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Gojo and Toji - the two extremes of the Jujutsu society - How position, power and lineage shapes the very narrative of jujutsu kaisen
A very common occurrence within jujutsu kaisen is the persistence of certain characters. Their relevance to the story even after their death. One of these characters is Toji Fushiguro, often referred to as “the black sheep” of the zenin clan due to his lack of cursed energy.
Gojo and Toji exist as stark parallels to each other. While one was gifted with the strongest technique, one was cursed with no curse energy at all. It depicts the two extremes of unfairness in the jujutsu world, how Toji, despite belonging to an influential clan, was mistreated for something he had no real control over, whereas Gojo was revered for the very same. Both depict a very interesting parallel of how lineage and power truly disbalances the scales in the jujutsu society and plays a very crucial role in determining the fate of a person.
Gojo clan possesses a certain set of techniques that are passed down onto generations of sorcerers, and while there may be the possibility of generational disconnect in terms of hereditary techniques, it still distinguishes the Gojo clan in terms of power and influence. Gojo’s possession of both limitless and six eyes is not determined by any specific factors, rather just his sheer fortune and lineage. Had Satoru belonged to another clan, he would hold no significance to the story.
When we talk about Toji in terms of lineage, his fallout plays a greater role in helping us understand how his lineage led to his ultimate demise, not his lack of cursed energy. His mistreatment occurs simply because he fails to satisfy his position as a man in the zenin clan, a clan whose roots are bound in orthodox ways of conduct. Maki Zenin, is able to flourish as a sorceress because of her severing her roots i.e annihilating the zenin clan that served as an anchor to her existence, thereby uprooting the very curse of lineage upon her.
Toji’s possession of heavenly restriction helps him outstrength Gojo Satoru himself, and Toji serves as a catalyst in making Gojo Satoru untouchable by allowing him access to reverse cursed technique. By strength alone Toji defeats Gojo and later mocks Geto for having the blessing of lineage (a very big gag to the narrative itself)
His departure from the zenin clan ends up making him an unstable hitman who kills for money, while there may have been a period of stability in his life after meeting Megumi’s mother, it is brief and he eventually falls into the same inescapable pit.
Toji’s fallout, not only as a member of the zenin clan, but also as a person, starkly contrasts Gojo’s flourishment as a sorcerer and member of the Gojo clan. Both products of perfect lineage, yet standing on two extremes of unfairness, that renders both helpless to their pre-determined fate.
Toji’s lack of cursed energy rendered him powerless in the eyes of the zenin clan, whereas Gojo’s possession of the limitless and six eyes makes him stand out as the strongest sorcerer of the current era, both standing on the two ends of a scale balanced by position and power alone.
Toji’s position rendered him helpless against the odds of the jujutsu society, who’s ideals are bound in determination of strength through lineage and being a man in the zenin clan took away any possibility of him attaining normalcy in his life. Had Toji belonged to any other bottom of the barrel clan, his lack of cursed energy would not reduce him to being a failure, and he may have been able to live out a normal life. Similarly, had Satoru not been born as a Gojo, he would not have possessed what made him the strongest. He may just have been any other sorcerer.
The unfairness of jujutsu society goes beyond their preference for lineage, it stems from their inability to see beyond their orthodox parameters of judgement that disregards individuality in sorcerers and reduces them to being a measure for power, something that lineage plays a massive role in determining(i.e certain techniques that are considered strong only being heritable through lineage). Whereas an individual’s position in this said lineage also determines how their fate is going to play out.