kira is an asshole whos trying to delude himself and the world too
Lmfao this made me laugh anon, thank you. I mean, yeah, you nailed it. I do think Light is an asshole, I do think he was seriously trying to delude himself into thinking he was engaging in some kinda lofty vigilantism, and he was absolutely trying to become some sort of leader of a new world.
You know, I think sometimes Light is painted as a victim who :( was trying to :( justify his guilt :(
Light was definitely a kid who got swept into some serious stuff BUT (and this is quite a BUT) I think that mindset absolutely absolves Light of responsibility over his actions. Light sees the death note, he’s drawn to it, he writes in it, and he keeps writing in it. A lot. For years.
Ryuk tells Light, you don’t wanna use it? Give it away. But he doesnt. Ohba goes to lengths to make sure we know Light has autonomy in his actions.
And why? Well, two things. Light likes power. Light likes telling raye penber and naomi before they’re deaths that his Kira, he relishes in their fear. He enjoys making sure L knows he was Kira, that he was the winner.
Which brings me to my next point: Light’s ego drives a lot of this. Even early on, when he sees people are talking about him on the internet, he’s stoked. When he says he’s gonna be a god of the new world, that he’s the only one who can do this, Light is buying into his own exceptionalism. Light has had a picture perfect life as this smart, good looking, popular kid with a comfortable upbringing and a nice family and it absolutely helps fuel his own beliefs that, yes, I am chosen.
So basically, yes, Light is a multidimensional character who absolutely feels guilt at times and I would say is not “evil”—I think Death Note goes to lengths to prove that evil and good are incomplete concepts. BUT Light is also a serial killer with an inflated ego who makes the choice to kill and that choice is his and his alone. Or, as you much more astutely put it, anon, an asshole.