Would be interesting to compare figures like Griffith with other literary figures, eg. Elric of Melnibone, which I think of as Griffiths negative/mirror-image. Tragic, trying to utilize power to protect his loved ones, bringing their demise.
berserk is a beautiful yet tragic masterpiece. it deals with the human search for purpose; something that never existed to begin with, because it's nothing but a mentally fabricated concept. purpose never existed to begin with, and this realization changes everything, because now you realize EVERYTHING is purpose. don't overthink your life, as that only leads to suffering since life cannot be intellectualized. you are more than flesh my friend.
I appreciate what you said about Corcus. He's honestly such an underrated character. Though he seems like just another douchebag in the dark world of Berserk, everything he does, he does out of his respect and loyalty for Griffith, because he knows that Griffith is the only one who can lead him and his comrades to a prosperous future. In the early episodes he plots to kill Guts in his sleep because he is upset about Guts killing some of his friends during their first encounter. When Guts beats Griffith in their second duel, Corcus is genuinely baffled, not because he hates Guts, but because the thought of Griffith losing to someone is completely alien to him. He even styles his helmet after Griffith's, with the front part also resembling the beak a bird, albeit that of a crow instead of a hawk. Like you said, Corcus is scared and angered about Guts not being satisfied with being granted the title of a noble with a comfortable life awaiting for him, and I honestly think that is kind of relatable
Yeah I totally agree with you. Great Pickup on the helmet as well. When we begin to idolise a person it's easy to judge those who go against their ideology
the blacksmiths lesson for those who didnt really grasp the point - dont do the same job for your whole life, you'll lose your understanding of what you enjoy if you make your life an endless groundhogs day(doing the same thing over and over).
I see it a little different, more so; you won't find happiness if you devote yourself to studing a craft while neglecting the relationships in your life.
@@grimalgram I see it almost like Miura talking to himself, or more so warning himself about dedicating only to his craft. Miura never took that warning as he spent most of his life on Berserk and has talked about missing key parts of life and growing up because of his dedication to Berserk, before he knew it, he had grown old, just like Godot. However, I'm sure Miura knew this and decided to keep going anyway since it was what he loved and wanted to do.
This video genuinely meant a lot to me and made me cry. I think I really needed to hear a lot of it. I'm a big time berserk fan, and know most of the messages behind it, but for some reason the way you put it enraptured me. When you said that, your purpose can and should change. That hit me very hard. As I've always felt like my purpose is one thing, but I'm so confused, and I can't figure out what it is. It also hit when you said that purpose doesn't mean you'll be happy. The question that is left lingering in my mind is if my purpose goes against my happiness, should I still pursue it? Or should I find a new purpose? Or should I say fuck "purposes" all together? If I deny the purpose that I have set out for, for so long, then will I be happy?
hey mate! I'm really glad you were able to connect with the video and it hit on a deeper level. I noticed you left an email so will respond to your whole message there, but if anyone else in the comments would like to share their thoughts on the questions raised here, i think it would make for a great discussion :)
I think that purpose is like water, it flows and changes shape constantly dependending on where its in. I mysef, as berserk enthusiast, am sturggling with finding value, purpose, meaning behind my life. Nevertheless, after watching this video and just assimilating it and building upon it mentally with what I already have in this messy mind of mine I´ve figured out something more which may help you. As you progress with your initial purpose you will find out at a certain point that it wont fulfill you anymore, you will love it but not feel any feeling of satisfaction by it, similar to how Godo does not feel anything for blacksmithing other than think about the good times he´s had with it. Therefore, the next step is to change to another purpose, another dream, another goal. Look at it this way, imagine you are water and envision you first, intitial goal is a glass or a bucket. As you progress towards your goal, you will become more and more fulfilled and earn knowledge and skills. Imagine that knowledge and skill is quantified by more water. Slowly but surely you will reach a point in which the glass which can no longer retain the water from spilling and because of that you will change to a bigger goal which is even more challenging but yields bigger rewards. English isn´t my mother tongue, you might not understand it entirely due to that, however I feel I´ve made myself and my thoughts clear. You can´t stick to one singular purpose your whole life long unless you´ve got infinite patience. Just enjoy the process of infinitely changing the water that is yourself from one container to another as you will from one dream to another.
