Overanalyzing of Gauron and Sousuke (Long rambling)
I notice a lot of people claim that Gauron is a very one-dimensional character. That he has no apparent motivation for going after Sousuke, (other than that time when Sousuke shot him in self defense, which seems like a lame excuse for a villain) and that he's a very shallow character.
Well, here are my overanalyzations and reasons why I disagree. ( Read more... )
Well, here are my overanalyzations and reasons why I disagree. ( Read more... )
And OMG, no stalker-vibes at all XD! I love replies, no matter when or how random! <3
I totally agree. Gauron didn't see Kashim as a human, but as something ABOVE human. Like you said, an ideal. He pretty much worshiped Kashim, and the way Gauron was dreamily recalling their first meeting in TSR, I thought he sounded almost like a religious fanatic. I mean, an Assassin Saint? The guy sounds like he would've started his own religious cult or something.
As an aside, I don't think Gauron is the only one that thinks Kashim is a beautiful work of art. I think it's a common theme inside the story. Later in the novels, Lemon started photographing Sousuke like crazy, and Sousuke got annoyed and asked him why. Lemon mentions that Sousuke is like art, and even makes special mention about his eyes (which Gauron mentioned too). (Link here: http://www.mangafox.com/manga/full_metal_panic_sigma/v07/c030/3.html) I found that pretty interesting.
Ah, yes, so true. Gauron IS a total narcissist, and is completely self indulgent. It sounded like before the cancer, from the way Sousuke and Kalinin recalled him, he wasn't as indulgent and pleasure-seeking to the point of being suicidal. I kind of remember that Kalinin even mentioned that Gauron valued his life above everything else (something that was proven false how many times during the series?), so I assume that Gauron went more extreme than before ever since the cancer.
Oh wow, I love that interpretation blurb. It's really well written, and it summarizes Gauron's reasons for suicidal tendencies so well. Especially that last sentence. Embracing life and death with great enthusiasm, the result being terrifying. That is him. I know Amalgam really regretted taking Gauron lightly because of his cancer - he really did a number on them. Gauron is a total troll.
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Anyway, from background details in the canon (like what Kalinin says about him, for example) it's clear the way that Gauron's behaving throughout the series isn't his usual - he may be a violent sociopath with incredibly warped aesthetic sensibilities, but what he is not is a nutjob. Every time I canon review, it still manages to surprise me how incredibly astute (and even, at times, well-educated) he comes off - he knows exactly how the world works, how people work, and how to get (well, almost) anything he wants. More than anything else, he's someone who sees the truth, and his complete lack of delusions is a large part of why he acts the way he does. The fact that he sees through and doesn't buy into any of the bullshit or niceties that society runs on is why he never got on with anyone else in Amalgam, I think - what he has in common with them is minimal (even the one thing that bonds the others - money - isn't important to Gauron, except as a means to an end), and Gauron's very adamant that his perspective is the only right one.
Also, something I didn't quite mention in the interpretation blurb is, of course, that Leonard really badly underestimated the scope of Gauron's self-destruction. A big part of what the series is actually chronicling is Gauron's decision to go down in flames and take everyone and everything with him. He's aware of the huge amount of damage he has the power to do, and he sure as hell isn't going to waste the opportunity to do it - especially not when he's already dying - because he gets off on seeing things bent to his will. And the thought of people still cursing his name decades after he's gone is kind of amusing, too.
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And I agree - everything that we hear from other people talking about Gauron kind of confirms that he was less suicidal. Oh, he was definitely messed up, and VERY pleasure-seeking. But at the same time, he seemed almost content with going around in the black market, being filthy rich and killing for fun. At least until he found out he had cancer. And yes, Gauron sounds like he's actually very educated - far moreso than Sousuke (who is, in many ways, very naive and unwordly when it comes to things outside of the military). Especially when he started discussing politics and the way the world worked with Sousuke during TSR. He made some pretty deep observations.
And so true! Gauron likes telling his clients that he's a "businessman" and just wants money, but it becomes more and more obvious that that really isn't the case. Money for him is like a little bonus tacked on. He seems like someone who likes having wealth and power, and will enjoy fancy dinners / Italian suits... but none of those are the things that truly motivate him. (As an aside, I always love contrasting him with Sousuke - I found it hilarious when I read a side story on Sousuke and Kurz stumbling on gold, and Sousuke actually agreeing that, since he's dirt poor, it would be great for him to take the money and just go retire. What a contrast! For Gauron who has millions, he would throw it all away to live in a life and death situation and fight Kashim. But for Sousuke, who is so poor, he wishes he wouldn't have to work for Mithril and could just do what he likes.)
I think EVERYONE in the series (other than the twins) underestimated the scope of Gauron's suicidal depravity. I think Gauron found very few people in that world very dear to his heart (saintly Kashim being practically the only one), and as a result, wanted to troll / destroy all of them before he dies. Yeah, I can totally imagine him being very happy in hell, knowing that people still hate him even after he's gone.
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