‘Double Black’ and ‘Sheep Song’
I really feel the need to appreciate how the creators of ‘Bungou Stray Dogs’ have used the poetry/prose of the respective authors to influence their ability. Some high quality analysis must have been put in to create and translate this onto paper. Please forgive this rant, I’m an English student and can’t help it…
The character of Chuuya has a chant that comes from Nakahara’s ‘Sheep Song’, everyone knows that, but the rest of the poem almost describes the effect of corruption after it has been nullified. For example, when we know the line ‘O acquaintances, grantors of dark disgrace,do not wake me again!’ activates corruption the rest of the poem becomes more interesting. The narrator describes his arms, which are ‘seeming already useless.’ and his eyes that ‘open doubtfully’ and ‘stay motionless for a while’. This is reflected in Chuuya’s exhaustion after corruption is finished. The writers of BSD have done a great job translating that into their own character of Chuuya, with corruption having it’s physical effects that will kill him if not nullified.
Similarly, there is important insight into the character they have created from looking at the original works of the author, personality traits are reflected in the newly created characters. The narrator in ‘Sheep Song’ says his heart ‘believes in others more than itself.’ and this also, has been very cleverly translated into the manga as seen in Chuuya’s trust in Dazai to stop corruption when he has no control. The poem ends on a sombre note, with the narrator saying ‘I enjoy nothing anymore but my wretched dreams.’ Loneliness seems to be a bit of a motif in Nakahara’s poetry, and to an extent, this was also translated into BSD when Chuuya’s character was left without the person who can eventually stop him from destroying himself, or maybe the character is just very lonely.
To conclude, I appreciate the writers of BSD for analysing these wonderful author’s works and translating them so well into a form for the modern generation to enjoy. I hope this gets others into reading poems and literature from both Asian and European/American authors, as the original works are amazing, and in my opinion, this manga has done a great job to almost immortalise these authors and their works, and translate them into a story all can enjoy. BSD creators, I salute you!