Maybe this is just me, but I've found that striving for comfort and peace is much more fulfilling than pursuing happiness. Because that's just it, we can pursue happiness but never actually find it, and if we do, it's usually so fleeting in this world. Happiness can come with comfort and peace, but the latter is usually more achievable and permanent.
I remember talking with a tradesmen about life, purpose, and happiness. I'm a writer and performer myself. He said, and from older folks he's spoken to along the way, that happiness is fleeting. It's worthy, but isn't sustainable as a pursuit. Fulfillment is. What makes you feel like you've done something worthwhile at the end of the day. Is it in a hospital? A publisher's house? A restaurant? Is it reading? Traveling? Performing? Raising a family? All are worthy pursuits. But what gives you fulfillment. Chances are, you're already doing it.
What I think is Miura conveyed his personal story into Guts. Miura's parents were artist, and he was influenced at a very young age. All his life, drawing art, making manga is all he knew, he never had anything except his drawing skills. As he grew, his skills eventually become better and better, as we see in his manga panels keeps evolving. Guts too started out as young swords man, and eventually became a master swordsman. That is why Gut's growth felt more realistic (even though he swings 160kg of iron) than any other character in fictions.
Your reflection on Miuras childhood is so interesting 🏆 That's true, it's much more believable to see a character over time continuously work on their skill than a character who just already has the skills
i love youtube videos like this, theres so much a deeper meaning behind 1997 berserk its not just an anime, its kinda like AOT in its own way because of the complications if you know what i mean.
Definitely, AOT has a lot of tricky plot and twists but the feeling of discovering how moments are linked and being on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next is very similar
I literally left Camp Pendleton to marathon this with my dad on July 4th 2024! Berserk 97 was a show my dad missed out on when he was a 90s teenager. I FUCKING LOVE THIS SHOW AND THE MANGA!!!!
Berserk was a story that hit me so hard because I watched it at a time in my life when I was searching for my purpose and a dream, seeking answers and trying to understand the immense emptiness I felt. I will always think it's beautiful how such a complex and sad story can bring so many people together. Because deep down, we all have a dream or are searching for a purpose everyday... Excellent video essay I'm glad I found it.
Lovely story, and I totally agree. Content like berserk can have such a defining effect on us as people. While we work out the world and ourselves it's so helpful and interesting to use these stories as minor stepping stones 🏆glad you enjoyed and look out for the next one 🤜🏼🤛🏼
As far as determinism and free will go, I think what Berserk shows us is that there are elements of both at play. It isn't all one or the other. Yes, it's true that the events of the story push and pull the characters around into making decisions beyond their own will. They THINK they're doing it on their own, but in reality they're COMPELLED by the experiences of their life up until that point. For example, Griffith reflecting upon the dead child after a battle caused him immense guilt for the men who die under his command which compelled him to seek funding through... "other" means, which in turn created a rift in his personality between the persona he kept up in front of others, and the feelings going on inside of his head, or his shadow. This split caused him to adopt his persona even more, which combined with his undefeated record in battle caused him to play up his persona even more, and bury his shadow even more deeply. After his loss to Guts on the hilltop, his persona was broken, and he was forced to face his shadow which he was unable to cope with which led to him bedding the Princess, which led to his downfall, which led to the Eclipse. Griffith had a choice at one point to prevent this split in the first place, and that was to acknowledge his feelings, confront them, and open up to somebody about them... but instead he bottled it up, put on a brave face, and created a schism within himself. Some may argue that he didn't have a choice, that his personality up until that point was wired to bury his emotions from childhood and maybe that's true... but then why did Guts, who almost certainly had an even more guarded personality, decide to open up to Casca when the time was right? Guts' character is designed to show us that even in a deterministic world, our will can at least play SOME part in the events that happen in our lives. Griffith abdicated his will to causality in order to avoid or deflect responsibility. He rationalized that his dream required a mountain of bodies to reach, and that because he'd gone so far, and so many had already died, a few more dead wouldn't matter. Guts didn't do that. When he realized that his pursuit of vengeance was selfish and wrong, he accepted responsibility and changed the course of his life. He could have kept on wandering the countryside killing apostles losing himself more and more to the beast of darkness until there was nothing left... but he didn't. Everything about his personality was inclined to continue that quest of vengeance... but instead he made a choice to give up on it before it was too late. Everything about his personality was inclined to reject the help of others for fear of betrayal... but instead he decided to accept the help of people who had previously tried to kill him. Everything about his personality which he was inclined to believe or act on based on his past experiences is something he made a deliberate choice - an exercise of free will - to reconsider, reevaluate, and reject.
