Everything Johan did was for Anna.
A “Monster” capable of love.
“What I’m most afraid of is…forgetting Anna. The strange lessons we have everyday… are making my memories fade. Please, don’t make me forget Anna. It’s only Anna and me in this whole world. Just give me that - please. Please.” – Johan Liebert”
I was very confused about the complexities of Johan’s character up until the last handful of episodes. It became very clear to me that Johan was hurting the entire time. Everything he did, even though he was wrong, was for Anna.
(Yes this includes erasing himself from existence too )
Anna was set up from the beginning to become The “Monster” given she was the one who actually endured the experiments. Her tendecies are shown in glimmers throughout the show. The heartbreaking twist to it though… is that the only reason why she DID not become the beast, was because SHE ( unlike Johan ) HAD KNOWN LOVE. -Johan’s love and sacrifice is what kept her safe from the darkness he knew very well. He got his hands dirty to shield her. He chose to leave her behind in the care of her foster parents, knowing she would forget him, in order to heal.
He chose her than himself over and over; becoming her shadow; choosing to lose his only attachment to his already weakened identity in order for her to heal.
This is why she never became a monster...and tragically, Johan had. He chose to become the monster in her stead because she had unconditional love and he did not. Which reflects exactly what Mikhail Petrov (whose real name is Reinhart Biermann) said about his “PROFOUND DISCOVERY” concerning his current experiment on the children he had in his home; he said the children did not become animals because he gave them LOVE.
In his own twisted way and view on things, he was protecting her. He killed every “parental” figure they had because he was betrayed by every adult figure in his life so far. People who mentioned calling the police, ended up finding out about their past - anything that could lead the man, who Johan referred to as “The Monster” into finding them, he disposed of.
The adults in their lives thus far would betray them, torture them, hurt them, throw them away- and forcefully separate them. In his severely abused mental state, any adult figure was a potential threat to his and Anna’s safety. So he’d kill in order to runaway from “the monster” and protect Anna. Then when Anna found out about the blood on his hands that fateful night the Monster paid them a visit, he realized that now he had become someone Anna feared - a different kind of Monster but all the similar to the one they were running from.
So he rationalized that now he needed to die.
In that moment, I think we should focus on the body language and expressions. Johan faced the ground. hardly picking up his eyes. His shoulders were sunken and he did not have that menacing little smile he usually had. He could hardly look Anna in the eyes. Johan has killed in secret various times with Anna and back at Kinderheim.
So why was he so messy with the Lieberts?
Because he did not want to kill them - he said HE HAD TO.
It was not a calculated murder, because he was not truly calm and collected; He was afraid.
Lets not forget who Johan was up until that moment: the infamous little boy who provoked an entire riot and massacre by simply opening his mouth. With mere words he was able to sway the adults and children into doing what he wanted. BUT IN THAT MOMENT when Anna caught him red handed, he could not, or rather, would not - try and manipulate Anna. He has never once tried to manipulate or abuse her throughout the entire series willingly.
Instead, he asked her to shoot him and run - in an attempt to finally liberate her from the horrific life they had to lead up until now - blaming his existence for the constant chase their predator (Boneparte) gave way to them as prey because in that moment, his memories were distorted and he believed he was the one who went to the Red Rose Mansion.
To Johan, him living was a danger to Anna and that night made it evident to him.
But when he was brought back to life and realized the gravity behind his methods, seeing how terrified Anna was of him - he started to cry. Because despite his initial feelings of finding his death absolutely necessary for her to be safe, he still wanted what he had with her; the only bond of love he ever knew.
What set his entire ADULT plan into motion (wiping out everyone who ever hurt Anna and created HIM) was Anna’s rejection at the hospital. That was when he realized internally, he was beyond forgiveness and that he was nothing more than a monster. A Nameless monster in her reflection that needed to die in order for her to live in peace. (Referencing the God of Peace storybook. )
From that moment on, he wanted to wipe out his entire existence, and that meant those who ALSO “created” him so that Anna could heal as Nina.There wasn’t some sick satisfaction from any of his killings. To him, it was needed for the sake of her safety. This was Johan’s initial “plan.” set in motion.
There wasn’t some sick satisfaction from any of his killings. To him, it was needed for the sake of her safety. This was Johan’s initial “plan.” set in motion - he wanted to be the only one left in the world with his sister - so that they wouldn’t have to be afraid anymore.
