You’re throwing your love across
my impossible space
You’ve created me
Take me out of me into…
A new way to be human
To a new way to be human
I’ve been wavering on Suisei no Gargantia, unsure if I would continue the series. It’s been pretty to look at, but other than that, I’ve only been captured by certain moments in the show, instead of by the setting, the characters, or the plot in general. Episode four, however, turned things around a bit, as our protagonist begins learning how to be “more than soldier.”
Ledo begins to search for information, and as he does so, we see his attitude. He espouses survival of the fittest, the greater above the lesser, and rules over heart. Ledo finds the ideas of family and friends to be foreign and unnecessary. He will only help others when it promotes his mission. And as such, though he fights for the survival of the human race, Ledo’s heart is one filled with selfishness.
But through Ledo’s meeting with Bevel, Ledo comes to see that there is value in kindness and compassion that can’t be measured by his goals.
Humans are at their best when they forget themselves and put others first. Selfless acts bring warmth to our hearts when we see them on the news, and help bring us happiness and peace when they are personally demonstrated toward us.
I’ve said that our nature is selfish. It’s what we gravitate toward – this motive to love ourselves above all others. But we also know that it isn’t right – it isn’t what ultimately satisfies. Deep down, Ledo knows this, too, as demonstrated through some sort of painful sacrifice, briefly insinuated in this episode, is buried deep in his memory, and by his own selfless actions in the first episode.
I hope (and imagine) this will be a larger theme of Suisei no Gargantia – Ledo connecting to this loving humanity and he spends time among a people. And as he searches for a way to return to the battlefront and his home, he’ll find something else as well – a new heart.
Dang. I’m watching 10 current running series. I can’t believe this is not one of them. After finals are over I’ll probably try to catch up (and then be watching 11 series :S).
This is a packed season! I’m still trying to keep up with about seven, when I normally can’t handle more than 2-3. -_-‘
[…] Charles claims that Ledo is selfish and that humanity is inherently selfish, but as harsh as it may seem to us in a world of plenty, fundamental resources can’t be provided to someone who would weaken the human super-organism that even at its strongest has trouble fighting the Hidiaazu. I personally don’t think it’s selfishness to ensure the continued existence of your species. Being able to look out for yourself is how you live in Ledo’s world because each individual unit has to be performing at maximum capacity—the system can’t allow for even the tiniest weak link. But since arriving on Earth, there’s a more relaxed standard of moral codes and he’s coming to realize that in this place he doesn’t have to be on his guard at all times in order to survive. […]
[…] of morality as brought up in both of the aforementioned blogs. TWWK points out what seems to be an objective difference in morality between Ledo’s society versus Gargantia’s society, whereas Marlin-Sama seems to provide […]