griffith was manipulated by the god hand since he was a child orphan. i think his story is more about how malicious adults can influence children to become horrible adults and will often do so on purpose with specific intent in mind. griffith never really comes across as in control of his own actions
Been battling with depression for 2 years, havent left my home ever since i realised that pretty much all of the best pros in MMA were using some sort of PEDs or were deeply involed with some crime groups, something that i once saw as the most meaningful thing to me fighting and pushing your limit so you can get the UFC belt felt utterly meaningless upon realizeing the lenghts these so called "fighters" and promoters go to for the sake of profit/winning makes me sick all this inner child in me ever wanted was to be a great fighter be loved and have its purpouse
It's hard meeting heroes I suppose. You could still become a skilled fighter and compete in other leagues. Could even show people how to train/eat and foster a warriors mindset here on YT. Let your purpose change and allow for an evolution of your previous dream maybe?
@@Bravo6goindark take that pain and use it my dude just because most people are fake doesn’t mean you can’t be real and show people it’s possible to be the best through fair means
Physical health issues I mean. Depression, anxiety etc are a result of a body not working correctly. Unless someone dies etc and there's an emotional.impact then depression is understandable but depression that never goes away is some sort of physical problem that can be addressed
that is such a great/mature way to look at it. And so true, Guts knew deep down that he wanted something else, and he was brave enough to chase it. He gave himself a chance to be happier
I'm glad my appreciation for the anime and story came through. Let me know what you think of my other berserk anime and keep your eyes open for a new one dropping asap 🙂
Man this video hit hard. It's one of the strongest and my most favorite theme in Golden Age Berserk. Not going to lie, this video made me shed more than a few tears. Berserk and it's themes and messages mean the world to me, and has inspired me to find purpose and open my mind more to growing and changing as a person. Thank you for making this wonderful video!
The way you conveyed how purpose should change as you move through life… man I said to myself “that was good” just because of rapidly changing fonts. Because it was good lol. Awesome video and editing. I loved hearing your ideas, they helped me appreciate Berserk in another way.
Thank you! I'm glad you liked that edit, I actually almost cut it from the final video, so am glad someone enjoyed it haha. Hope you enjoy the next one too
What a beautiful and articulated video you made. Breaking it down to what purpose is suppose to mean each individual really made me feel in similar ways Guts did in his journey. Thank you for this.
Thank you! I really appreciate that compliment and feedback. Glad the video came across concise. Feel free to check out my other berserk essays and let know if they help clear things up too
Wow Ivw learned so much on purpose, existential crisis, duty brotherhood, honor and men's duties from this anime. Just recently saw the anime last year and glad I did.
As for purpose, Jean-Paul Sartre said it best. For most things, essence precedes existence. That is, the purpose of a thing comes before it's existence. At some point in history, we had a need for something to pick up food without touching it with our hands, and so we invented things like chopsticks, forks and spoons. But for people it's different... for us, existence precedes essence. We're born into the world not knowing purpose, and so we must determine what that is, and what it even means on our own.
@@DonutGuard That is a fantastic way to wrap up purpose, and also begins to lean into a Creationist argument Eg: A forks essence was only established because it's creator desired a utensil. Humans essence is established because a devine or supernatural creator wanted... wanted what? And I believe that's the problem many people face. We just don't know our essence because our creator (God or a scientific law of nature) has never fully confirmed it. Biblical text helps us create a reason to fill in the dots, but I believe these dots are what Berserk and Kentaro Miura narrative thrive in. What do you folks think?
