Episode 238

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Lliugusamui

around the corner
Sparnage said:
In any case even if he was in the story Rickert is at least 18 now, not a boy.
to
Well, I think you're wrong.^^
But it doesn't really matter concerning this chapter, or so I think. Could it be that Guts and Schierke keep on talking about their respective past ? Wait and see
Guil
 
Guil-BANNED! said:
to
Well, I think you're wrong.^^
Well, whatever, but Rickert is definatelly not a boy.

Guil-BANNED! said:
Could it be that Guts and Schierke keep on talking about their respective past ? Wait and see
Guil

Nah.
They know each other nearly a month or so and besides it would be an uneccesary repetition in the plot. We allready know this stuff, don't we?
 

Griffith

With the streak of a tear, Like morning dew
xechnao said:
Well, whatever, but Rickert is definatelly not a boy.Nah.

What definitely? If Rickert was 9 when Guts joined the Hawks, he could only be 15 today. ;D

Also, it’s implied that he has a penis so can in fact be considered "boy", but I can’t actually prove it (unless you count that Berserk porn rag).

Anyway, I think we've exhausted the possibilities of Rickert showing up for now. Any other ideas? Some kind of legend, anything?

-Griffith

P.S. I think Schierke and Guts talking more (about Guts history for instance) is a reasonable idea. Just because they've known each other for a while doesn't mean they've gotten to know each other. But, are we overlooking the obvious potential problem of Casca wandering around on the beach by herself?
 
Griffith said:
What definitely? If Rickert was 9 when Guts joined the Hawks, he could only be 15 today. ;D

Also, it’s implied that he has a penis so can in fact be considered "boy", but I can’t actually prove it (unless you count that Berserk porn rag).
Yeah, he will be playing the salami by now. Kinda a lad (nearly a young man) but not a boy.
On the other hand what will he have done so far? After the mine was destroyed do you think he left the place with Erica (and if so, for where)? It is also kinda strange Skullknight saved him. Maybe we will be seeing him some time in the future. I think I will bring this staff to speculation nation...

Griffith said:
P.S. I think Schierke and Guts talking more (about Guts history for instance) is a reasonable idea.
In general yes, it's reasonable, but IMHO not for the reader at this point (we know Guts' past, don't we? as for Shielke we also seem to know the necessary). On the other hand I would like to see what Isidro would think seeing Skullknight.
"OMG this dude is cooler than Guts :eek: . I follow HIM, now!!!
...nah, I am with Guts, fuck da ambition - me be friend ??? and he needs me :'( "
 

Griffith

With the streak of a tear, Like morning dew
xechnao said:
In general yes, it's reasonable, but IMHO it's not for the reader at this point. On the other hand I would like what Isidro would think seeing Skullknight.

Yeah, my only dissapointmemt with Skully in the last chapter was the rest of the gang didn't get to see him. When is the band going to meet the secret 7th member? ;D

xechnao said:
"OMG this dude is cooler than Guts :eek: . I follow HIM, now!!!
...nah, I am with Guts, fuck da ambition - me be friend ??? and he needs me :'( "

Nah, Guts is on his way to that kind of cool anyway, isn't he? =)
Kid 'Ro might even point out the obvious that, "If you keep wearing that armor, aren't you going to turn into a monster like him!"

He's blunt and blatant, that's why I like him.

-Griffith
 

nir085

Horse and Armor
Shurikn said:
I guess we know almost everything about that night.. but since Miura masters the art of surprise, he can find something new about that night !!
Well, he did have an arrow in his back didn't he? Yet, not only did he manage to survive, but he also took out a couple of wolves...while wounded. So who knows, maybe Gutts' survival that night or the reason the wolves ran away had something to do with elves. This is an extremely wild bit of speculation, but I'm kind of running out of guesses.

My final guess about this chapter will be about Isidro's past. Isidro is the only major character whose past hasn't been touched on at all yet. (and no one even of think of mentioning SK...). Isidro might meet his parents on the way. Long after Farneze/Serpico were introduced there were two chapters explaining both of their origins. When Morgan asked Isidro about why he ran away to become a thief, er, I don't remember what Isidro's reaction actually was, but I remember him not being too open about his past. Anyways, if they are going to do a chapter on Isidro, they better do it on his past, instead of some stupid battle with an apostle lurking around Elfheim or the ocean. The story is too tense and exciting at this point to go into any kind of direction like that.
 
Sparnage said:
In any case even if he was in the story Rickert is at least 18 now, not a boy.


