"Luke Skywalker isn’t like the old Jedi. He saves Vader with his attachments!”
Wrong!
Luke Skywalker, at the end of Return of the Jedi, after his confrontation with the Emperor drags Darth Vader through the destructing Death Star. He’s desperate, knuckles white under the heavy weight of his father’s body, a little boy dragging his dad to safety. He sets Vader down for a moment, to catch his breath or maybe to get a better grip. He goes to grab Vader again, but Vader, uncomfortable and in pain, asks Luke to take off the mask. He wants to see Luke through his eyes instead of the eyes Palpatine built for him. Luke refuses, says that removing the mask is a sure way for Vader to die. Luke doesn’t want Vader dead, he wants Vader alive. Not to hold him accountable for his many evil acts, but for the same reason why Luke Skywalker can’t kill Darth Vader; Vader is his father and Luke loves him.
And yet, after a moment, Luke removes Vader’s mask. He doesn’t want to, he hesitates, but he removes the mask with enough slowness to allow Vader to take it back. In that moment, Luke sets aside his desire for Vader in his life, sets aside his desire to see him live, and sets aside his entire mission, the reason he was even on the Death Star in the place. In his compassion for his father, Luke stays with Vader until he dies. It is this moment where we see him be the best damn Jedi he can be. I’d even argue that this moment is the greatest example of non-attached love we see. Because Luke lets Vader go! He lets his father die, and in some ways, by removing the mask, he too kills Vader, he stays with him until his last moment, gives him the kindness of granting his last wish and finally chooses Vader.
And Luke doesn’t have to do this. If Luke Skywalker’s love for his father was an attachment, he would ignore Vader and continue dragging him to the escape pod, put his desire for a father as his central focus and ignore Vader’s wants and discomfort. Maybe he would even save him. But he doesn’t. Instead, he watches as Vader dies.
He builds a Jedi burial for his father and watches it burn the remnants of Vader and Anakin Skywalker away. He mourns Vader, he mourns what they could’ve had as father and son, considers what ifs and maybe-if-I-did-this. Vader/ Anakin is released from his mortal body, from his ‘crude matter’ and Luke lets him go. He says one final goodbye to Anakin. Then, he joins Leia, Han, Chewie, Lando, and the rest of the Rebels and celebrates their victory. He lives in the present and celebrates what he has instead of what he lost.
Luke Skywalker is THE Jedi. Everything about Luke Skywalker serves as the foundational cornerstone of the Jedi, everything about the Jedi as a culture and philosophy is reflected in his character. Luke’s desire for the New Jedi Order isn’t to throw away the values of the old Order, but to vitalise them, breathe life back into dying lungs, and rebuild a path that people set out on their way to destroy. (Yes, his Order is different from the Old, but that’s because it has to be. He doesn’t have the resources or the safety of the Old Order.) The philosophies of the Jedi are difficult and they aren’t for everyone, and like the perfect Jedi that Luke is, he struggles and stumbles and sometimes he even rejects it. But, no matter how far he falls, it is a way of life he chooses again and again and again. It is a way of life that welcomes him back each time
Hey i saw that you said that chifuyu is also another character that’s mischaracterized in fanfics. If you don’t mind, can you share ways that he is mischaracterized?
Hi! Thanks for the ask. I didn’t reply straight away because I wanted to construct a proper answer for you (which turned into an essay - I am gomen), also because Chifuyu is one of my favourite TR characters. I often feel (and I have some friends who feel the same way) that Chifuyu is mischaracterised not just in fanfictions but by the fandom in general.
Please note: I am in no way pointing fingers at anyone or insulting anyone’s interpretation of him or anything like that. This is simply my own (and along with a few friends who I’ve asked for some input) observation, thoughts and feelings.
The best word that I have seen used to describe Chifuyu is that he’s “multifaceted”. Meaning he is a complex character who is both soft and tough at the same time (just to put it simply). However, by the fandom in general, his soft side is what gets the most focus, and the rest is just simply forgotten and or ignored.
So, to start things off, let’s look at the soft side of Chifuyu. There seems to be an assumption that Chifuyu is the big fluffy soft baby boy who loves absolutely everyone and can do no wrong. Which, to some degree, is kind of correct because he is a sweetheart. BUT, he’s only like that to those who he’s close to. I believe that his more vulnerable side appears when he’s with his friends. When he is with his friends, he can drop his guard a bit and be more himself, and that is a big indication of trust. We get a glimpse of this in the flashback of his first year of middle school before he met Baji. There he was, a little edgelord wanting to make his mark, and he kept up that act until Baji came to save his ass. After being saved by Baji and hearing what Toman (very briefly) is about, he dropped his guard, finding a new friend within Baji.