@@grimalgram I think there's no need for biblical text to inform our sense of meaning, or purpose. It's something we create for ourselves. I don't know a quick way to explain, but the Pre-Platonic Greeks had it right. Life is absurd. It's inherently meaningless, marked with impermanence, pain, and suffering. However, it is through our struggle to overcome pain, suffering, and most importantly ourselves that we can create our own meaning. I think Kentaro Miura agreed, because Berserk more or less echoes the same sentiment. I mean, think about Selinus the Satyr, who laughed at Midas and told him that what was best for man was to never be born, and what was next best was to die soon. He understood man better than Midas, and knew that it was death and struggle that allows our lives to have meaning at all. Maybe I'm weird, but the idea of a faith that promises an eternity free of struggle is downright offensive. It's meaningless, just like Selinus' existence. An everlasting existence in paradise where you never struggle... what's the point? What's the purpose?
I give my gratitude to the video creator because I stumbled upon this at a very moment I really needed it. Thank you for your contribution and deep impact you had on this particular moment of my existence.
I like to think Guts was able to humble himself enough to open up and feel. Leading to the blooming of his free will. Griffiths pride led to his deterministic fate.
Many times like Griffith we fall for the same traps, the seeking of a selfish goal, outcome or purpose but really we are just serving the self-passion that has hold of our attention or in Christian terms, we serve sin. It isn't until Guts realizes it's his relationships with others that defines his purpose in life. We can never be made whole on our own, it always takes another! :)
Man, I loved this. I'm super glad I found it. It's super well written and it puts to words a feeling me and many others had when watching the story of Berserk. And it's also why we find it so inspiring. A man in search of capital M 'Meaning'. When he could have found a bunch of little m 'meaning' in a bunch of things. The conclusion was also chef's kiss. "I hope none of you feel like you waste your life, instead follow your skills or sparks to light your path and perhaps you'll find what you were looking for your whole life. But if not I hope the process is what makes you whole and just as Guts attempted, leave it at that, before it's all too late."
Excellent bro, I absolutely love the vibes. Berserk is a series that touches the soul and you do a great job analyzing it. Love your input, keep it up.
Thanks mate! Glad I was able to tap into berserk and that you enjoyed the vibe of the essay. Keep your eyes peeled I have more content coming your way 🤜🏼🤛🏼
i dont even know what to say, ive been struggling, unfulfilled , maybe trying to please others more than to please myself. this video was like freaking therapy, and i know its just a video, but man that changes my perspective, obv abt berserk and the character that guts represents, also what i want and who i want to be. Thank you for your insight. Was a great video to watch and one ill def watch again. also first vid ive seen from you and easily an insta sub from me. Props to you and the way you think.
I'm really glad you got something out of this. I think all stories have the potential to teach us more about ourselves and the world, so it's as effective as you let it be. Tha ks fkr the sub and Im looking forward to your thoughts in the next video 🤜🏼🤛🏼
I think you totally hit the nail on the head with ur statement (probably isn’t ur exact words)about how sometimes we look at ourselves as worthless. Which I do from time to time(am not saying that for sympathy but just to highlight how ur statement hit home) and we forget what we mean to others. That’s s pretty profound statement, Cos we all have family who would be destroyed if we done something horrible like suicide. Also many family members depend on us. If I done something stupid like end myself then I would deprive my father of a son,my son of a father and also my sisters and their kids of a brother and uncle respectively. I’m mean that connected with me. Thank you.
I'm glad that you connected with it. Not only do we have family that may care very deeply for us, but also friends and even acquaintances who enjoy parts of us, small things that we might never even discover they care about :) I hope you can let that appreciation in and also give it to others too
I like how you brought attention to the word 'Happiness' near the end. I often think people use that word when they really mean excitement, but what they truly desire is 'Peace', which is the sharpness of what the dull word happiness can't offer. An old saint once said, "Happiness comes from a clean heart and a clean mind." In our world of distractions, oftentimes, we just seek numbing entertainment because the road to peace is quite painful. To clense ones heart and mind can be a herculean task.