He was the age when we last saw him on vol 22, yes u r right in the sense he is a teenager and not a boy but then his age...
 

typhonblue

Feminism--making the world safe for bigotry
nir085 said:
Well, he did have an arrow in his back didn't he? Yet, not only did he manage to survive, but he also took out a couple of wolves...while wounded. So who knows, maybe Gutts' survival that night or the reason the wolves ran away had something to do with elves. This is an extremely wild bit of speculation, but I'm kind of running out of guesses.

That moment was the genesis of the black swordsman as well as the beast.

Have you ever wondered why the beast is the shape of a wolf?
 

Griffith

With the streak of a tear, Like morning dew
QUeeN typhonblue said:
That moment was the genesis of the black swordsman as well as the beast.

Have you ever wondered why the beast is the shape of a wolf?

I can one up both those controversial statements in controversity. ;D

If you want to get real psychological, the origin of Guts’ “beast” is after his rape at the hands of Donovan, by way of Gambino’s betrayal; Guts’ loss of innocence and his first taste of true hatred for himself and others. All later sexual encounters in Guts' life have brought out his dark side and his desire to destroy his weakness; eventually manifested in the form of the Beast itself. You could say that Gambino is the beast’s father and Donovan it’s mother, if you want to get all Freudy. =)

The Black Swordsman came later, directly the result of Griffith, but a huge step in the evolution of the Beast; Guts consciously embracing this dark side. As the Black Swordsman, the line between Guts the man, and the Beast, becomes that much more blurred.

Also, about the Beast’s forms. It is obviously influenced by Guts fears and the beasts he has encountered in his own life. The wolves, Gambino*, and of course the more literal monsters Guts has had to face since shortly before the Eclipse. Whatever it is, a wolf, a shark, a monster; it’s a pure predator. However, recently, chapter 228 revealed a more subtle connection to the Beast, its form, and Casca. If you remember, one of the memories Schierke witnessed inside of Guts’ mind was that of Casca pointing at Guts in anger. This was the moment she called him a “Mad Dog!” What could be a better definition of what the Beast is? This brings me to Casca and the Beast. Although, ostensibly, the Beast urges Guts to destroy Griffith, that is simply the instrument of it’s domination of Guts. The Beast’s true enemy, the one thing that stands in it’s way that it must conquer, is Casca.

*Note: Guts has very much become Gambino circumstantially; he is a gimp, his woman is insane and lost his child, his child is the “devil’s child” Gambino once labeled him, and of course, Gambino’s hateful spirit is appropriately reflected in the Beast he helped to create.

-Griffith

P.S. Blah blah blah! Take it or leave it. This is what I think about in college while the profs try to cut through my blank stare. ;D
 

nomad

"Bring the light of day"
Griffith said:
*Note: Guts has very much become Gambino circumstantially; he is a gimp, his woman is insane and lost his child, his child is the “devil’s child” Gambino once labeled him, and of course, Gambino’s hateful spirit is appropriately reflected in the Beast he helped to create.

I never thought of it THAT way...interesting...
 
Griffith said:
I can one up both those controversial statements in controversity. ;D

If you want to get real psychological, the origin of Guts’ “beast” is after his rape at the hands of Donovan, by way of Gambino’s betrayal; Guts’ loss of innocence and his first taste of true hatred for himself and others. All later sexual encounters in Guts' life have brought out his dark side and his desire to destroy his weakness; eventually manifested in the form of the Beast itself. You could say that Gambino is the beast’s father and Donovan it’s mother, if you want to get all Freudy. =)

Interesting concept, I couldnt agree more. Sexual encounters aside the other main thing to bring out the beast within is Griffiths betrayal, which could easily be linked his feelings of betrayal going way back to Gambino.
 

DarkBlademaster

Jesus cries when he looks at me.
Well back to the title of the chapter, doesn't anyone recall griffith being caska's son? Maybe HE is the child of the moonlight?
 
Griffith said:
I can one up both those controversial statements in
*Note: Guts has very much become Gambino circumstantially; he is a gimp, his woman is insane and lost his child, his child is the “devil’s child” Gambino once labeled him, and of course, Gambino’s hateful spirit is appropriately reflected in the Beast he helped to create.


Well if that was the case then i believe Caska will die in future...
 

Griffith

With the streak of a tear, Like morning dew
DemonX said:
Well back to the title of the chapter, doesn't anyone recall griffith being caska's son? Maybe HE is the child of the moonlight?

Griffith said:
The only other thing I can think of... is that it has to do with her child and Griffith somehow?