This whole thing between Chifuyu and Baji is something I will address shortly. Because I want to address a fact, which I think is more often forgotten and or ignored, looked over in favour of his soft sweet self. The fact I’m talking about is: Chifuyu’s edge-lord nature.
Chifuyu’s edge-lord nature is a constant throughout the series. He’s more than often the first to rush into a fight with or for Takemichi (previously Baji, with the Meobius battle) and he’s known to start his own shit too. For example, it was Chifuyu who smashed a glass in the restaurant during the Black Dragons arc, pointing it at Kisaki’s neck and almost causing a shitstorm for himself and Takemichi. We also see him holding his guard up and acting like the edge-lord he is after the ambush from Tenjiku. Where he’s acting all tough about fighting and losing to Mochi, and Smiley simply tells him to drop that act because fighting Mochi is no walk in the park. This isn’t to say that Chifuyu doesn’t trust Smiley and Angry; it would be more about his sense of pride, which is now a little bruised.
But of course, as I said before, Chifuyu is multifaceted. Sure, there is this edge-lord side to him, who has no issue causing trouble… It really shouldn’t be a surprise when his best friend was Baji. On the other hand, there is that softer side, which his friends only see, and when he’s with Takemichi, they become dumb and dumber (affectionately), which is probably a good indication of what he would’ve been like with Baji normal day. If not, Chifuyu is more sassy and daring when it comes to Takemichi, like Chifuyu eating Takemichi’s Mille Crepe cake which was labelled “mine” and not caring. Somehow, I don’t see him daring to do that with Baji …
Now onto his friendship with Baji, as promised earlier. It does appear that the fandom has an assumption that Chifuyu constantly has Baji on the mind; he is willing to get his face smashed in by Baji, he is more than keen to save Baji. After the tragic ending of the Valhalla arc, Baji is brought up several times. So, it appears that the fandom thinks that he has this obsession over Baji, basically simping him and taking the title of the chapter a little too literally. I honestly believe that the friendship between Baji and Chifuyu is pure in terms of admiration, respect, trust and brotherhood, not an obsession.
I also honestly believe that Baji was Chifuyu’s first proper friend. In the chapter Man-Crush, we see Chifuyu being the edge-lord that he is, and when Baji comes to save his ass and declares, “he’s my friend, fuck him up, and we will fuck you up”. We instantly see that edge-lord wall come crashing down, and Chifuyu’s endearment towards Baji starts to bloom.
This idea of Baji being Chifuyu’s first true friend plays a role in his desperation of wanting to save Baji from his fate in the Valhalla arc and the influence Baji continues to have in Chifuyu’s life afterwards. Also, on top of this, Chifuyu is only 13-4 during the duration of the manga, and his (first and) best friend died within his arms. That is heavy shit, and tragic too. So, of course, Chifuyu will cry the way he did when Baji passed on and at his grave two weeks later. I also believe that Chifuyu blamed himself for Baji’s death, stating that he knew what Baji was going through but couldn’t stop him or save him.
With that, we certainly know that Baji’s death had a significant impact on Chifuyu’s life. It came to the point that he shot down the promotion to leader of the first division and considered leaving Toman altogether. It was Mikey, who ended up convincing him to stay, and it was also Mikey who discussed with him who should take Baji’s position. To me, this demonstrates a solid friendship between Mikey and Chifuyu, and it has been demonstrated a number of times throughout the series that Chifuyu has been trusted, and Mikey and the admin of Toman have valued his input. Alongside Mikey, it is evident that Chifuyu is well-liked throughout the ranks of Toman, notably amongst the admin. Also the fact that Wakui has drawn at least one sketch that features Chifuyu and Mikey alone, speaks volumes.
Now, finally moving on, another misconception I think the fandom has of Chifuyu is that he’s romantic. Which, in my opinion, he isn’t. Not in the slightest. Because to be honest, reading Shojo manga doesn't equate to someone being romantic. It’s really just the equivalent to girls reading shounen jump, some girls like action and hero stuff. Some boys have tastes for the softer side of manga genres, and it’s really no big deal. All I can say is that Chifuyu has good taste; his favourite mangaka is Yazawa Ai, who is the genius behind NANA and Paradise Kiss.