That quote is fantastic, and i agree with your excitement point. It can be very difficult to not be lost in distracting activities that in the end are unfulfilling. Thanks for you comment and I hope you enjoy the next video too.
Griffith= ultimate purpose amd ambition = evil, hurting others (ambition is talked about a lot as good or bad) Guts= aimless, no purpose = hurting yourself
One of the greatest videos I have ever seen. Really glad I came across this video and your channel. Your words have significantly helped me in my pursuit of my own purpose, please continue making more videos like this. I know this channel will blow up and get the recognition it deserves❤️❤️
Wow, thank you! Its really fulfilling hearing comments like these. Cheers for the well wishes and let me know what you think of my Griffith essay, does it have the same impact?
Excellent video especially in a way that conveys some more vague and definitely present themes throughout the monster that is Berserk. I'd like that add the Hound/Hawk motif with Guts and Griffith. With Guts it's so obvious, after every fight he goes alone and "protects the door" (the point with a good view) but still is at his "master's" side when the time is due. Now don't think i'm degrading here, a lot of people function like that, it's just that Miura himself went and portrayed Guts as a hound. Guts the protector of Gambino, Griffith then Casca, and in between he would have time when he would wander around just "trying to survive". Griffith is the hawk, the one who needs to feel that he has everyone in his grasp, who flies above everyone and sees everything (or so he wants to think) but like Icarus from Greek mythology he seeks to soar to even greater heights until there's only himself and his dream there and he slowly stops to see that he is hurting the ones who matter (Icarus reaches the Sun and burnt his wings, only to fall). Although Guts seems lonely, he will always tend to take the righteous path and protect the weaker, as he has learned through many loss that being a stray beast is not a good life, he misses the old comradery. Griffith's dream seems filled, as Charlotte mistook it "many friends and allies" but his dream is very much a barren one, very sadly he probably would've in time realized as he does later that his friendship with Guts alone shone brighter than the "piece of junk" he chose for himself (the castle), but through cause and effect, it was bound to lead to the Eclipse.
Thanks so much! I'm happy you found it interesting. Good working on combing into some more themes in berserk. The animal symbolism is great, dogs, hawks and so on. I wonder what Casca would be?
That scene in the bar with that quote from Judeau... It's just amazing. I love Berserk. It simply is my favorite, out of everything, all things, I absolutely adore it.
You are so good at this! I love this anime man. Was getting lost in it. Great watch, love your analysis of purpose within it. Might have to go watch it again 😂
There's an idea from what I've seen in Buddhism and Hinduism that we are complete and whole, just by virtue of existing. That we are part of the totality that makes up all of existence and that totality is also part of us, we aren't separate. I've found this to be personally more helpful than the search for a fleeting and changing external purpose
That is a peaceful sentiment which honours the natural world in a sense. I believe it too, though I think we as humans who have free will easily complicate and yearn for a reason or purpose.
@@grimalgram agreed. Although I belive what I wrote is true, it's a hard revelation to hold on to. I think until one has an experience of enlightenment it takes constant work to remember. So I guess Ironically enlightenment becomes the goal/ purpose 😆
Brilliant video essay. Nowadays, most video essays spout some pseudo-philosophical mumbo jumbo to earn a few cents of ad revenue. You, however, have shown me a new way to further appreciate this story I thought I knew. Thanks + subbed
@@robinferdous9164 Oh mate I really appreciate your feedback 🏆 It was tricky to find the right angle that kept true to how I felt about berserk while also keeping it engaging enough to view for 20mins. I'm glad that In the end it resonated with you
Great video. Have already rewatched berserk 2 times in different points of my life. I struggle with the same question here and there, as I had just graduated college and my purpose has never gotten any clearer. I do although always come back to what guts learned through the eclipse, as to not take what u have for granted as it may never be the same. I think the most important lesson we as people can take into finding purpose is to stop looking for it, may it allude us. Instead take a deep breath and look around at who is there for you and the relationships you have built. BE GRATEFUL!! And also like u mentioned we are forever evolving and changing, so to does our ambitions, set your self goals no matter how small, commit yourself, work hard but enjoy the process. And most importantly don’t forget you are never alone, "it is not good for man to be alone" - Genesis. I believe this was said before God made Eve to be a partner for Adam. I know this was a long rant, but this topic/question is very dear to my heart, love you all.