I certainly remember, and it could possibily be some kind of reference to Casca and her child; perhaps a lingering connection or feeling between them, and therefore Griffith. But, what else is there to say about it within reason at the moment? Besides, of course, that it could be almost anything else. ;D

-Griffith
 

waqas

Oh, nevermind...
Griffith said:
*Note: Guts has very much become Gambino circumstantially; he is a gimp, his woman is insane and lost his child, his child is the “devil’s child” Gambino once labeled him, and of course, Gambino’s hateful spirit is appropriately reflected in the Beast he helped to create.

Wow, great post. So let me add my own brand of stupidity to it...

Since Guts has effectively become Gambino does that mean Isidro has taken on the role of the young Guts? Their are parallels here; Isidro looks up to guts like guts looked up to Gambino, and also Guts taught Isidro how to fight just like gambino had taught him.

Perhaps when guts is at his lowest point with the beast - like when gambino was having trouble dealing with his disability - we'll see whether he really has been taken over by the beast in terms of the choices he makes in regards to his relationship with Isidro. (I'm sorry I'm not sure if that was entirely clear :-\)

With that in mind I certainly hope the next chapter is going to develop guts and Isidro relationship a bit more. ;)

This is all just speculation though...
 
In some ways Guts has become like Gambino, but there has never been any reason to believe that it will be the same with him and Isidro, I personally cant think of any reason to suggest that.
 

waqas

Oh, nevermind...
Sparnage said:
In some ways Guts has become like Gambino, but there has never been any reason to believe that it will be the same with him and Isidro, I personally cant think of any reason to suggest that.

You misunderstood me, I'm not saying Guts will make the same choices as Gambino, I just meant that he is in the same position of "mentor" to Isidro as Gambino was to him.
 
Griffith said:
Although, ostensibly, the Beast urges Guts to destroy Griffith, that is simply the instrument of it’s domination of Guts. The Beast’s true enemy, the one thing that stands in it’s way that it must conquer, is Casca.

If Guts destroys Griffith what will happen to the beast, supposing Caska is still alive?
 
Great post, Griffith. Thanks for sharing it.

Griffith said:
The Beast’s true enemy, the one thing that stands in it’s way that it must conquer, is Casca.
Good insight and it also may point toward her future role in the story.

Guts has very much become Gambino circumstantially
Oooh, I'd not noticed. When this manga is completed, one of the things I most look forward to is re-reading the whole story with an eye for parallels like this. My geeky writer's heart loves this stuff. Some of the parallels may be coincidental since Miura is drawn toward certain themes, but others are deliberate and I can't wait to see how all the pieces fit together in the end.

My YA just arrived, but the topic for the last chapter is already locked. Sigh. Nice to see the softer side of Guts. I like how Guts has his little girl, and Griffith has his. Sonia is definitely the odder of the two.

I wouldn't mind seeing more of Isidro, if that's what the next chapter is about. The original BotH were great, but they're gone (nostalgic cameos still appreciated though.) I want to know more about the current characters, and that includes Grunbeld, Locus, Irvine, Rakshas, and Sonia. They may be the "bad" guys, but I really like them. More Skully and Flora flashbacks would be nice, too. Skully was a character I didn't care for at the start, but he's turning into one of my favorites.
 

typhonblue

Feminism--making the world safe for bigotry
Griffith said:
I can one up both those controversial statements in controversity. ;D

If you want to get real psychological, the origin of Guts’ “beast” is after his rape at the hands of Donovan, by way of Gambino’s betrayal; Guts’ loss of innocence and his first taste of true hatred for himself and others. All later sexual encounters in Guts' life have brought out his dark side and his desire to destroy his weakness; eventually manifested in the form of the Beast itself. You could say that Gambino is the beast’s father and Donovan it’s mother, if you want to get all Freudy. =)

I don't deny that those events helped bring Guts to the crossroads. But it was that night he chose which how he would deal with those traumatic experiences.

Everything after that point has served to enhance and deepen that choice. But that was when the choice was made.

Plus I think Donovan was incidental, the focus was on Gambino even when Guts was taking revenge. What upset him most wasn't the rape(upseting as *that* was) but the idea that Gambino had betrayed him.

The Black Swordsman came later, directly the result of Griffith, but a huge step in the evolution of the Beast; Guts consciously embracing this dark side. As the Black Swordsman, the line between Guts the man, and the Beast, becomes that much more blurred.

These events are huge leaps on the path Guts has chosen, yes. But he still chose it long before.

