Marika seems to take on a more messiahic character in comparison to Gwyn’s Zeus-like persona. Marika lost her entire village to the Hornsent. Her people were tortured and stuffed into jars to become saints for the Hornsent. Somewhere along the way she became a god, following the Two Fingers’ interpretation of the Greater Will. She removed every threat to the Golden Order and led her people to prosperity. She was even able to remove Death from the Lands Between.
Marika would never have to lose a loved one again. She would be with her family forever as immortals. Nobody would have to feel such a tragic loss because all would be reborn in the Erdtree. Then things fell apart.
Morgott and Mohg were born cursed Omens, a legacy of the Hornsent (perhaps Hoarah Loux was a descendant of them?). Godwyn’s descendants drifted farther and farther from the grace of gold, engaging in the horrific rite of grafting to gain strength. Rykard was engaging in blasphemy, Ranni refused to be a pawn of the Two Fingers, Radahn held back Fate itself. Malenia was marked by the Goddess of Rot. Miquella was cursed to be young forever. Melina could only exist as a spirit. Messmer had the Abyssal Serpent sealed within him. Marika exiled Godfrey and his warriors. She fused with Radagon. Marika could not live in peace as her family tree was thoroughly poisoned.
Then Godwyn, her perfect son, died. Yet Death was no longer part of the Elden Ring. Godwyn became a cancer, a bloated parasite corrupting Erdtree rebirth. All done on the actions of Marika’s daughter, Ranni. Marika’s golden paradise faded and she would be left presiding over a realm of eternal suffering and decay. She was trapped by fate and so did the only thing she could with her last shred of humanity. She shattered the Elden Ring.
Marika’s love, her desire to protect people, and died with her godhood. The only thing she could do was to wait for someone to become a new Elden Lord and fix the mess she made.