started from a young age and learned as a necessity to survive.

Both Schnee sisters rely heavily upon their semblance to succeed, (look how easy it has been to take down Weiss up until recently). I would suggest that neither sister has the skill to train somebody to that caliber, who has no semblance. And not being on hand 24/7 to oversee such tutelage.

But this avenue is also relying on the proviso that Whitley showed any interest at all about learning combat, and by his comments to Weiss about

“Huntsmen being uncivilized and why bother when you have an Army, cause that is what armies are for.”

Would lead the viewer to summarize either he tried and failed miserably, fueling his jealousy of his siblings OR he genuinely has no interest.

D) The on coming danger and threat to mankind.

Weiss knows exactly what they are up against. That the fate of the world rests in her and her friends hands.

She has witnessed the Fall of Beacon and lost friends that were more than capable of taking care of themselves.

Winter knows that things are getting worse, being General Ironwood’s Second in Command, she may not be fully in the know like her sister, but she is aware that there is a threat unlike any other and the world is on the brink of war.

Where would be the safest place for a younger sibling with no way to protect himself?

Is it not care that you know exactly where they are?

Would it not be neglectful on the Schneester’s part to remove Whitley from what is probably the safest place on the planet, surrounded by security, infinite resources , to traipse around the world, constantly under threat and not knowing where the next safe haven will present itself?

That bringing Whitley along would open him up to far more dangerous situations.

In this case I would say, that Winter and Weiss are both thinking..

“Better the Devil you know.”







shout out of thanks to @winterschnee-frozenelegance for providing images with screen caps