It's like this, Guts could make a choice that night, a choice of roads. He decided to walk down the Beast road. At the begining of the road he could have easily switched paths, but each step he made committed him more and more to the path he chose.

He is so committed now it will be very difficult for him to see another path, much less take it.

That night, it's almost as if something else decided for him, decided he would fight. But whoever or whatever made it, he committed to that choice. And his life has given him exactly what he wanted, a fight.

How much of everything that's happened, has happened because it's what Guts desires?

Now Guts styles himself as Caska's protector. He fights because she "needs" protection, even though it's been shown that the evil spirits won't hurt her, that she can protect herself when she needs to, that griffith will protect her, even that she finds people who will take care of her. Guts and Caska attract the spirits, but it's really Guts who needs protection from them. How much is this Guts "protecting" Caska, or finding an excuse to keep fighting?

There are two points in the story that really bothered me. I'm holding out hope that Muira doesn't take the easy road in this story, but these two points make me wonder. The first one was when Flora says Caska might save Guts from damnation and the second was when Guts defines himself as the one who protects Caska. Both are superficial concepts. And reflect a cliched approach to story telling. I'm putting my faith in Muira as an artist that he doesn't let Guts sheild himself with either of these excuses, and thus fail to delve even more deeply into his character.

Also, about the Beast’s forms. It is obviously influenced by Guts fears and the beasts he has encountered in his own life. The wolves, Gambino*, and of course the more literal monsters Guts has had to face since shortly before the Eclipse. Whatever it is, a wolf, a shark, a monster; it’s a pure predator. However, recently, chapter 228 revealed a more subtle connection to the Beast, its form, and Casca. If you remember, one of the memories Schierke witnessed inside of Guts’ mind was that of Casca pointing at Guts in anger. This was the moment she called him a “Mad Dog!” What could be a better definition of what the Beast is? This brings me to Casca and the Beast. Although, ostensibly, the Beast urges Guts to destroy Griffith, that is simply the instrument of it’s domination of Guts. The Beast’s true enemy, the one thing that stands in it’s way that it must conquer, is Casca.

Thanks for pointing the "mad dog" bit out, I'd forgotten about that.

The first step Guts took on the Beast road wasn't his own. I think *that* is the Beast's undoing.
 

Griffith

With the streak of a tear, Like morning dew
QUeeN typhonblue said:
I don't deny that those events helped bring Guts to the crossroads. But it was that night he chose which how he would deal with those traumatic experiences.

What night? When he killed the wolves that were going to eat him? That’s a little arbitrary. I think killing Donovan, a member of his own mercenary troop, in cold blood is a little more important. That night is certainly important because he slayed Gambino, but... these are all incidental things after the fact. Contributing factors, but not the origin. Guts' rape, Donovan, Gambino; the next morning, Gambino plays dumb, and Guts doesn't know what to think. The world is no longer black and white, innocence is lost, he smashes the barrel for no reason other than his own pure hatred of his life at that moment. The Beast is born.


QUeeN typhonblue said:
Everything after that point has served to enhance and deepen that choice. But that was when the choice was made.

Yes, but the seeds were planted long before that.

QUeeN typhonblue said:
Plus I think Donovan was incidental, the focus was on Gambino even when Guts was taking revenge. What upset him most wasn't the rape(upseting as *that* was) but the idea that Gambino had betrayed him. These events are huge leaps on the path Guts has chosen, yes. But he still chose it long before.

I went over the betrayal, but again, Donovan, while just being the rapist, is still important for simply that role. You must be talking about later events ("These events are huge leaps...") than Gambino’s betrayal and Guts’ rape since since I don’t think Guts chose any path before that. He was just child before, even his killing was innocent (Donovan was Guts first real cold-blooded murder; beast).

QUeeN typhonblue said:
Now Guts styles himself as Caska's protector. He fights because she "needs" protection, even though it's been shown that the evil spirits won't hurt her, that she can protect herself when she needs to, that griffith will protect her, even that she finds people who will take care of her. Guts and Caska attract the spirits, but it's really Guts who needs protection from them. How much is this Guts "protecting" Caska, or finding an excuse to keep fighting?

No, while that’s not a completely unvalid point, Casca would in fact be dead already a few times over if it wasn’t for Guts protecting her, which he does, in a very literal, taking a bullet for the president, way. I don’t know where you get that spirits won’t hurt Casca, those were isolated incidents where she was under the child’s protection, and even then the child sent Guts to save her. Guts doesn’t really need that kind of excuse to fight, and protecting Casca is much harder than just letting himself go in battle. Previously, when he embraced battle over all else, he abandoned Casca, and it’s the Beast that proposes he does this again, only a step further; killing her first.

