Browsing through the rebirth chapters and it just leaps out at me how utterly sexualized Griffith is, especially in comparison to Casca, who is (at least by Miura’s standards) totally desexualized.

Guts’ internal conflict is essentially desire vs responsibility, ie revenge vs escorting Casca to Elfhelm, ie Griffith vs Casca, and the visual depiction of that conflict is straight up, extremely loud and clear, naked sexy Griffith vs Casca all childlike in a shapeless cloak

Like to a rather extreme degree Guts is seeing Casca as someone who needs to be taken care of, at this point, and fairly reluctantly at that. She is a responsibility, not a reward.

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Contrast that to Griffith. Guts sees Griffith as an object of desire. From his sexy rebirth to Guts thinking about how he wants to pursue him to stick a sword in him to pleading for acknowledgement, Griffith is the individual Guts wants. Casca is who he kind of ends up stuck with.

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And let’s return to the best page of the manga to really illustrate this dichotemy between the way Guts views Griffith and Casca right now:

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Casca is a child here, directly mirroring Erika, and Griffith is absurdly beautiful and desireable.

We can also compare sexy naked Griffith above to:

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Which comes right after Guts accidentally sees her tit and averts his eyes.

“he/you used to be” – Guts imagines Casca in full armour leading a charge, and imagines Griffith Like That.

Casca reminds Guts of all those days with the Hawks, Griffith reminds Guts of Griffith.

When Casca is sexualized, that sexualization manifests as a desire to
rape and kill her to be closer to and then pursue Griffith. It’s both
depicted as a very bad thing and as his desire for Griffith fighting
back, essentially. (”She’s a sacrifice so you can continue longing for
Griffith.” “If you just do this you’ll get closer and closer to
Griffith.”)

When Guts is being responsible, he’s thinking of Casca as a charge, a child-like person he has to take care of, while Guts’ temptation to pursue Griffith is sexualized, both through Casca and directly with how Griffith is depicted.

anyway i’m glad i avoid the berserk tag like the plague

“how dare you defend (read: like) a character who is a rapist you rape apologists”

“no you see what guts did isn’t that bad, i mean at least he didn’t go all the way, why shouldn’t casca get back together with him, at least he’s not as bad as griffith, how dare you suggest he’s not a great person who deserves casca’s love”

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Can you believe that Guts/Griffith is so powerful the damn mangaka had to have a random character go out of his way to try to shut down the gay vibes and spend most of his screen time in the latter-half of the Golden Age steering Guts towards Casca instead?

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like you know you wrote a gay romance instead of a straight romance when you need to have a side character blatantly intervene in the story to make sure the dude sleeps with a woman.

just-a-daft-punk
replied to your post “phydia63
replied to your post “Serpico and Roderick”
…”

I also like with how much respect he treats guts, like he keeps calling him chief, commander or general even though guts told him he doesn’t have to. And I feel like he’s the only one who’s genuinely interested in his real underlying motives like why he even fights for Casca and what his feelings for her are

Yeah he seems to genuinely like and respect Guts, which is nice, and tbh I found it kind of strange but endearing that he’s the only one who asked Guts about Casca and seemed to get an answer (tho we didn’t see it). Plus he got the Elfhelm drinking conversation going between him and Guts and Serpico. he’s a good facilitator of heart to hearts lol.

phydia63
replied to your post “phydia63
replied to your post “Serpico and Roderick”
…”

It would suck imo if Roderick turns out to be a dick just like every male character in berserk ever.
If he is a nice guy like it seems rn, I can see him going with the flow when Farnese breaks off the engagement

yeah, there sure aren’t many non-dickish dudes in Berserk. Maybe Serpico? But with him it’s less that he genuinely wants to be a decent guy and more like he can’t be assed to be a dick bc it’s more of a hassle lol. so far roderick is fairly refreshing.

phydia63
replied to your post “Serpico and Roderick”