The last thing I want to point out is that even though it’s fun to label him dumb and dumber with Takemichi (which, to a fun extent, they are), it doesn’t mean that he is actually dumb.
I honestly believe that Chifuyu is academically sound, and considering it was his dream to become a pilot, he definitely has some intelligence. When Chifuyu first met Baji, he immediately noticed an incorrect kanji written by the other. After Baji told him what it was, Chifuyu didn’t hesitate in showing him how to write it. This struck me as I know what kids (I live and work in Japan) around that age can be like and know their handwriting. Even though it’s a manga, Chifuyu has particularly neat handwriting for a 12-3 year old delinquent, and he knows a kanji character that officially hasn’t been taught to his year level yet. Japanese children are taught a set of kanji at each year level, and after some digging, the kanji for tora 虎 is taught at the end of middle school. Yet there was Chifuyu at the start of middle school, able to write out the kanji neatly.
Okay, there are over 1300 words to this reply, and I hope this … somehow answers your question. I hope so, considering it turned more into an analysis. Chifuyu is one of my favourite characters in TR, and so I can get rather passionate about them. Maybe I should reconstruct my analysis on Angry if and when we get more information about him. Thank you~
I’m currently acting in a scene from Measure for Measure, but I’m finding it difficult to understand Isabella. What do you think is her exact relationship with God? Also from a moral perspective it seems odd to me that she abhors the idea of sex yet allows Mariana to get roped into having sex with Angelo without a second thought. Even her deception of Angelo with the bed trick seems religiously incorrect. Overall any information you can give me to help me understand her would be much appreciated
I feel you. Isabella is a very difficult character; she’s at least part of the reason Measure for Measure is often classed as a problem play.
I don’t think you can doubt Isabella’s relationship with God. She’s about the most devout character in all of Shakespeare’s works (I mean it), and there’s a determination in her desire to become a nun that speaks for itself. But generally speaking, her relationship with God is fundamentally self-centred. This is part of the problem with going into a life of worship (something which was abolished during the Reformation in England), because while you can pray for the world, you do essentially remove yourself from that world for your own spiritual progress. As in Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, sometimes the path to spirituality means even abandoning your family and friends, and Isabella does by favouring her own spiritual salvation over her erstwhile friend Juliet and her brother Claudio. When she first enters she’s in the middle of a conversation with another nun, and she says that she wants ‘a more strict restraint / Upon the sisterhood, the votarists of Saint Clare’ (1.4.4-5). Isabella clearly wants to remove herself from the world, and knows what temptation is, and how the world is not an easy place to be in, or she wouldn’t be looking to remove herself from it, or be seeking restraint. After all, if she didn’t have passions, why would she need restraint? She’s not necessarily a bad person, after all, she has the desire to make herself better, but she certainly doesn’t exhibit much of the self-sacrificial part of the Christian spirit. All in all, I think it’s not wrong to say that she’s more concerned with her own spiritual salvation than that of others (I’m not saying all Christians are like this, but I think there’s enough grounds to think Isabella is; maybe it’s her youth too).
One way of looking at her desire to remove herself from the world though, is to consider what she must be like. Her brother Claudio says that
in her youthThere is a prone and speechless dialectSuch as move men; beside, she hath prosperous artWhen she will play with reason and discourse,And well she can persuade. (1.2.172-76)
The suggestion is that she’s a pretty and attractive young girl. She doesn’t need to speak to have an effect on men. She’s also intelligent. The fact that she’s entering an all-female order that will bar all access to men suggests perhaps that there’s a reason she wants to remove herself from male society and their attention. Although it’s not fully textually stated, there’s some grounds for thinking that perhaps she is used to getting unwanted attention from men. This is even demonstrated when Lucio first addresses her, saying ‘Hail virgin, if you be – as those cheek-roses / Proclaim you are no less’ (1.4.16-17). Her sexual status shouldn’t matter since she’s a novice nun; Lucio doesn’t exactly hit on her, but does insist on seeing her in sexual terms.
