The meaning of a "half a step"
Oh yeah, some strange ramblings about the Purple Haze Feedback, again ._.
*PURPLE HAZE FEEDBACK SPOILERS AHEAD*
These are Giorno’s words to a distressed Fugo in the restaurant scene at the end of PHF:
“Half a step,” he said. “If you can’t take a step forward, then I’ll step halfway to you.”
“…”
“Everything hinges on your decision, but if grief anchors your feet, then let me share it.”
Oh Gio ;_;
Okay, what really struck me about Gio’s words is the concept of a “half a step.” This wording piqued my interest, it was so unusual. Like… why not a step.
People are used to the metaphor of “a step” when talking about some small action or progress. For example, “to make a step forward,” “to move in small steps,” “to take smth step by step,” “one step at a time” etc. In all these common expressions we operate with the concept of a whole “step” as the smallest indivisible unit. And what is a step? It is a completed action. There is a purpose, an effort, an action, and a conclusion. A step has a beginning and an end. Raise your leg, put it down, pull the other one. You’ve moved forward. Even if it’s for a little – still, you’ve moved forward. That’s it.
But the situation is different with a “half of a step”.
You may not even move forward. Imagine that you raised your leg and froze in place %)) A half-step is exclusively an impulse to an action, a desire to carry it out, a decided direction.
So. I thought that I REALLY NEEDED that kind of concept when I was fighting with depression.
In this state, you are often paralyzed to the point when sometimes completing any action, even an insignificant daily thing, becomes an impossible task. The realization that you can’t execute it brings you down even more. And! There is a lot of advice to move in small steps etc (because these are the expressions we are used to!), but even one completed step is too much. It is a subconscious perception of the common wording.
Fugo appears as a heavily depressed teen during the PHF events: that culminates in him experiencing a breakdown in front of Gio, and the weight of the survivor’s guilt literally paralyzes him.
But it is not necessary to take even a completed step towards me, says Giorno. Half a step would be enough. Even if you can’t move forward - that's ok, I just need to understand that, deeply in your heart, you want to, you are willing to try. That is the minimum that we can work with. That will be enough for me to help you.
Gio is so thoughtful and empathetic with this word choice. I was in awe. Made me rethink his portrayal in the series (although PHF is considered to be slightly off canon).
Oh, and I printed out this "half a step" and pinned it near my desk. It's such a delicate and kind reassurance that helps a lot when I don't have enough strength to act.
Forgive me for hyperanalyzing, I LOVE the way purple haze feedback is written
Take a look at another neat thing about Purple Haze Feedback ending :3