I was really pleasantly surprised by Roderick, I expected him to be a slimy man since he is friends with Magnifico lol But he was so chill, also he’s cool on a ship xD I’d like if he and Farny become nice friends

same! the way he was introduced as Farnese’s surprise fiancee set up by her scheming brother definitely made me expect the worst but so far he’s been a surprisingly good dude. i’d love to see Farnese break off the engagement and Roderick take it in stride and remain friends with her. i mean I guess there’s some ulterior motive to them getting married (due to that whispery ball conversation between roderick and magnifico), so that might not be how it goes, but it would be nice and I could definitely see Roderick being amiable about it.

myahle
replied to your post “Guts is different from Griffith. Guts fights the beast in him every…”

THANK YOUUUUUUU. This in-depth analysis is perfect. My brother made me watch Berserk with him and started ne off saying, “you’ll probably like Griffith because, but you shouldn’t. You should like Guts.” I do like Guts; however, I adore Griffith because of his complexity and I enjoy his parallel with Guts’ narrative. I am so glad that someone else has pointed out how each character is similar, yet different. ������

thank you for your kind words ❤

glad you didn’t end up agreeing with your brother, I find berserk is just a richer, better story when you can appreciate and enjoy Griffith’s complex character and narrative. both guts and griffith are important to berserk and why only like one when you can enjoy both, right?

farneseapologist
replied to your post “griffith represents the realistic reaction. a lot of people who read…”

THANK YOU i think in particular the part abt the sacrificed person being who you most love *and* hate in that moment gets ignored, like the fact that in the canon examples the person(s) you love the most has betrayed you or ruined your life etc etc is glossed over??
it’s very easy to say
“well, *i* wouldnt do it” and pat your back smugly for being a good and
moral person if you can’t imagine ever facing that level of betrayal
from your loved ones

yeah it’s an important part of the whole equation. maybe it’s not the case in every single sacrifice, but it seems to generally hold true and it makes sense because in Berserk fate basically arranges circumstances for the highest possibility of someone saying “yes.” Except with Theresia, the sacrifice is always the reason for the behelit owner’s despair. It’s, ‘cut this out of your life and you will never feel despair like this again.’

idk I guess it’s less obvious with Guts and Griffith because Guts like, didn’t just try to kill him or anything, the betrayal Griffith perceives from him is a lot more subtle and blameless. More of a, I destroyed my dream because I’m in love with you and you’re going to leave me again, kind of thing. He says, “you’re the only one who made me forget my dream,” like an accusation. But I mean Guts himself acknowledges that he’s the one who drove Griffith to despair while he’s riding after him, so Guts being the source of Griffith’s pain is pretty explicitly part of the Eclipse.

So like yeah, even if you wouldn’t sacrifice someone you love who is totally innocent under any circumstances, let’s be real most of the people who say they’d never sacrifice someone aren’t thinking of a cheating spouse, or a son who just tried to kill them, or someone they love whose perceived rejection lead to a year of torture.

griffith represents the realistic reaction. a lot of people who read berserk dont want to admit it, but most if not all of us wouldn’t be able to struggle. we would give in to what we were led to believe was our fate. people like to believe they’re special, and if you’re coerced in your darkest hour to think so- a lot of us would do anything. that’s also along w/ many reasons why ppl hate griffith. bc characters reflect the uncomfortable reality of what people will commonly do

Yeah I pretty much agree with you. Whenever I see someone who’s like, “I would never ever sacrifice someone I cared about no matter what,” I’m like, well that seems like a v high and untested opinion of yourself.

Idk maybe they’re just a lot more idealistic than me and believe the majority of people wouldn’t choose to sacrifice someone in a moment of pure despair, or maybe they genuinely are that self-sacrificing lol, but I’m with you – I’d say most people would. Especially in the world of Berserk, where behelits generally end up with people who have extremely strong values/desires/drives that make them more likely to sacrifice one thing for the sake of another thing. Add the fact that every apostle we see (except Count Slug’s second attempt) sacrificed someone/thing they both loved and hated in that moment, and the fact that moments of despair are tailored by fate to each individual – to be their worst moment, playing on their specific fears and insecurities etc, and yeah, I’d say just about everyone would make the sacrifice under those conditions.