Looks about the right size for something that is dear to your heart. So many great passages too and sentiment which I agree with. I hope you find solace in the confusion and continue to live a happy life 🏆
Grim! I just realized you're responsible for the 'Berserk 1997 Is Special' video. I wanted to pick your brain and have sent you an email, so hopefully we can chat. (If anyone hasn't seen Grim's video yet, head over to the channel and check it out)
@@grimalgram I dont know whats going on with UA-cam but my reply didn't send for some reason. But absolutely, sorry I'm getting back to you late. Unfortunately I lost access to my last business email so I made a new one, the updated one in my channel is the correct one. Thank you for the shoutout as well, I really appreciate it
I want to add onto "changing purpose" thing. As a person with conflicting purposes, I learned that the best way to deal with it is to move to the second one after the first one is achieve. Therefore, it's important to pursue a purpose that let you move on without any bad consequences FIRST. You may confused by my words so let me make things clear using myself as an example. I have, currently, three purpose. To make a living out of creating Contents I love, To become a self-sufficient and free person (with minimum responsibilities possible) and To build a family I always dreamed of but never got. You can clearly see how my second and third purposes are contradicting each other. I struggle with them for too long because I can't choose one over another until I realized one simple things. I can choose to start building a family at any point if I become a free person but I can't choose to become a free person if I'm already in a family" (I don't call a person who MUST do certain things for the sake of others a free person. It doesn't matter that person want to do so because the option not to do so is almost non-existent.) After realizing it, I come to realize how important it is to prioritize a purpose that leave you with many room for changes and improvements. If you don't have multiple purpose like me, be aware of what you're pursuing or considering to pursue right now because not all purpose are tolerate to others and one can even close the door to another. English is not my mother tongue but I hope you'll understand what I meant.
Well explained! I relate to the contradicting purposes as well. Do you ever think though that your constraints (lack of freedom/money/time) they give further meaning to the road you choose to travel, and if there were none, than achieving your dreams would have less meaning?
I like the sparks line because it shows how you can enjoy the little things in life, because those little things contain within them a world beyond our own and can tell us so much. It’s like a sailor looking out to sea or a engineer seeing a piston move
@@grimalgram thats all relative I think. Only a monk or a hermit could get use out of holding that viewpoint, and maybe some theorists. Its not always practical to hold for most people, but I think its something we should recognize from time to time
This might be a little bit esoteric and cringey to say in a YT comment, but I as someone who’s had a fascination with religion and pre-history, Guts’ response to life seems to be almost Hermetic in the way that it steels you for the pursuit of purpose in a purposeless world… Griffith, on the other hand, looks at the purposelessness of the world and adopts the Gnostic response: if purpose doesn’t matter in the end, then everything is meaningless; as long as I can convince myself the world is meaningless, then it doesn’t really matter what I do, so long as I get what I want. Thought I was reading a Jungian picture-book when I first started reading Berserk, and this video is a great essay/reference that affirms that. Profound reading of what the anime conveys!
Thank you so much for this video….. berserk’s messages / themes / philosophies / questions have shaped me more than any other, except maybe rilke’s letters to a young poet… which is kinda at odds with berserk’s ideas, and I believe miura’s perspective on purpose is healthier and more correct.
