I AM SURE you have heard about the anime “Attack on Titan” at least once. It could be from your Otaku friends, memes on Facebook, or the clever ads by Minute Burger. It has caught the attention of people all over the world.
The animation, the music and the plot are what make it stand out from all others. It has just the right amount of action, drama, gore, and even comedy. The unexpected character deaths make it as nerve-wracking as “Game of Thrones”. However, there is another aspect of the plot that makes it unique – the evolution of the protagonist.
This is most prominent in the latest season. Eren Jaeger who starts as the typical passionate Shounen hero wanting to defeat the bad guys evolves into a ruthless vengeance-seeking anti-hero. His intentions are good, but his methods are nothing short of evil.
It makes me think of other stories that have this kind of plot. Not just in anime but also in other stories. You have Adelina Amouteru from “The Young Elites” trilogy, Edmond Dantes from “The Count of Monte Cristo”, and even our own Crisostomo Ibarra/Simoun from “Noli Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo”.
Stories like these show how the protagonists can sometimes give in to negative emotions like vengeance after suffering so much pain. I think these stories appeal to us because they are more relatable than the noble hero who always does the right thing. If we put ourselves in their situation, we know we are more likely to follow their dark path than to “see the light”.
You don´t agree with me?
Try to think about people who have done you or your loved ones wrong. At some point you wished that they would be punished and get what they deserved. Maybe after some time you cooled down, but the fire of hatred burned within you even just for a while.
We see ourselves in these good guys gone bad. They show the extent of what rage can do to a person. Their stories can also teach us lessons that we can punish those who did us wrong, but it comes at the cost of our humanity. Whether or not that price is worth it is up to you.
These stories can either enchant or horrify you. Just try to think, what would you do if you were in the protagonists´ shoes? If you were betrayed, if your family was hurt, would you still be able to see the goodness in humanity?
If we can empathize with these situations, maybe we will be able to understand why some people turn against society. We will understand that anyone can become a bad guy in someone’s story./PN
