The Edgeworths, badges and dehumanization
If you think this post looks familiar, is because I already posted it on my twitter! First of all, this will be very lengthy so I'm sorry in advance lol. Second of all, these are topics I have talked about before in other threads on twitter, so if you're interested, feel free to check them afterwards!! Now, onto the analysis β Spoilers for both aai1 and aai2 ahead!
When we check the badges with both Miles and Gregory, weβre able to see their perspectives on their jobs as well as how it contrasts to their characters - sometimes in a very ironic way.
First, starting with Miles who has two slightly different views on the badge (or rather, the job of a prosecutor). As a more experienced prosecutor, Miles prefers to keep it in his pocket. Not because of a fashion statement like he used to do, or because it is more common amongst prosecutors to not wear them, but because he has no interest in identifying himself as one.
From the get go, we understand that despite his job being a huge aspect of his life, Miles changed enough as to not see it as something that defines him as a person, which is really important for aai2 especially, where heβs questioning whether he should keep following the path heβs currently in, or chase his childhood dream and become a defense attorney like his father. In the end however, he decides to stay a prosecutor - because he acknowledges that they play an important role in keeping the balance in the law system, making sure not that a defendant is found guilty, but that the truth is brought to light. His interest is not in his position as a prosecutor - he even gives up his badge when he notices it was only a hindrance in the way of the truth, after all -, and we can already notice specks of this point of view, of this disregard for social status in his dialogue about the prosecutorβs badge.
This part of his character, the fact he doesnβt let his position define who he is, can be seen as early as in aa1, during Turnabout Samurai when he actively helps the defense in order to catch Dee Vasquez. While not completely connected to the rest of the game on a storytelling level, it shows us some very key facts about Miles & his relationship with Manfred prior to Turnabout Goodbyes: he was cracking at the pressure, being unable to keep the legacy his mentor created, not because of inefficiency, but because Miles fundamentally disagreed with it, and this case is when Manfred noticed that it was impossible to fully remove Gregoryβs influence from this boyβs life - which is why he decided to go on with such a risky plan to get him in jail. The way I see it, Manfred wasnβt actually punishing Miles for his losses - no, he himself says that Miles would never be perfect like his mentor, so these slips would be expected of him -, he actually was punishing Miles for still being like Gregory, despite everything heβs done to erase that man from the world.
During his rookie years, however, Miles talks about keeping the badge in his pocket because Manfred told him to do it. It is a very small change, but it nonetheless showcases just how strong Manfredβs influence is in every aspect of his life, down to the way he wears his clothes to his behavior, and that while heβs not completely aligned with Manfredβs ideals, he very much lets it fester into his life. However, one piece of dialogue stays unchanged, which is:
This is a very important thing to keep in mind. Despite being at the time period in which his mentorβs influence was the strongest, Miles still has a very distinct view on what the badge represents, or what the job of a prosecutor is. He doesnβt want to be fully defined by it, in a way that itβll erase his humanity. Even then, he still held onto the truth as his utmost goal, which goes to show that Manfred was always fated to fail in his plan to change Miles, because the desire to make sure justice is brought has always been an inherent part of him.
Gregory, however, has a very different perspective, pretty much the opposite of Milesβ. He not only wears his badge and displays it proudly to everyone, he makes sure to polish it everyday, as in to show how his job is a main aspect of his life - and he is willingly allowing it to be. After DL-6 he becomes pretty much a symbol of justice and a role model to defense attorneys - most noticeably Raymond -, furthering this connection & loyalty he had to his profession.
Even when talking about the ID number, Gregory mostly makes a passing comment about it. He doesnβt think about it in depth, even says it doesnβt mean much.
However, this praise he receives ends up having an interesting result, which is his dehumanization; he becomes fondly remembered by his peers as someone admirable, even god-like, and these memories slowly but surely start to replace the person he was - Gregory Edgeworth, the father, the man.
Miles is βguiltyβ of this, because all he remembers is the kind father, the hero of justice, he didnβt have the opportunity to truly see Gregory for the person he truly was, flaws included. Raymond/Eddie is βguiltyβ of this, because he became so obsessed with the idealized version of his mentor he created in his mind, and frustrated , that he started to twist Gregoryβs own wishes - convinced himself that he would be disappointed in Miles for being von Karmaβs pupil, incapable of empathizing with his own son.
Miles, someone who does not identify himself as a prosecutor and is actively against the idea of numbering people, lives on building his own path with both his father and mentorβs teachings guiding him.
Gregory, someone who prides himself in being a defense attorney to the point it became part of his routine, who went far and beyond to support his client, who literally took a bullet for it, became a concept and a mere shadow of the human being he was.
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A little bittersweet tidbit to finish our analysis: when presenting the prosecutorβs badge to Kay in aai2-4, she associates it with a βhero of justiceβ - because it reminds her of Byrne. Miles, however, thinks the title of βhero of justiceβ fits a defense attorney more, because it reminds him of his father.
Also I talked about Gregory & dehumanization before in another thread, so feel free to check it!