Amazing video that helps lay out the series themes in such a coherent way. I hope you get more subscribers cause this is prime content. I'd also like to say while the hand that pins guts down is both a motif for the lack of control shown in the intro but is also representative of Donovan. While the 1997 anime doesn't dig that deeply into that aspect of the story and never mentions it directly it is still heavily implied especially in the dream sequence. This adds more depth as it also represents Guts having his control taken away from him in a more literal sense.boli
Thank you, that's such a kind comment. Yeah I was wondering when those who have read the manga would comment on topics which were cut/edited In the anime. The thought of Donovan and his impact on guts in the nightmare definitely crossed my mind but I felt it would be a tangent that would stray away from what was included in the base anime, making it more about the manga if I included it. I really like how you have communicated the impact of Guts losing physical autonomy through this though.
“That thing that makes you whole” I’ve been searching for this for a while now. Still haven’t found it but I have noticed something. If you help those around you with good intentions, you will be noticed and respected. But you’ll never find your purpose.
"The Spark" episode from the '97 series, as well as the same section from the manga which I later read, has always stuck with me since experiencing it for the first time. From what I have seen, I think it's interesting how you can experience a "spark"- not just by doing something on your own that creates it (like Guts swinging his sword, or people in real life doing what they love to do), but by also accidentally or unexpectedly stumbling upon it (like how Guts first came across his other "spark" through the Band of the Hawk, or how people in real life may realize that what they love to do the most isn't the only thing that has meaning). Finding purpose or being content seems to be the final say in everyone's life. It's just up to oneself to decide. Even if there are strings attached to you along the way, you can still at least try and break free.
I recently got dumped by my first girlfriend and for a lack of better reason she said she felt like I lacked purpose and ambition and it struck me hard and I feel lost and broken. I think now more than ever I relate to guts and the anime as a whole. So thank you for making this. I don’t know why or what my purpose is but I will find my spark and follow it and let it grow and change without losing sight of what matters the most.People that matter to me
Sorry to hear that man, looks like you have the opportunity for some big growth here. Your final line is so important and it sounds like you or on the right track. Keep going!
I think it's worth mentioning that Judea while accepting his place in life also is too weak to survive the eclipse while Gutz the only man who desired the struggle to become stronger on his own was the only survivor.
Fantastic video, I believe one of the main contributing factors is that they both have romantic feelings for eachother. Obviously it was coated throughout the story, but I think it adds a lot to the scene when Griffith describes what he sees as a friend. I saw it as Guts feeling crushed by the fact that Griffith simply didn’t see him that way, and the only way he would is if Guts had an ambition or dream. I also noticed something interesting about Judeau. You pointed out how he realized he would never be the best at anything, so instead he finds purpose by helping those who are. He had feelings for Casca, but rather than pursuing her, he felt that Guts would be the best person for her, so he tried to bring them together at any point he could. He gave Casca the medicine to help Guts heal, and he even asked Guts if he considered getting with her. In the end he seemed to regret this decision, as he died he wished he would have told Casca how he felt. Almost as an admission that his way of living wasn’t fulfilling in the end. God, Berserk is so good.
This is a great interpretation. I like both the idea that they had feelings for eachother or they wanted to be even closer friends, but seem monumental given their backstories and motivations. As for Judeau, they truly seem like such a gem of a friend to put others before them
Who's interested in me tackling Griffith next? 🌒
@@grimalgram let’s do it
@@steveosborn7224 that's the enthusiasm I want 🏆
It would be quite epic
@@4n4x it's on the radar 🏆
Would be interesting to compare figures like Griffith with other literary figures, eg. Elric of Melnibone, which I think of as Griffiths negative/mirror-image.
Tragic, trying to utilize power to protect his loved ones, bringing their demise.
berserk is a beautiful yet tragic masterpiece. it deals with the human search for purpose; something that never existed to begin with, because it's nothing but a mentally fabricated concept. purpose never existed to begin with, and this realization changes everything, because now you realize EVERYTHING is purpose. don't overthink your life, as that only leads to suffering since life cannot be intellectualized. you are more than flesh my friend.
So existential! Cheers to being more then flesh 🤜🏼🤛🏼
I appreciate what you said about Corcus. He's honestly such an underrated character.