And tbh one thing I love about Griffith’s narrative is that I actually find it really relatable/understandable. I think Miura did an amazing job of showing us what Griffith values, what he prioritizes, what he believes, what he feels, and how his life has driven him to the point of the Eclipse. When he says, “I sacrifice,” it’s so good because it’s been completely built up to. We got to really see all the elements that come together at that moment to make him choose the sacrifice, and it’s absolutely a realistic decision for his particular character. And personally one of my favourite things about fiction is that feeling of understanding why someone does something terrible, or evil, or stupid, or self-destructive, etc etc. I find it very cathartic, and Berserk is perfect for that.

Like it’s fair if ppl find the same thing uncomfortable or off-putting. A story about relatable/realistic people making bad choices for understandable reasons is definitely not for everyone, but that’s absolutely what Berserk is, at least the Golden Age, and misreading it as the story of an evil dude doing evil things because he’s evil doesn’t change that.

Something to think about:

While Griffith is human, Guts is an ordinary dude doing his best.

While Griffith is Femto, Guts is the Black Swordsman, traumatized, lashing out, driven by the rage inside of him.

While Griffith is NeoGriffith, Guts shifts away from rage and revenge towards personal growth.

Plus, each of Guts’ character shifts is a direct result of Griffith. Becoming Griffith’s soldier helps Guts come out of his shell, helps him grow as a person and accept the friendships of those around him, helps him be a responsible leader and dedicated comrade, and inspires him.

Guts becomes the Black Swordsman because of Femto’s actions, because of his desire for revenge and need to exorcise the rage and hurt inside him.

And Guts decides to take Casca to Elfhelm, gaining friends and chilling out along the way because NeoGriffith “abandoned” him.

I don’t have a real conclusion to draw but I’m throwing this out there anyway. Parallels, reflections, etc.

seisans
replied to your post “Casca”

this is why in every au i imagine casca and guts as siblings … it’s literally perfect they have such a good platonic dynamic

I feel this tbh. Thinking about how much better their relationship, and the manga in general, would be if their relationship stayed platonic bums me out lol. It would’ve been so superior.

seisans said: is guts watching ‘cause griffith is cute
or is griffith cute ‘cause guts is watching?

asking the real questions. maybe he’s born with it, maybe it’s off the charts romantic chemistry

Serpico and Roderick

Serpico:

character: hate them | don’t really care | like them | LOVE them | THEY ARE MY PRECIOUS

ship with: this is so difficult. I really want him and Guts to have a weird drunken hookup exactly once, but that’s not really shipping. I could see him with Roderick, I think it would be cute if he’s engaged to Farnese but just shrugs when it turns out she’s not interested and gets with Serpico instead lol, and Serpico seems to like manly yet relatively decent dudes (you cannot tell me he didn’t hit on Luca’s bf that one time).

I’ve also seen Serpico/Silat suggested, and I mean they’ve never interacted before but the idea kind of leapt out at me and tbh I could see it. Serpico’s chill and reasonable, Silat is hot-headed but also reasonable, Silat is a leader who has a goal, Serpico is more of a tempering follower, Silat’s flashy and Serpico’s understated. Idk they feel like a good combination.

brotp: Farnese ofc. I do love them together, in a platonic sibling way lol. Whatever happens I wouldn’t want to see them separate.

general opinions: Serpico is a v refreshing character in the world of Berserk lol, it’s kind of nice having someone in the mix who is chill. I mean he’s chill to a fault, and it’s shown to be also a result of childhood trauma (oh Berserk), but it makes a good contrast to everyone else. I enjoy his character development, which is subtler than most other characters – like watching him slooooowly move from wanting Guts to die to occasionally saving his life has been great. It’d be nice to see him with another important relationship outside of Farnese – we can see that the RPG group is growing on him, but while Farnese has new, influential relationships with Guts, Schierke, Casca, and Roderick to an extent, Serpico doesn’t really. Give him a boyfriend, Miura.