QUeeN typhonblue said:
There are two points in the story that really bothered me. I'm holding out hope that Muira doesn't take the easy road in this story, but these two points make me wonder. The first one was when Flora says Caska might save Guts from damnation and the second was when Guts defines himself as the one who protects Caska. Both are superficial concepts. And reflect a cliched approach to story telling. I'm putting my faith in Muira as an artist that he doesn't let Guts sheild himself with either of these excuses, and thus fail to delve even more deeply into his character.

I guess he could kill Casca and that would be something new? Yes, those are clichéd concepts, but they are concepts being directly applied by characters in the story, namely, Flora and Schierke, to describe Guts’ and Casca’s relationship. That doesn’t mean Guts specific situation with Casca is just a cliché, but it can be defined under a broader category, like most things. In this case, “the better half.”

-Griffith

P.S. I don't know that we directly disagree on anything, just that we emphasize different perspectives; or, disagree. ;D
 
QUeeN typhonblue said:
I don't deny that those events helped bring Guts to the crossroads. But it was that night he chose which how he would deal with those traumatic experiences.

Everything after that point has served to enhance and deepen that choice. But that was when the choice was made.

Plus I think Donovan was incidental, the focus was on Gambino even when Guts was taking revenge. What upset him most wasn't the rape(upseting as *that* was) but the idea that Gambino had betrayed him. These events are huge leaps on the path Guts has chosen, yes. But he still chose it long before.

It's like this, Guts could make a choice that night, a choice of roads. He decided to walk down the Beast road. At the begining of the road he could have easily switched paths, but each step he made committed him more and more to the path he chose.

He is so committed now it will be very difficult for him to see another path, much less take it.

That night, it's almost as if something else decided for him, decided he would fight. But whoever or whatever made it, he committed to that choice. And his life has given him exactly what he wanted, a fight.

How much of everything that's happened, has happened because it's what Guts desires?

Now Guts styles himself as Caska's protector. He fights because she "needs" protection, even though it's been shown that the evil spirits won't hurt her, that she can protect herself when she needs to, that griffith will protect her, even that she finds people who will take care of her. Guts and Caska attract the spirits, but it's really Guts who needs protection from them. How much is this Guts "protecting" Caska, or finding an excuse to keep fighting?

There are two points in the story that really bothered me. I'm holding out hope that Muira doesn't take the easy road in this story, but these two points make me wonder. The first one was when Flora says Caska might save Guts from damnation and the second was when Guts defines himself as the one who protects Caska. Both are superficial concepts. And reflect a cliched approach to story telling. I'm putting my faith in Muira as an artist that he doesn't let Guts sheild himself with either of these excuses, and thus fail to delve even more deeply into his character.Thanks for pointing the "mad dog" bit out, I'd forgotten about that.

The first step Guts took on the Beast road wasn't his own. I think *that* is the Beast's undoing.


That night it was his instinct of survival that made him fight. It wasn't THE beast that decided for him but his inner beast of survival.
It was something that he was born with, it is something of himself.
Guts was betrayed in the past by other people. This damaged his sociallizing will.
It was this damage, this allianation that corrupted his soul and made him project his inner beast as his attachment to THE beast.

Guts left the Hawks because of Caska. Falling in love with Caska was too much for his attachment to his allianation that winter. He wanted to overcome his own allianation by himself and not because of Caska so he left.
In other words he was thinking that he wasn't ready for what would happen if he stayed.
Then the tragic events happened and Guts had to hurry to their rescue. At some point physical attraction occured and he made love with Caska. He still wasn't ready and Donovan's memories sprung out. But events went on the same. Now the problem is, that while he has to overcome himself by his own in the same time he has to stay with Caska (otherwise he is risking to lose her for ever).
This is what he tried to avoid first place but it didn't work because of events (causality has made it's part over here I guess).
Now he has to go the hard and difficult way. Skullknight and Godo have tried to advice him to stay the course because as events have come this way, it might be catastrophical to leave Caska behind.
But he has no other choice, no alternatives as you have implied. Causality has made it as hard and difficult for Guts as it could possibly be.
But do not confuse this with his survival instinct. His life is the driver. Without his life nothing of this exists, not even idea. The game of causality is how his life will play (not if he has it or not: it's not the "Final Destination" flick we are seeing here).
 
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