I was just thinking on the rather graphic nature of Miura's depictions of horrifying occurences in the Berserk world, and specifically how they've been occuring far more frequently in the Post-Eclipse world, and arguably post-Incarnation ceremony. Now duh, it's logical since Godhand has been gaining more influence through it's completion, and the existence of one on the Material plane, but the actual acts themselves are depicted more often post-Eclipse.
In the Golden Age, the truly horrifying events were limited only to those affecting the two central figures of Guts and Griffith for the most part. What stands out are Guts's rape and Griffith's totured form. Sure Wyald has his moments of gruesome glory, but that can be seen as the heralding of the storm of the Eclipse, which was the most gruesome event depicted at that point in the manga. But it's not that horrible events weren't occuring during the Golden Age, just that they were hidden from view by the bright shining mask of the Golden Age, I suppose the King's lust for his daughter would be a good example of this.
But during that era, it can be assumed that Ganeshka, the Snake Baron, the Count, and others of their ilk were active in their various activities, as well as the Berserk everyman like Zepec. But we were not made aware of these things, because this is Guts's tale, and he wasn't aware either. When Guts's reality of the Hawks and a warrior's life were ripped away at the Eclipse, he, and the reader, became aware of the great festering evil beneath the bright surface. Thus the day-to-day activities in Berserk took a darker turn, and more gore and such was depicted, as Guts began actively seeking it out to find the subjects of his vengeance, he saw more of their actions, and his existence was far more down and dirty than it had been as a merc.
Now that Griffith is back and the planes are merging, more grusome things such as trolls can be seen, but the overall tone seems to be brightening, since Guts's own life has brightened through the gaining of comrades. But the darkness is still there, as all the functional adults have done some disturbing acts, but there's also a growing hope that Hawk of Darkness can be stopped, with the introduction of the Elemental Kings and the magical weaponry. And on the other side, the everyday lives of people has become horrifying in Midland, yet they have their own hope in Griffith, humans and apostles alike flock to him. And even though he is the Hawk of Darkness, Griffith has shown compassion outside of possible use as a tool when he saved Casca.
So what does the future hold for the grim trappings of Berserk?
In the Golden Age, the truly horrifying events were limited only to those affecting the two central figures of Guts and Griffith for the most part. What stands out are Guts's rape and Griffith's totured form. Sure Wyald has his moments of gruesome glory, but that can be seen as the heralding of the storm of the Eclipse, which was the most gruesome event depicted at that point in the manga. But it's not that horrible events weren't occuring during the Golden Age, just that they were hidden from view by the bright shining mask of the Golden Age, I suppose the King's lust for his daughter would be a good example of this.
But during that era, it can be assumed that Ganeshka, the Snake Baron, the Count, and others of their ilk were active in their various activities, as well as the Berserk everyman like Zepec. But we were not made aware of these things, because this is Guts's tale, and he wasn't aware either. When Guts's reality of the Hawks and a warrior's life were ripped away at the Eclipse, he, and the reader, became aware of the great festering evil beneath the bright surface. Thus the day-to-day activities in Berserk took a darker turn, and more gore and such was depicted, as Guts began actively seeking it out to find the subjects of his vengeance, he saw more of their actions, and his existence was far more down and dirty than it had been as a merc.
Now that Griffith is back and the planes are merging, more grusome things such as trolls can be seen, but the overall tone seems to be brightening, since Guts's own life has brightened through the gaining of comrades. But the darkness is still there, as all the functional adults have done some disturbing acts, but there's also a growing hope that Hawk of Darkness can be stopped, with the introduction of the Elemental Kings and the magical weaponry. And on the other side, the everyday lives of people has become horrifying in Midland, yet they have their own hope in Griffith, humans and apostles alike flock to him. And even though he is the Hawk of Darkness, Griffith has shown compassion outside of possible use as a tool when he saved Casca.
So what does the future hold for the grim trappings of Berserk?
