Do you think the emperor loved the primarchs?
This is a general question, but I see people disagree about it all the time. Some say they are tools, others say he saw them like sons he unfortunately had to sacrifice. I’m curious to see the different perspectives people have
My own view is that he did actually love them, at least most of them, but knew he had to sacrifice them and have the heresy happen, so saw it as an inevitability.
My personal favorite quote is the one from Hammer of Olympia where Perty first meets Big E
'I want nothing more! I swear that I shall serve you faithfully for all time This I pledge.' The Emperor looked at him with an expression of infinite wisdom. Deep in his eyes, sorrow lurked. Perturabo wished more than anything to banish that sadness, if he could. 'Then rise, my son.' The sadness was hidden away again, so that Perturabo doubted he had ever seen it, and was ashamed he could impute such an emotion to so perfect a being. 'Your road will be hard, but few are worthy of it,' said the Emperor. 'I have many tasks for you, the indefatigable, the indomitable, the unrelenting. You shall be my Lord of Iron.'
I interpret this as The Emperor being sad to hear Perturabos loyalty, and it being hard too see how much his son is suffering, and knowing he will have to do the same to him. He is sad, but covers it up with “it’s a necessary sacrifice”
What are your thoughts?