(I also believe at that point when they were kids, Johan’s very first plan he referred to when telling Anna “Remember, I have a plan.” was to run to another country with her so that the Monster will never find them. It is the only logical idea of a plan that a child could conjure following what he actually leads them to do, which was cross the border. Simply destroying the world is unreachable in his current state and Johan is smart enough to not be delusional in his endeavors. With that being said, he had to kill that old couple to erase any trail they may have left of “two beautiful blonde twins.” But this plan fails because they nearly die at the Czech Border and was discovered. )
I want to GREATLY EMPHASIZE the important factor I missed my first time watching the scenes with Johan/Anna - the scenes shown to us were through her recollection were only fragments. They were told from what she COULD remember, so her take on what really happened that rainy night the first few times the events are unfolded before us should not be taken as absolute. At least…up until it is revealed in the final episodes that Anna realized that on that night instead of seeming like an empty shell of a person asking for death, Johan was crying and crying before she shot him.
The scene where Anna finds the portraits reveals what truly happened between them that night and its so important. She said “Johan was crying “here” just like before.” She was mimicking a memory she had just recalled in its entirety. “Why are you crying, why are you crying?” She sounded in distress. Directly after she reveals that she remembers him crying, it shows the image of him pointing at his head that rainy night so she was not referencing any other moment.
Even though Johan told her to shoot him, it is IMPORTANT that he was ALSO crying.
I believe that, finally being able to remember that day finally revealed to her that Johan wasn’t the “face of absolute evil” she initially dismissed him to be; he was a boy/man who could cry and mourn - he was human. He was a terrified boy protecting Anna and himself the only way he knew how. and instead of showing him forgiveness/love - she added on to his collection of wounds scarred upon his soul from everyone else who chose to harm him.
Tenma…was ultimately the ONLY one in his life who showed him kindness.
(☓) I want to ask, did Johan truly believe he was the one who went to the Red Rose Mansion or was that simply a masquerade he performed to make sure Anna did not remember?
If we entertain that idea, I can dissect Johan’s intentions some more.
Throughout the series you see that he is trying to wipe everyone who knew of what happened to Anna off the face of the earth, that included himself. He did not want Anna to remember. So when it was revealed she did remember, he mourned. It was subtle but evident in the anime when she reveals “you are wrong.” something in him shifted - for once he was reacting to the words of another.
She said “he had a smile but seemed like he was crying. I never seen such an expression on his face before.” [view photo in the post.]
That entire scene, Johan’s eyes expressed something we’ve never seen from him throughout the series - a sense of mourning or longing?
If, however, Johan DID truly think he was the one who suffered at the red rose mansion, his “perfect suicide” plan still relates to his feelings for Anna.
Johan learns it was not him that suffered at the Red Rose Mansion…but Anna instead. and then Johan goes on to commit the “perfect suicide.” In his plan to die, he wanted to take The Monster with him, forcing Boneparte to endure the same exact hell he forced Anna to suffer as a child. Call it an act of revenge. Some may think Johan is incapable of being vengeful but I cannot see this cruel and calculated act as anything other than malice. After Boneparte was finally dead, the monster disposed of - Johan was ready to die.
But you can see his conviction began to slip away when Anna forgave him. What made it worse was realizing he was wrong about Tenma because even now, Tenma was still hesitating on killing him ruthlessly like he always presumed would happen. Johan thought he had humans all figured out - after all, all Johan has EVER known was the darkness in people’s hearts. That is why he was so confused/moved by Tenma and wanted so desperately to prove him wrong.
The manga portrays Johan’s expressions 1000X BETTER THAN THE ANIME. As soon as Anna arrives, Johan is just staring at the floor, unable to look at her - Repeating everything from that fateful rainy night when they were kids. But this time, Anna doesn’t kill him, she chooses love and compassion. and when she says she forgives him - his reaction is something the anime does not do justice
The subtle shift in the way the artist expressed in his eyes is so significant but missed in the anime; but he reacts rather deeply, moved and shocked by her words.
Because, “forgiveness is the remission of sins. For it is by this that what has been lost, and was found, is saved from being lost again.“
In the manga he isn’t quick to reply. He ponders over her words carefully and I think this is when his mind starts panicking.
Anna realized that forgiveness was the one thing he wanted that night she shot him, despite him also thinking his death was needed. His value depended on her view of him; and what she once robbed from him was now returned - a human being worthy of forgiveness instead of a monster.
Johan refuses her forgiveness not because he resents her or thinks its too late for her to redeem herself - but because he doesn’t think he deserves it. “There are somethings that cannot be undone.” Because it is too late, Johan is going to die - he WANTS to die. Then you see the fear and helplessness in his eyes after getting the one thing he always wanted [ Anna’s forgiveness] because he desperately wanted to die as the only thing he knew himself to be: the nameless, nonexistence monster. But both Anna and Tenma rob him of that by bestowing upon him the gift of compassion, mercy and empathy; for the first time treating and valuing him like a human being instead of a monster,god,experiment, devil etc. as everyone around him has.
(The Monster inside of Johan begins to crumble.)
Johan in his final moments was cracking and finally falling apart. You see it in the final expression he makes: the distraught, confusion and sadness. Because he realized, he was wrong about people, he was wrong about the world. But how can we blame him for his view on humanity when all he has ever been shown since birth was how ugly, selfish, cruel and inhumane people can be?
How can we expect someone who has only seen darkness to be able to find the light?
I want to clarify one thing I noticed: Johan has never shown to take any kind of sick satisfaction from killing unlike all the other serial killers being interviewed in the series. The writer highlights this in the show on purpose. Especially contrasting Johan with Roberto, specifically, when Roberto tries to kill Anna.
Despite his callousness and his lack of care for life - Johan, despite how much of a "monster” he was, very clearly had humanity and had love….for his sister most of all. Johan saw when his mother choose, how little their lives meant to her and this instilled his nihilism at such a young age. He watched Anna get tossed to the wolves like nothing and in that moment, he probably thought his mother chose Anna over him for a reason. (even though the question on her intention would haunt him for the rest of his life) But her being able to choose is what affected him the most and it’s probably what instilled his self sacrificing mentality to care for Anna above the world in order to never make the same mistake his mother had.
That is why after she got back from the Red Rose Mansion, he cried for her story. It should have been him that suffered. Then after, he treats her with the upmost care, telling her everything is hers, no matter what she will win everything because he would deem it so. He is kind to her, never letting go of her hand even when she is dragging behind - he sacrificed all of himself for her…
Because she deserved everything in the world to contrast their mother throwing her away.
He wanted her to know above all else, she was loved.
A clear indication of this adoration/attachment he has for her is the fact that he DOES NOT forget her even after enduring the hellish experiments in Kinderheim that aimed at wiping out / messing around with his memories. That is pretty incredible to me.
There is a reason why the author chose the words “precious sister” whenever others described Anna in regards to Johan. The world saw how important she was to him. If she meant nothing to him, how did everyone else conjure up this concept that Anna was important to him, despite also saying with that very same breath he was a heartless Devil?
It’s contradicting honestly.
I wrote this because I was astounded to see various posts/Wiki pages implying that Johan’s intentions were to torture Anna and make her kill herself. Telling her to shoot him was his first attempt to drive her insane? They twisted a lot of things Johan did to try and make this statement true. But I cannot comprehend how they drew this conclusion? The series has characters mentioning on more than a few occassions that Anna is dear to Johan. “He is lost with you." Everyone knew Anna was important to Johan; Professor Geidlitz was the first to mention this besides the old blind man. Roberto was aware of this which is why he tried to kill her as mentioned in Another Monster. Which is ALSO why Peter Capek tried to hold her hostage to prevent Johan from killing him.and for the first time, Johan DOESN’T kill him.
Johan cried when he awoke at the hospital after he reached for his sister and she screamed in fear of him. His face full of tears - his heart completely broken. If his intention was to drive Anna insane, he would have triumphed in that moment she screamed and fell to the ground after he reached out to her. But instead he mourned.
Anna has mentioned several times that Johan has cried for her, like when he was in the room full of their happy portraits, he was crying. He never once tried to bring harm to Anna - not intentionally towards her person. I firmly believe he killed the Fortners after they decided to keep lying to her, thus keeping him in the shadows when he wanted to return. If he wanted to torment her, he would not have tried to lure her away to the castle when he set up the Fortners to be killed.
They imply that Johan wanted to torture her and then kill her at the end. But that makes absolutely no sense. Where in the storyline does Johan give off this tendency towards her? Even at the end he told her where to meet him in Ruhenheim and not once did he try to shoot her or Tenma. Honestly, if he really wanted to provoke Tenma to shoot him, he would have held the gun to Anna instead of a random child. But even though being shot by Tenma was his greatest endeavor, he refused to point the gun at someone who was important to Tenma…because Anna, is important to Johan too.
To say Johan, despite being hailed as the Monster of the series, had no love or humanity in him and was merely the Devil himself...completely missed the point of the story…
I’d like to point out the constant mentioning of Hitler in this story and draw another important factor…Hitler brainwashed people to commit mass genocide. Under his rule, millions perished in horrific ways. But despite that…Hitler was capable of loving others. Hitler was also loved by others. The terrifying truth about people who commit atrocities…is that they are not monsters or demons or devils…
PSA: I made a small amv to showcase these thoughts with the footage here:
PART TWO OF JOHAN’S INTENTIONS HERE:
EDIT: Here’s two passages from ANOTHER MONSTER [novel post Monster written by Naoki] that really drives this point:
