a scribes scribbles ☼ [ HEADCANON, CANON NOTES, INTERPRETATION ]
Since Babel no Tegami is a one-shot, there's... a lot that isn't clear or left up to interpretation-- especially considering the setting. The focus was on Mikhail's story, leaving the letter writer as a bit of an enigma. This is mostly why Babel's characters seems so interesting. Anyway, this is just me straightening out my thoughts--both as an interpretation of the manga.
"then let us pour your feelings into this pen"
SETTING
Babel no Tegami takes place at the end of the 19th century, in Saint Petersburg's Central Station. The narration mentions Heaven, and then a train accident--which is interesting to note. Also, a glance at Mikhail's sleeve in his first appearance reveals some kind of substance. Either ash, blood, debris--which is relevant, considering the catastrophe mentioned.
I'm playing Babel as a letter writer for the dead. There are various other interpretations, of course. Some include Babel killing the people he writes letters for, but, considering the narration and his apparent character, this makes much more sense. Mikhail had said that with Babel he had found the courage to "end" his journey.
This Central Station is described as a "melting pot" for anybody. So, all the dead.
BABEL
Considering the setting of the manga--aka, a crossroads in the afterlife--Babel's purpose is simple. Write letters to those whose words couldn't reach the people who were living, and then send them to those people through their corpses.
Originally I had seen Babel as the letter writer who let people convey their emotions in exchange for their life, but the alternative makes more sense with a reread.
"then let us pour your feelings into this pen"
SETTING
Babel no Tegami takes place at the end of the 19th century, in Saint Petersburg's Central Station. The narration mentions Heaven, and then a train accident--which is interesting to note. Also, a glance at Mikhail's sleeve in his first appearance reveals some kind of substance. Either ash, blood, debris--which is relevant, considering the catastrophe mentioned.
I'm playing Babel as a letter writer for the dead. There are various other interpretations, of course. Some include Babel killing the people he writes letters for, but, considering the narration and his apparent character, this makes much more sense. Mikhail had said that with Babel he had found the courage to "end" his journey.
This Central Station is described as a "melting pot" for anybody. So, all the dead.
BABEL
Considering the setting of the manga--aka, a crossroads in the afterlife--Babel's purpose is simple. Write letters to those whose words couldn't reach the people who were living, and then send them to those people through their corpses.
Originally I had seen Babel as the letter writer who let people convey their emotions in exchange for their life, but the alternative makes more sense with a reread.