So there you have one reason for Isabella’s feeling of disgust towards Angelo’s desire to have sex with her. The situation with the bed trick is also complicated because it involves numerous legal issues. One of the reasons that Angelo’s offer is abhorrent to her (and it is objectively abhorrent) is that he makes no secret of the fact that what he wants is sex and nothing more; it’s not like he offers to marry her. What he wants is for her to ‘lay down the treasures of your body’ (2.4.96). This is very different to the situation between Claudio and Juliet, who are engaged to be married. Even Isabella initially sees no problem with the crime her brother is accused of: ‘ O, let him marry her! ‘ (1.4.49). In early modern England, marriage wasn’t quite as formal an affair, so that a couple could be considered ‘married’ socially as long as they proclaimed their desire to be together in front of a witness. For this reason a betrothal is a more serious situation, because by promising marriage you are pretty much married already. It’s only after Isabella has to defend her brother’s actions formally as ‘fornication’ that it becomes a difficulty, because it’s only so in a legal sense, but put that way, she can’t be seen to defend it and calls it
a vice that most I do abhor,And most desire should meet the blow of justice;For which I would not plead, but that I must;For which I must not plead, but that I amAt war ‘twixt will and will not. (2.2.29-33)
As far as Mariana is concerned though, this means that because Angelo has formally promised to marry her, she’s in a similar situation to Claudio and Isabella. In the more casual way the majority of the characters operate in this play Mariana’s consummation of her marriage with Angelo is more like the situation between Claudio and Juliet than between Isabella and Angelo, because Angelo is essentially treating Isabella like a prostitute.
The other thing is her family relationship with Claudio. The idea that she should have to sell her body for her brother’s life repels Isabella because, as she says, ‘Is’t not a kind of incest, to take life / From thine own sister’s shame?’ (3.1.138-39). In her mind it’s like she’s giving life to her borther by haing sex, and the immediate relief of having that role played by another who actually wants it and who’s not a blood-relation is an appealing prospect for Isabella.
I don’t think you can get away from the fact that there is always going to be some hypocrisy involved in Isabella’s position, but the world of Measure for Measure is so irrevocably sexually tainted that no one can quite escape it. Human beings are inconsistent, and one of the wonders of Shakespeare is that he doesn’t force consistency onto his characters by making them unified and complete the way that characters are often treated to be in more modern literature (think of how much backstory there always is, as if all traits need to have a believable origin). Humans often have traits they don’t know the origin of, and do things that they don’t believe in, or which they would say disgusts them if anyone asked them about it, and part of understanding Isabella is to see that her flaws don’t make her a bad person, that she’s a young novice nun caught in a horrible situation; one that her moral codes have not prepared her for. She grasps at what seems the most expedient way to save her brother without hurting people partly because it seems to come from a senior religious person she should be able to trust.
I hope this helps! Good luck with the performance, and do enjoy Isabella: she’s a juicy character for sure.
Stealing this from my spouse ( @meganemiqote ) cause it’s an awesome idea!! A little blurb about each of my kids if people would like to get to know them and interact!
Warning: LONG POST
Mik’hal Zarasten @leatherandarchery
A Moonkeeper Miqo’te in his early 20′s. He’s a crack shot with a gun or a bow and he doesn’t hesitate to use his abilities if he or his loved ones are threatened, especially his twin brother Cam’nahl ( @meganemiqote ). He can come off as aloof, but it’s just because he cares more deeply than he wants people to know. He is currently living in his apartment in the Lavender Beds, but is often around the Shroud doing jobs with his boyfriendpartner, Estrie ( @estrie-soujenois )
How Could I Meet/Have Met Him? In his youth, Mik’hal worked at Buscarron’s as a waiter and earned money on the side ‘entertaining’ customers before joining a mercenary band that was well known in the area, until the group was taken out by the local poacher groups. Mik still often works in the South Shroud, doing odd jobs between the three main settlements in the area and is a frequent customer at Buscarron’s. He also is a member of the leatherworker’s guild in Gridania proper and can often be seen in the city making deliveries.
T’ikala Bhudi @eorzean-wayfinder
T’ikala is a SunSeeker Miqo’te in her early 20s. An orphan left in Gridania as an infant, Kala’s only knowledge of Sun Seeker culture is from books. A conjurer of fair talent at healing and making tea. Kala is sweet natured and patient, expressing it through her actions since she is mute. She is currently travelling between the city states, leaning and helping whomever she can.
How Could I Meet/Have Met Her? A mute healer is probably fairly unique, there may be rumors about her around be they for good or bad. She spends some time in the weaver’s guild in Ul’dah loving the feeling of the fabrics and the colors. She also frequents areas where she can collect tea leaves and blend her own teas that she sells to various shops. Kala cannot leave people to suffer so if she hears of an area having troubles she will be there to try and ease suffering however she can.
