Awesome arguments Vodnak I especially liked how you started off the topic by saying that: "I think in order to observe what the true theme/and or moral device behind the story is, you have to first witness the end of it. That's just my opinion." I completely agree with this. It is impossible for us to dissect THE major theme/s of Berserk without seeing the end. But I do think we could make relevant guesses and predictions about not only the major theme/s but the ending as well.
Antonius Block mentioned Sacrifice as a major theme and I definitely like that idea. I've stated in the past that it is my belief that Guts' revenge and rage is THE main theme. Aaz and Walter tend to disagree but it's presence and power is prominent in every arc enough so that one can definitely see it.
When Berserk started it's first arc, the Black Swordsman arc, one must ask why Miura did this? Why start there exactly? My personal opinion for that reason was Miura wanting to display Guts at his worst. When his rage or berserk was at its peak. He wanted to show us what the main theme and focal point of his entire epic was going to be. The Black Swordsman arc set up Guts' rage and revenge, the high fantasy and medieval setting, and the extreme mature themes. It is such a brilliant set up that explains almost everything one can and should expect when starting the series. I always laughed at the morons who kept saying, "Berserk sucks after the Golden Age arc because there is just so much magic, demons, and D&D high fantasy bullshit. Berserk was never about that." Those kinds of people need to shut up and get a clue because Berserk was always going to be about that. They should have realized it the moment they started reading the damn series!......ok I went off topic there I can't stand haters. lol! Anyways, back to the main theme argument.
Guts' rage and revenge was the center focus of the Black Swordsman arc, and it has been a prominent major theme in every other arc proceeding it. It is of my opinion and belief that Miura will end his series on a similar note of that of the Black Swordsman arc. I'd like to point out one more point in the Black Swordsman arc that I find very important, and that is the death of the Count. To become an Apostle, a person must sacrifice one of the most important things he has in his life. The Count chose his wife but still has his daughter. Even as an Apostle, his love for his daughter was so big that he chose to die rather than sacrifice her. Now i want you to imagine this scenario but with Griffith. Griffith sacrificed ALL his friends in order to gain his dream, but what will happen once he loses even that? Just like the Count, Griffith will crack (break down), but unlike the Count, he will have nothing left to sacrifice and he will fall.
My prediction for the ending of Berserk: Griffith will lose his kingdom, the only thing he has left that he loves. He sacrificed his friends and the emotions he had for them, all in order to become the greatest ruler he can be and gain his own kingdom. Once he loses that kingdom, he will have nothing left. Guts having finally tamed his revenge and anger will face Griffith, not for revenge's sake, but for the sake of the population. He will defeat Griffith not for himself but for the people he loves. In the end, Guts will be the enlightened calm composed man who is facing an enraged berserker gone Griffith filled with thoughts of revenge. The roles will be reversed.
At least that's how I think it will end. Something along those lines anyways Miura has said that the ending of Berserk will be a happy one, so Guts triumphing over Griffith seems like the logical conclusion...at least I hope so. This is just how I pictured the perfect ending to Berserk. What do you guys think?
Antonius Block mentioned Sacrifice as a major theme and I definitely like that idea. I've stated in the past that it is my belief that Guts' revenge and rage is THE main theme. Aaz and Walter tend to disagree but it's presence and power is prominent in every arc enough so that one can definitely see it.
When Berserk started it's first arc, the Black Swordsman arc, one must ask why Miura did this? Why start there exactly? My personal opinion for that reason was Miura wanting to display Guts at his worst. When his rage or berserk was at its peak. He wanted to show us what the main theme and focal point of his entire epic was going to be. The Black Swordsman arc set up Guts' rage and revenge, the high fantasy and medieval setting, and the extreme mature themes. It is such a brilliant set up that explains almost everything one can and should expect when starting the series. I always laughed at the morons who kept saying, "Berserk sucks after the Golden Age arc because there is just so much magic, demons, and D&D high fantasy bullshit. Berserk was never about that." Those kinds of people need to shut up and get a clue because Berserk was always going to be about that. They should have realized it the moment they started reading the damn series!......ok I went off topic there I can't stand haters. lol! Anyways, back to the main theme argument.
Guts' rage and revenge was the center focus of the Black Swordsman arc, and it has been a prominent major theme in every other arc proceeding it. It is of my opinion and belief that Miura will end his series on a similar note of that of the Black Swordsman arc. I'd like to point out one more point in the Black Swordsman arc that I find very important, and that is the death of the Count. To become an Apostle, a person must sacrifice one of the most important things he has in his life. The Count chose his wife but still has his daughter. Even as an Apostle, his love for his daughter was so big that he chose to die rather than sacrifice her. Now i want you to imagine this scenario but with Griffith. Griffith sacrificed ALL his friends in order to gain his dream, but what will happen once he loses even that? Just like the Count, Griffith will crack (break down), but unlike the Count, he will have nothing left to sacrifice and he will fall.
My prediction for the ending of Berserk: Griffith will lose his kingdom, the only thing he has left that he loves. He sacrificed his friends and the emotions he had for them, all in order to become the greatest ruler he can be and gain his own kingdom. Once he loses that kingdom, he will have nothing left. Guts having finally tamed his revenge and anger will face Griffith, not for revenge's sake, but for the sake of the population. He will defeat Griffith not for himself but for the people he loves. In the end, Guts will be the enlightened calm composed man who is facing an enraged berserker gone Griffith filled with thoughts of revenge. The roles will be reversed.
At least that's how I think it will end. Something along those lines anyways Miura has said that the ending of Berserk will be a happy one, so Guts triumphing over Griffith seems like the logical conclusion...at least I hope so. This is just how I pictured the perfect ending to Berserk. What do you guys think?