Two theories I’ve come across on the internet pertaining to the major ideas that have influenced Berserk are that Freud and Hegel’s ideas play a significant role in the inspiration for the Idea of Evil and the Godhand. On superficial examination Freud’s ideas seem the most obvious i.e. in connection with how it was the collective unconscious-will of humanity, that led to the Idea of Evil’s creation (and which continues to sustain its existence). However, I think that there is a deeper connection with Freud’s ideas and also those of Hegel, particularly his absolute idealism.
Freud’s work seems to have a deep connection to the Godhand. The Idea of Evil relays to us via Femto that it came into existence through humanities collective desire for reasons that transcend human means. The idea of evil is largely the result of blurred negative emotions. All of these suggest that the idea of evil and the Godhand are related to the human ID which exists in the unconscious mind. The ID according to Freud is primarily composed of unbridled desires and instincts. Humans become apostles, or in rare case Godhand members, by effectively removing their superego which moderates the unconscious mind, and thus, removing all compassion, morality, and crucially human norms of reason. The Idea of Evil satisfies the human desire for “reasons for suffering”, “reasons for the absurdity of existence” etc., by reifying an abstract concept of evil i.e. by making evil beings exist in the concrete world as causal agents—this is where Hegel comes into the picture.
Hegel’s absolute idealism seems to be the motivating force behind the idea of evil and particularly Femto who is literally referred to as “the Absolute”. Hegel’s absolute idealism sought to overcome the subject-object distinction by eventually making a subject’s ideas become part of reality e.g. Femto establishes his own kingdom by means that appeared “absurd“ to the gurus on Elfheim—by changing the physical world in its entirety. The Godhand members all had incredibly strong desires that originated in their IDs, this resulted in them being unable to live within their human means, Femto’s unification of the astral and physical worlds serves as a way of making a subjects ends i.e. the things desired, become a part of the physical world, thus overcoming the subject-object distinction. On my account, the Godhand desires to make all humans overcome their superego’s and become ruled by their ID’s—in short, ruled by their dreams; this is the idea of evil truly believes it is satisfying humanities deepest wishes— to be free from human limitations and to embrace the narcissism of their IDs. Furthermore, by using an authoritarian governing body (the Godhand) the Idea of Evil can enforce a strict determinism that brings everybody and everything in line the will of those who have the strongest desires.
Somewhat tangentially, Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy is another work that (at least, I believe) has significant connections with Berserk. In particular, the character of “Judge Holden” has significant parallels with Femto: see the appended clip wherein the Judge talks about war, to see striking similarities between the Judge and Femto: The Judge on war
P.s. sorry about the rambling and borderline unintelligible prose; I’ve tried, with this edit, to make it more perspicuous.
Freud’s work seems to have a deep connection to the Godhand. The Idea of Evil relays to us via Femto that it came into existence through humanities collective desire for reasons that transcend human means. The idea of evil is largely the result of blurred negative emotions. All of these suggest that the idea of evil and the Godhand are related to the human ID which exists in the unconscious mind. The ID according to Freud is primarily composed of unbridled desires and instincts. Humans become apostles, or in rare case Godhand members, by effectively removing their superego which moderates the unconscious mind, and thus, removing all compassion, morality, and crucially human norms of reason. The Idea of Evil satisfies the human desire for “reasons for suffering”, “reasons for the absurdity of existence” etc., by reifying an abstract concept of evil i.e. by making evil beings exist in the concrete world as causal agents—this is where Hegel comes into the picture.
Hegel’s absolute idealism seems to be the motivating force behind the idea of evil and particularly Femto who is literally referred to as “the Absolute”. Hegel’s absolute idealism sought to overcome the subject-object distinction by eventually making a subject’s ideas become part of reality e.g. Femto establishes his own kingdom by means that appeared “absurd“ to the gurus on Elfheim—by changing the physical world in its entirety. The Godhand members all had incredibly strong desires that originated in their IDs, this resulted in them being unable to live within their human means, Femto’s unification of the astral and physical worlds serves as a way of making a subjects ends i.e. the things desired, become a part of the physical world, thus overcoming the subject-object distinction. On my account, the Godhand desires to make all humans overcome their superego’s and become ruled by their ID’s—in short, ruled by their dreams; this is the idea of evil truly believes it is satisfying humanities deepest wishes— to be free from human limitations and to embrace the narcissism of their IDs. Furthermore, by using an authoritarian governing body (the Godhand) the Idea of Evil can enforce a strict determinism that brings everybody and everything in line the will of those who have the strongest desires.
Somewhat tangentially, Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy is another work that (at least, I believe) has significant connections with Berserk. In particular, the character of “Judge Holden” has significant parallels with Femto: see the appended clip wherein the Judge talks about war, to see striking similarities between the Judge and Femto: The Judge on war
P.s. sorry about the rambling and borderline unintelligible prose; I’ve tried, with this edit, to make it more perspicuous.
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