Lynea Angura @likestohitthings
A Xaela Au Ra from the Angura tribe who has not yet hit 20. Lynea is a little spit fire as a lot of people would put it, probably including her husband, Rhet. ( @ffxivaltstars ). Lyn’s got a temper on her, but it takes a lot to get it to show. More often she is all smiles . She’s fairly street smart from living in Ul’dah where she is a member of the pugilist guild which gives her a more reasonable outlet for her temper. She and her husband, Rhet, live together in the Topmast Apartments in the Mists.
How Could I Meet/Have Met Her? Lyn splits her time between Ul’dah and Limsa Lominsa. She frequents the Blacksmithing & Armorer guilds, loving the ring of the hammer on the anvils. In Ul’dah she’s looking for odd jobs, shopping or hanging out with the other pugilists while she waits for Rhet to be done with his work at the Thaumaturge guild for the day.
Kuroji Takatori ( @eorzean-wayfinder )
A Xaela Au Ra in his early 30s from a nearly extinct tribe. Kuroji came to Eorzea with the original Doman contingent as one of the many shinobi at Lady Yugiri’s disposal and is one of the shinobi ‘trainers’ left in Limsa to assist the Dutiful Sisters of Edelweiss. He is a gruff, cold seeming man. More often to have a scowl than a smile, and even those are more of a smirk. But deep down will be the one that will put a blanket over you if you fall asleep at the table. Probably by just dumping it on your head. I mean, what do you want a bedtime story?
How Could I Meet/Have Met Him? Kuroji is always around Limsa, mostly hanging around the lower docks. If you are a member of the Dutiful sisters, he is one of the Doman’s assigned there.
Gale Bishop @eorzean-wayfinder
A young Midlander Hyur from Gridania, barely out of childhood but out on his own. His dream is to be a knight like those in the stories he grew up with and so traveled to Ul’dah to learn the way of the sword as a Gladiator. He’s facing a bit of culture shock between his Gridanian upbringing and the ‘money first’ rules in Ul’dah, but he’s still holding onto his dreams
How Could I Meet/Have Met Him? Gale’s parents are well known conjurers in Gridania, and expected him to be as well, so Gale spent most of his life learning there until it was made clear that he would not be able to become a conjurer. He is currently fighting as a Gladiator in tournaments in Ul’dah, so you may have seen him fight, out and about in the city helping refugees or even racing on chocobos at the Gold Saucer on his days off.
Jovvy Clarion @eorzean-wayfinder
A displaced Ala Mhigan Highlander in her early Thirties. Just another wandering around Eorzean. Jovvy acts brusque, cold, uncaring. And she really kind of is, at least she tries to be and has a soft spot for kids that she keeps well hidden.
How Could I Meet/Have Met Her? Jovvy wanders around the different city states doing odd jobs, but she spends most of her time in Ul’dah or Limsa Lominsa. If she can help it she will stay away from Gridania. Anytime you see her, she will have a different weapon on her.
Ylaine Charlemond@eorzean-wayfinder
An Ishgardian Elezen in her late twenties who has foresaken her roots to try and get a new start in Limsa Lominsa with the Maurader’s guild and Maelstrom. There are a few people who always seemed surprised to see such a gentle looking lady with a giant ax strapped to her back. Ylaine always seems to be a little bit sad, even when she’s smiling
How Could I Meet/Have Met Her? Ylaine spends most of her time in and around Limsa. But if you are from Ishgard you may know her as a member of House Durendaire, who supposedly died. .
Gabriel Maerten@eorzean-wayfinder
The half race son of an elezen merchant and a hyur pirate, Gabriel makes his living as a ship assessor with the Arcanists Guild in Limsa Lominsa. Gabriel is cool and collected. Stoic even. But he is more than capable of relaxing and laughing with friends. He loves order and following the laws which are there to protect people from harm on all fronts.
How Could I Meet/Have Met Him? Gabriel works on the docks of Limsa, checking cargo the comes and goes from the port. He is a frequent customer along the merchants area there and various shops around the city, especially the book shop.
Finally that bracelet thing (which I got from German Amazon btw, but it might be available elsewhere too since it is shipped originally from China) arrived and I managed to take it apart. Some parts I have given away but I'm left with several pieces that I made into necklaces. I tried out different cords and strings, using what I had on hand. I'm so happy to finally have a red chewie to match my pokemon themed outfit and a yellow one to show hufflepuff pride! Unfortunately they're really soft and will probably break soon but I can't complain considering the price. (If any of my German speaking pals want the link to where you can get it, you can message me! It was only like 7-8€ including shipping sooo just a tip I guess. Probably even less for those who live on Germany.)
