PDA

View Full Version : Again is Kenshin Himura a schitsopfrenic? (spoilers up to Kyoto)



I.R Joey
12-03-2001, 10:04 PM
I think I mispelled it, but oh well.

My freinds and I are still arguing over this. About whether the Battousai and the wandering samauri that doesn't kill, are two seperate personalities within the same soul, or whether they are two sides to the same personality.

I kind of lean towards the later because it seems to me that he still has control of himself even when he is the yellow eyed Battousai, to me a schitzo is someone who can't control when their other personality comes out. I mean he isn't just eating rice balls one day, and all of a sudden decide to kill Sano and Megumi. Kenshin always seems to allow himself to become the Battouasi when someone he cares about is in danger (Ex. Kauro, or when he was fighting Saito, how he was holding his freind's hostage.) Yes, he is pushed to become it usually, by either Jinei (who again had kidnapped someone he loved, and again killing him would have been the only way he could have saved Kauro from Jinei's hyponosis), it seems to me that his pther self is a power he reaches back to grab at, when his back is completly against the wall, and it's the only way he can win. I think he's so much stronger as the Battouasi because he fights without holding himself back, without the fear of killing someone.


And now there side.

They continually state that he doesn't control himself, because he does allow himself to break his vow to become the killer manslayer. Looking at the way he had to physically harm himself after he fought Saito to bring himself back, or how Kauro had to scream at the top of her lungs to get him to stop from killing Jinei. Both of these times it was a tramatic experiance or jolt that caused him to return to his real self (and we all agree that he is the Wanderer at heart.) Plus the way his entire demeanour changes when he becomes the Manslayer. It actually takes itself out on his body, the way he breathes, acts, and even speaks, the way he looks at others, even those he cares about, all seem to point to someone who is almost possesed by a demon.

So what do you guys think?

Leaping Larry Jojo
12-03-2001, 10:47 PM
I think it's time you watch the Samurai X OAVs. At this point in the show, I think it's okay to go watch them.

I.R Joey
12-05-2001, 10:37 PM
Is there alot of backstory in the OVA and stuff, I might see it this Friday.

I.R Joey
12-07-2001, 11:04 PM
Okay I saw it and It still doesn't solve anything for me. It explains alot more of Kenshin's past that's for sure (very tragic) but I still don't think it answers this question indefinately.

Leaping Larry Jojo
12-08-2001, 12:57 AM
Originally posted by I.R Joey
Okay I saw it and It still doesn't solve anything for me. It explains alot more of Kenshin's past that's for sure (very tragic) but I still don't think it answers this question indefinately.

Sure it does. It gives you enough hints. They don't have to spell it out for you. He's not a schizo. It's more of a...warrior's soul. Bloodlust. All soldiers, even American war heroes, have experienced it in a heated battle. That's all there is to it. The thing with Kenshin is that he gets caught up in killing because he had done it so often.

I.R Joey
12-08-2001, 01:04 AM
But see the question for us was never really whether he had deep scars in his psyche, we all know that, but rather whether he had two seperate personalities or not, and I still don't think the question was answered really, or addressed that much. Ken is still the noble person we know and love (though less goofy) but still for every answer we get about what' inside him, 3 more questions pop up. Well that's my opinion.

Leaping Larry Jojo
12-08-2001, 01:33 AM
Originally posted by I.R Joey
But see the question for us was never really whether he had deep scars in his psyche, we all know that, but rather whether he had two seperate personalities or not, and I still don't think the question was answered really, or addressed that much. Ken is still the noble person we know and love (though less goofy) but still for every answer we get about what' inside him, 3 more questions pop up. Well that's my opinion.

You have to understand the warrior's mentality: EVERY warrior has two sides to their personality. I'm generally a nice guy, but there were times when a family member was wronged that I just wanted to repeatedly pound the hell out of the guy. And had I met him, I would have.

It's the same thing. The Battousai is his warrior's side, the side that thirsts for blood when angered. And when you spill some, you just want to keep going. That's a warrior's soul.

BTW: It's called "berserker's rage." Kenshin, if you can call him anything, is a berserker--like many great warrior legends.