William Afton’s Canon Motives
The following evidence is backed with canon quotes and references cited from the novels written by Scott Cawthon, based on real facts, and not a head canon or AU.
His envy and resentment of Henry Emily:
TSE p. 351: A search of his house…found stacks of journals full of raving paranoia, passages about Henry that ranged from jealousy to near worship.
TFC 173: William: “I can’t take complete credit for this, unfortunately…My only real accomplishment was making something that could walk…No small accomplishment but it’s not happening as fluidly as you think. A lot of what you see is just in your head…that was Henry’s idea not to try and reinvent the wheel.”
TTO p.258: “I’m…far
more than Henry.”
TTO p. 261: “Do you think my robots would be as poorly
designed as your father’s?” (Henry’s)
TFC p. 84: “…Henry found a unique spark-created something truly different, something he didn’t deserve, or intend, to stumble upon (Henry implanting his memories into a robot)…you will bring it (Charlie) to me.”
TTO p. 257: William to Charlie: “You have something that belongs to me.”
TSE p. 344-345: “We both wanted to love… (Henry) loved and
now I have loved.”
TSE p. 344: “I helped (Henry) create.”
TSE p. 344: “(The children) are home, with me…Their happiest day.”
TSE p. 345: “There isn’t a way out anymore. All that’s left
is family.”
His fear of death:
TSE p. 368. (William is afraid of death).
TFC p. 174: “I have face my own mortality…I knew I was dying and through every broken fragment of my body I was profoundly, immeasurably afraid.”
“I fear (death) more than I fear life like this, even when every waking instant is pain, and sleep is possibly only when induced by enough medication to kill most people.”
TFC p. 332: William Afton clenched his fists, studying his own hands for a moment and then looking toward the medical monitors in the corner. “I feel my time is running short.”
TFC p. 339: “I’m running out of ideas,” William said, failing to hide his anxiety.
Scientific experimentation:
His fascination with remnant and binding souls to suits after death.
“Now let us put you to a greater purpose.” (TFC p. 39)
“Their lives will now have a greater purpose,” (William) said contentedly. “Just as you did (Elizabeth in Circus Baby).” (TFC p. 40)
William watched (Circus Baby) with a gleam of pride. (TFC p.
172).
TFC p. 173: He reclined and let out a sigh. “Sometimes great
things come at a great cost.”
TFC p. 174: Afton answered thoughtfully, “…But that’s why we’re here-to discover the secret of the last ingredient, what you might call the spark of life.”
TFC p. 175: "The most terrible accidents bear the most beautiful fruits…Re-creating the accident-That is the duty and honor of science. To replicate the experiment, and obtain the same results. I give my life to this experiment, piece by piece.”
TFC p. 178: "How did the creatures at Freddy’s move, of their own will, with no outside force controlling them?” He asked mildly. He tilted his head, waiting.
TFC p. 178-179: “The spirit follows the flesh, it would seem, and also the pain. If I wish to become my own immortal creation, my body must lead my spirit to its immortal home.”
TFC p. 109-111: “Since I am still experimenting… I move my flesh piece by piece. It is a test of the strength of my own will. How much of myself can I carve away, and still remain in control?”
TFC p. 320: “Well, that’s the point of this, to learn, trial and error.”
Jessica: “You want to live forever? …you’re making yourself into a robot?” (TFC 175)
More examples: