Nikolai Character Analysis: How Nikolai is a metaphor of humans interpretation of morality and good vs evil
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Nikolai has a lot of elements in a character who has a very small portion of screen time/manga panels, yet he's conveyed in such an excellent way that gives so much insight on his character from his words in the manga in a matter of minutes, and how much he contributes to our world as a whole.
Today for now, I'll dive into one of the many aspects of Nikolai's character, and that will be how he is a metaphor of human beings perception of good vs evil in a black and white lens with his conversation with Atsushi.
For starters, a quick establishment on the idea of what I mean with humans having a understanding of good vs evil and what plays into the morality of humanity:
There is a term for the saying "Black and white lens", that being dichotomous thinking or polarized thinking. It is a term used to think in extreme ways and not able to consider or see through the "grey areas" of a person or a thing, hence the saying "Black and White lens".
"People with black-and-white thinking may also struggle with compromise. Rigid thinking or insisting that there’s only one “right” way to think or act in a situation."
While dichotomous thinking is a cognitive condition, I think it's rather normal or common to have this perspective. By normal I mean a lot of us have a "Black and White" thinking for everything or something specific.
An example can be used to associate someone or something from a group or community and how they present themselves as an individual instead of what their labels are. A bad experience from something or someone can leave an impact in you to conclude if that person will impact your view on a whole community or not
This is what dichotomous thinking is. You see a person or things either fully "black" (fully evil or corrupted) or fully "White" (all good and cannot do anything wrong) while some situations like a black or white thinking can work for individuals who commit to disgusting actions, there are situations where a "Black and White lens" cannot work.
With what I have established, I'll use Nikolai as an example of dichotomous thinking with his conversation with Atsushi:
Nikolai is established to be a member of the decay of angels; A terrorist organization that serves to destroy Yokohama entirely and bring chaos.
In the manga, Nikolai describes the Decay of Angels as divin figures who will bring Yokohama and the Ada to ruins, but when shown tied up in front of the Ada, he acknowledges and admires the Ada's determination and persistence of wanting justice and righteousness, but says he chooses the Decay of Angels because it's "more fun!"
I think this highlights Nikolai is a subtle way of conveying he's a morally grey character who can acknowledge what is good and evil but still has his own morals and idea of free will.
In speaking of which, I like to dive into a more philosophical and psychological aspects of the Nikolai and Atsushi panel. whether you see others as human or not, you will always have those people you do not see others as human. Take examples such as corrupt politicians, problematic people online, and so on. These are grounded examples but I would like to go a bit further: Humans do bad decisions and even despicable ones, but they are humans at the end of the day. However, it is up to you whether you want to excuse heinous actions made by said human. It is up to you on whether you come to understand your actions are unforgivable or escape the consequences.
Nikolai has murdered numerous people before and has committed acts of terrorism. Atsushi ask nikolai why he kills and he gives atsushi two answers; he finds it "fun" and calls himself a monster who has no humanity or remorse. He dehumanizes himself to atsushi so he does not feel sympathy when he dies. However, he gives atsushi another answer; "I am completely sane. I understand the evil of murder. I feel a sense of guilt like other people."
I think the reason why we are so quick to dehumanize bad people (whether their actions are small or big) and say they are "not human" is to believe they are nothing like us. Humans cannot do bad things but monsters do. It's the easiest way for the brain to understand something simple, rather than to conflict itself with what humans are capable of doing, which is exactly what nikolai is aiming for. He is doing what no "normal" human would do. Commiting acts that only a monster would do from a Humans eyes. He wants people to show what he is capable of; to open their eyes at his "freedom."
Nikolai is also a good example of not knowing if the people in your life are secretly bad people or have flaws of their own behind closed doors. We believe that nobody we know has flaws, which results in infantilized ideas of people and humans to be something perfect. In this situation, Atsushi is us seeing a monster who acts like a "human," when that is far from that when looking at Nikolai's character.
Nikolai breaks that perspective of bad people who do bad things as humans who can be normal and sane. Someone who has flaws that are all presented on the surface and exaggerated in order to delude others of the idea of what humans really are, this way from Nikolai is almost a mercy from making them go mad or even more blinded just like him.
Nikolai can represent the aspect of Humans perspective on the concept of "good vs evil" through a black and white lens. Humans want to be right about something, it's a natural instinct to do. To die from a "monster" who's not human gives you a sense of closure, that you were right about something. While with the idea that you could have been killed by a human just like yourself, you delude yourself to thinking they're not, but the uncertainty haunts the back of your head. Never knowing if you were right or not. Wondering what humans actually are. What they are capable of?
Nikolai portrays himself as this emotionless being, a monster who's lost all his sanity and gone mad, a demon inside of a Humans body. It's the most human thing he can give to someone to not crush their disillusion. But he's not an insane man, he's aware of everything around him and others and feels guilty for his actions. As mentioned before, he is human.
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