Roderick:

character: hate them | don’t really care | like them | LOVE them | THEY ARE MY PRECIOUS

ship with: Serpico, or tbh Magnifico lol. I mean lbr, Magnifico hooked him up with his lesbian sister so they could conveniently beard for each other.

brotp: Farnese, I think they have the beginnings of a cute friendship, or Guts, bc they hit it off pretty well with some chill mutual battle-related respect and Guts needs more ordinary, well-adjusted bros.

general opinions: He doesn’t really grab me as a character, but I don’t dislike him either. He’s nice, he seems like a good dude – he’s the one who headed the attempt to save Guts from the sea god thing, and I can respect that, plus I enjoyed the reveal that he’s like the fighting equivalent of Guts on a ship. I think he’s got more going on beneath the pleasant exterior – we had that interrupted schemy conversation with Magnifico that we still haven’t addressed afaik, but I doubt it’s anything particularly sinister.

Someone has probably already sent you this, but Griffith.

actually you’re the only person who’s sent anything so this works out ❤

character: hate them | don’t really care | like them | LOVE them | REALLY FUCKING LOVE THEM

ship with: Guts ofc

brotp: hmmm. Guess I gotta go with Zodd. Griffith may have no friends but at least he has a giant monster he can ride around on.

general opinions: Griffith exemplifies like a million of my favourite tropes and he’s one of my favourite fictional characters of all time. Ambitious emotionally repressed + morally dubious person brought down by intense overwhelming love, like, it’s the epitome of my shit. I love how complex he is, and I love how tragic his narrative is, and I love how repressed and stupid he is, and I love how gay he is, and I love how emotionally vulnerable he is in brief moments when he loses control, etc etc.

Casca

character: hate them | don’t really care | like them | LOVE them | THEY ARE MY PRECIOUS

ship with: FARNESE!

brotp: tbh all the Hawks, I love what we see of her relationship to the Band in general. I love the theoretical concept of her being bffs with Guts instead of hooking up with him and just removing all sex from their relationship, but in canon as is, nah get them far away from each other.

general opinions: I love her, I think she had a ton of potential as an interesting character that unfortunately we only ever got to see brief glimpses of, I really really wish the story was kinder to her, and I want her to raise hell when she gets her mind back.

I don’t really have a theory, but as you said Sonia might be a self taught witch. But to use the witch powers doesn’t she have to connect with spirits? Her thing reminds me more of the elves, but idk, it’s probably not important in the end.

inablackmirror:

bthump:

inablackmirror:

bthump:

hmm yeah it is kind of inconsistent with the whole schierke calling on spirits thing, the rituals, etc. good point!

maybe she will have a surprise backstory, like only being half human or something. or at least it’s a worthwhile headcanon, if we never learn anything more about her.

I sort of feel like she’s just…different. As she says, alike to Griffith.

Legit tbh. It wouldn’t surprise me if we never got more of an explanation than this, and I’m ok with that.

I like to think of her as girl!Griffith and someday I want to see her grow up to be a horrifying beautiful world ruler of a utopia or something via sketchy supernatural powers too.

lol I could see this, and I’d be into it. tbh I actually really hope we get to see her as a powerful adult after the theoretical Elfhelm timeskip. I could easily see her as Griffith’s second in command, or ruler of a sub kingdom or something. Also assuming she matures a bit and doesn’t just turn into a drusilla-esque wacky psychic.

I don’t really have a theory, but as you said Sonia might be a self taught witch. But to use the witch powers doesn’t she have to connect with spirits? Her thing reminds me more of the elves, but idk, it’s probably not important in the end.

inablackmirror:

bthump:

hmm yeah it is kind of inconsistent with the whole schierke calling on spirits thing, the rituals, etc. good point!

maybe she will have a surprise backstory, like only being half human or something. or at least it’s a worthwhile headcanon, if we never learn anything more about her.

I sort of feel like she’s just…different. As she says, alike to Griffith.

Legit tbh. It wouldn’t surprise me if we never got more of an explanation than this, and I’m ok with that.

