One's Understanding of Human Nature (Akio, Shoujo Kakumei Utena)

[kessie]

Character: Akio
Series: Shoujo Kakumei Utena
Title: One's Understanding of Human Nature
Author: Ria
Email: ria_ruby@yahoo.com
Spoilers: To keep on the safe side, most of the general series, focusing on Akio, Dios, Anthy and Utena. Heavy spoilers of the end, too.
Notes: This essay was due on Wednesday, but due to cirsumstances, I was unable to

Comments

[sarahtheboring]

OK, the SKU fan part of my brain just exploded. This is awesome.

I love the treatment you gave to the interaction between Akio and Dios; that had always puzzled me, but you fit it into the whole theme of the series (getting over the past and your own limitations), and it makes so much sense. Wow. Very cool.

Akio is so deeply, subtly evil, and that combined with his outward image makes him a fascinating character. This was a great treatment of him. Thank you.

[kessie]

Oh, thank God. *collapses* I was so afraid that someone was going to say that this was crap! ^_^;

I think the starting point for my idea concerning Akio and Dios' interaction was the way that Akio always refers to Dios as a seperate person to him. Akio refuses to see Dios as part of himself anymore, merely someone that once was, yet he's spent so much time trying to reclaim Dios' power that Akio obviously doesn't fully believe this.

Akio is one of my favourite characters for the series, so I'm glad I did him justice. Thanks!

(Oh, and you said on your journal that Akio is easily oversimplified?
...I think I really don't wanna know. *cries*)

[sarahtheboring]

No problem. Yeah, I think he's easily oversimplified because he's evil. "He's evil and seductive and evil, so it doesn't matter why!" I think evil characters are still interesting to figure out or wonder about, even if their actions aren't admirable. (says the Mikage essay-writer. ahem.) And he treats Utena badly, which a lot of people can't see past at all, since she's the hero and they tend to identify with her. Not that I blame them, in many ways, but it tends to bring any discussion of his character to a screeching halt.

Which is why it's nice to see some now.

Akio's referring to Dios as separate from him is probably what led me to wonder too much about them, or think of them as too separate, to be exact. At first, anyway. They seemed so different, and there was hardly any treatment of the time when one became the other. (I do think there's one shot during the shadow play in "The Rose Seal" that touches on it - while they're talking about the prince, there's a reaction shot from Akio, and he looks strangely sad. It's the only

[sarahtheboring]

Oh, and a note to the mod, now that I look at the memories. Revolutionary Girl Utena and Shoujo Kakumei Utena are the same canon - one is the translated title and one is the original title, but they're the same series, same continuity, etc. (well, apart from movie, series and manga 'verses, but those all have the same title too.)

not that I'm obsessed or anything. ;)

[gaisce]

I love, love, love Akio's villainy. You described his last triumph perfectly.

"And, to some extent, Akio is right: Utena did fail as he did because she believed she did. Utena truly believed that she failed Anthy and that she was always just pretending to be a prince, and the viewer never learns if Utena forgives herself for this. The cycle has repeated itself."

Excellent. Pure, undiluted excellence. Thank you for doing such a lovely job on such a complex character. Series Akito is one of my favorites and you did him justice.

[kessie]

To be honest, if Akio heard Utena's last words before the swords reached her (and he probably did), for that little triumph alone, all that came before must have been so worth it. From his point of view, of course.

Of course, then Anthy completely ruined that little triumph, so...

Anyway! Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed reading this. For me, I'm just relieved it wasn't as pathetic as I believed it was. ¬_¬;