Izayoi-hakuyu

✿ Tokyo Ghoul Week 2019 ❀

✿ Day 6 - Sunflower ❀

Tokyo Ghoul Hanafuda Cards 6 - Nagachika Hideyoshi

Healing and Identity

One of my favorite aspects of the fight between Noé and Vanitas starting chapter 49 is the fact, that Noé is saving Vanitas in the same way Vanitas saves vampires. 

The influence of "The Book of Vanitas" leaves vampires in a state of abscense of reason and reflection, merely driven by destructive desires. As in: Drink blood. 

Vanitas on the other hand is under the influence of Luna's words/hypnosis(?) and his own autosuggestion. He as well is merely driven by a singular destructive desire. As in: Kill "that Vampire".   

Both, Vanitas and Vampires, are driven by the urge to hurt and kill. Things neither of them wants. This is especially relevant for Vanitas, whose free will is essential for his self image which is now stripped away from him. Furthermore, this loss of free will/control is tied to loss of identity. Both the curse and Vanitas' state of hypnosis are characterized by a dissolvation of identity. The Vampire's curse dissolve their identity and the sense of self. Healing involves self-recognization and reconcelation with ones own identity. This is portrayed especially prominently in Chloé's character arc, where the process of healing is tied to recognizing herself and her true wishes (to be loved for who she is). Chloé's healing involves also the recognition and acceptance of the positive feelings other harbor towards her. Since the curse corrupts the true name of the vampire and therefore their whole being, it can be said that the dissolvation of identity is internal.

In Vanitas' case he is no longer able to recognize Noé for who he is. Noé's identity desolves for him into the undefinded mass of "that vampire". Therefore the dissolvation of identity for Vanitas is external. 

Both Vanitas and the Vampires are shown to be suffering in this state.

The importance of self-reflection and its healing effects are shown within the battle through Noé. He literally reflects himself and his behaivour by looking into a mirror. He is shocked by what he sees, being confronted with a side of himself he neither knew nor wanted ("Have I looked like this all the time?"). He as well is influenced and controlled by outside forces: Mikhail's thoughts and feelings.

Noé's own desperation towards Vanitas unwillingness to help Dominique in itself does not trigger the violence. On the opposite, Noé tries to reach out, wants Vanitas to tell him his past, so he doesn't have to drink his blood and calls his want for Domi to be saved as "selfish". Noé's own desperation grows, as Vanitas declines and lashes out and leaves no hope for agreement. So Noé attacks him - this is how it seems at first.

But Noé's inner monoloque reveals that his mind is mixed with Mikahil's destructive, harmful hatered and desire for vengance towards Vanitas. 

It is Mikahil's feelings that make Noé fight and attack.

He knows this feelings are not his, but is unable to stop himself from acting according to them. Even though not as strongly manipulated as Vanitas and is still able to control his actions (stopping himself from attacks that would kill Vanitas). It is Mikahil's feelings that ultimately trigger Noé's actions, but it is Noé's own desperation to save Domi, snap Vanitas out of the hypnosis and his pure willingness to just survive that keep him fighting. But this means giving in to a violent side that he, who can't bear hurting anyone, comes in touch with more than he his comfortable. But in the heat of the battle, caught in the situation, under Vanitas' constant attacks, he is unable to notice. By looking in the mirror, Noé is finally able to pause and to reflect himself, his actions - and he reflects upon Vanitas. He asks himself "And how did you look?" Due to the reflection Noé is able to see Vanitas' pain, horror, distress and helplessness and sadness behind his cruel selfish facade. He recognizes Vanitas' loneliness, the meaning behind his words (in example: that being alone means "freedom" for Vanitas. Later, Noé reassures Vanitas - who is still hypnotised - that he will never "set you free" aka "never leave you alone".) 

He sees Vanitas true feelings, his true self, his "true name" if you will.

Noé reflects and stops the fight. Breaks the circle of attack and counterattack. Chooses a different path to save Vanitas. The path not of violence, but of empathy.

What follows is that Noé reintroduces himself to Vanitas. Actually the scene reflects their first meeting with them physically fighting over how to deal with extreme life or death situation. An [in Domi's case seemingly] accursed Vampire to be precise. Noé always being the one to openly help and trying to protect those in need, while Vanitas using violence that cover his true intentions and his motivation becoming clearer only later.

The most important aspect of this reintroduction is Noé's wording here:

"My name is Noé Archiviste. I'm not <that vampire>"  

He accentuates his name or rather, he gives his name back to Vanitas. And with his name his identity. Therefore he is able to reach Vanitas on an even deeper level than the hypnosis goes. But similar to Chloé, the acutal healing has to come from within, from Vanitas himself. This process is portrayed as an inner battle between what the hypnosis tells Vanitas and Vanitas will and his true feelings (even though he is not conscious about it in this moment, after all it is still worded as a question "why can't I kill?"). At the beginning, Vanitas still try to kills Noé. But he can't. Still under influence of the hypnosis, desperately asking why. He still can't. And he breaks down.

Both Chloé and Vanitas learned something through Jean-Jaques and Noé respectively: They are not alone. Someone is there for them, no matter what.

Overcoming the hypnosis is also overcoming the past and opening up for something, someone new. Something Mikhail is unable to. The inability of leaving the past behind driving force and central theme of this arc. In the end both Vanitas and Dominique are able to overcome the past. Just as Chloé did.

Both acts, Vanitas saving Vampires and Noé (a Vampire) saving Vanitas, are about the themes of loss of identity and loss of control.  

While Vanitas gives the vampires their true name back (an internal process within the Vampire), Noé doesn't give Vanitas his name. But Noé names himself. Re-establishes his identity to Vanitas. It saves them both.

Both acts give form to the formless. 

Both acts accure due to the reflection and re-recognition of ones own self and identity: the Vampires recognize their true name, Noé reflecting on himself as he sees in the mirror and Vanitas escapes the hypnosis. But it's not an isolated process, to the contrary. The importance of the other and the bonds with other people are essential for self-recognition: Vanitas is able to recognize the true names of Vampries, Noé understands Vanitas' true feelings behind his facade and Vanitas is finally recognizing Noé and espaces his hypnotic state. 

While the process is given supernatural coating when it comes to the use of the Book, within Noé saving Vanitas the process is shown in it's rawest form and that is understanding and empathy. 

Thanks for reading! Please note that english is not my first language and I'm sorry for this being so messy!!  

✿ Tokyo Ghoul Week 2019 ❀

✿ Day 8 - Red Spider Lily ❀

Tokyo Ghoul Hanafuda Cards 8 - Kaneki Ken/Sasaki Haise

Homura Miko Ver. based on the figure by Kotobukiya  

✿ Tokyo Ghoul Week 2019 ❀

✿ Day 7 - Fragrant Olive ❀

Tokyo Ghoul Hanafuda Cards 7 - Arima Kishou