I don’t really have a theory, but as you said Sonia might be a self taught witch. But to use the witch powers doesn’t she have to connect with spirits? Her thing reminds me more of the elves, but idk, it’s probably not important in the end.

hmm yeah it is kind of inconsistent with the whole schierke calling on spirits thing, the rituals, etc. good point!

maybe she will have a surprise backstory, like only being half human or something. or at least it’s a worthwhile headcanon, if we never learn anything more about her.

I saw Griffith haters saying that the whole world is in complete chaos because of the merging of the astral and physical worlds, forming Fantasia. What Griffith’s doing is essentially the equivalent to poisoning the water supply in people’s city and sold them clean water. He’s just “megalomaniac and faker”

Enh, to be fair some warlock dude in Elfhelm kinda suggested this.

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Though I definitely think this is just, like, his opinion, man.

I think we’re getting two sides to this whole Falconia thing, and we’re meant to draw our own conclusions. Like, yeah Griffith’s country is the only chill place now, which is shitty, but on the other hand it’s also 50x better than the world was even before he flooded it with monsters, and it seems that his plan is to keep expanding it into an inclusive empire.

It’s not that NeoGriff is a con man or w/e, forcing people to buy his world peace, it’s that flooding the world with monsters is the only way to make people stop being shitty and work together in a nice utopia that values equality over social status, and it’s up to the reader whether the ends justify the means or not.

Plus it’s worth noting that this is what humanity wants. The Conviction arc was largely dedicated to showing us how shitty the world is. Nobles torture and torment peasants, outcasts are miserable, the holy see sucks, the heathens suck, plague everywhere, people starving, pretty much everyone except the richies is unhappy. Griffith’s new world order is essentially a response to all the bullshit we see up close and personal in the Conviction arc, a world where outcasts are welcomed, people are valued for what they can do rather than what family they were born to, apostles no longer eat people, no inquisitions, no discrimination that we see – like it’s fitting that the prostitutes from the Conviction arc return in Falconia as tour guides/organizers.

Griffith, as “the desired” of humanity, presumably fulfills humanity’s desires. Of his own free will and for his own maybe shifty reasons, but free will and fate are not mutually exclusive in Berserk – people’s choices always play into fate’s hands. The Idea of Evil told him he’d either save or doom humanity by doing whatever the hell he wants. I kind of assume this means less saving/dooming the world and more a metaphysical Jesus-y saving/dooming people’s souls – or quite possibly saving humanity from themselves or dooming them to more of their own subconsciousness dicking with them. You know, either getting rid of the Idea of Evil by shaping humanity’s point of view, or dooming them to continue having their mass subconscious manifest in a malicious entity who controls fate.

That’s just a theory tho, we don’t really know what the Idea of Evil means afaik, and even if I’m right I have no idea if what NeoGriffith is doing is more likely to save or doom humanity lol. Or hell maybe he’s on the road to “dooming” humanity but, similar to how letting Guts go kicked off the series of events leading to his rebirth as NeoGriffith, something in his faulty, Guts-obsessed demon soul is going to cause him to do something unexpected and better/freeing for humanity. /more theorizing

ANYWAY all that said I actually fully expect Miura to come down more on Guts’ side, since he is the protagonist and all. Personally I’m into Falconia, I like the whole ‘can’t make a utopia without breaking a few eggs’ thing, but since Guts, on a more philosophical level, represents free will and raging against fate and struggling against your situation while Griffith more represents being saved by someone who comes along and makes your life easier (i think), and Berserk is all about The Struggle, I think there’s an undertone of it being better to suffer in an uncaring world than to have a happy easy life in a utopia.

Do you have any theories on Sonia and the origins of her powers?

You know, that’s never actually occurred to me as something that needs an origin story. I kind of just assume she’s like a naturally talented witch, like maybe some people have more innate ability to see the astral plane than others.

The fact that she’s kind of weird and off-beat probably helps tho, since the more like, boring and conservative you are the more blind you are to magic and stuff lol. She talks about feeling alone all her life I think so I figure she was never formally trained by a professional witch or anything, it seems like something she was born with.

Do you (or anyone else reading this) have any theories about her?