Though he seems like just another douchebag in the dark world of Berserk, everything he does, he does out of his respect and loyalty for Griffith, because he knows that Griffith is the only one who can lead him and his comrades to a prosperous future. In the early episodes he plots to kill Guts in his sleep because he is upset about Guts killing some of his friends during their first encounter.
When Guts beats Griffith in their second duel, Corcus is genuinely baffled, not because he hates Guts, but because the thought of Griffith losing to someone is completely alien to him.
He even styles his helmet after Griffith's, with the front part also resembling the beak a bird, albeit that of a crow instead of a hawk.
Like you said, Corcus is scared and angered about Guts not being satisfied with being granted the title of a noble with a comfortable life awaiting for him, and I honestly think that is kind of relatable
Yeah I totally agree with you. Great Pickup on the helmet as well. When we begin to idolise a person it's easy to judge those who go against their ideology
the blacksmiths lesson for those who didnt really grasp the point - dont do the same job for your whole life, you'll lose your understanding of what you enjoy if you make your life an endless groundhogs day(doing the same thing over and over).
I see it a little different, more so; you won't find happiness if you devote yourself to studing a craft while neglecting the relationships in your life.
@@grimalgram I see it almost like Miura talking to himself, or more so warning himself about dedicating only to his craft. Miura never took that warning as he spent most of his life on Berserk and has talked about missing key parts of life and growing up because of his dedication to Berserk, before he knew it, he had grown old, just like Godot. However, I'm sure Miura knew this and decided to keep going anyway since it was what he loved and wanted to do.
@@pell9538 well said, I hope he was happy with his choice
@@pell9538 He died doing what he wanted no matter what right? I bet he died happy”
@@svenproglhof1768 Near made a tear fall out my eye. Thank you for commenting that
A lot can be said about the 1997 anime of Berserk, but it has undoubtedly the most fitting and thought provoking soundtrack out of any anime ever imo.
Oh man the sound truck is stunning, would love to write about it at some point
@@grimalgramif you want a reference video, I think the UA-camr “the internet pitstop” makes some really meaningful berserk videos.
Thanks for the reference!
This video genuinely meant a lot to me and made me cry. I think I really needed to hear a lot of it. I'm a big time berserk fan, and know most of the messages behind it, but for some reason the way you put it enraptured me. When you said that, your purpose can and should change. That hit me very hard. As I've always felt like my purpose is one thing, but I'm so confused, and I can't figure out what it is. It also hit when you said that purpose doesn't mean you'll be happy. The question that is left lingering in my mind is if my purpose goes against my happiness, should I still pursue it? Or should I find a new purpose? Or should I say fuck "purposes" all together? If I deny the purpose that I have set out for, for so long, then will I be happy?
hey mate! I'm really glad you were able to connect with the video and it hit on a deeper level. I noticed you left an email so will respond to your whole message there, but if anyone else in the comments would like to share their thoughts on the questions raised here, i think it would make for a great discussion :)
I think that purpose is like water, it flows and changes shape constantly dependending on where its in. I mysef, as berserk enthusiast, am sturggling with finding value, purpose, meaning behind my life. Nevertheless, after watching this video and just assimilating it and building upon it mentally with what I already have in this messy mind of mine I´ve figured out something more which may help you. As you progress with your initial purpose you will find out at a certain point that it wont fulfill you anymore, you will love it but not feel any feeling of satisfaction by it, similar to how Godo does not feel anything for blacksmithing other than think about the good times he´s had with it. Therefore, the next step is to change to another purpose, another dream, another goal. Look at it this way, imagine you are water and envision you first, intitial goal is a glass or a bucket. As you progress towards your goal, you will become more and more fulfilled and earn knowledge and skills. Imagine that knowledge and skill is quantified by more water. Slowly but surely you will reach a point in which the glass which can no longer retain the water from spilling and because of that you will change to a bigger goal which is even more challenging but yields bigger rewards. English isn´t my mother tongue, you might not understand it entirely due to that, however I feel I´ve made myself and my thoughts clear. You can´t stick to one singular purpose your whole life long unless you´ve got infinite patience. Just enjoy the process of infinitely changing the water that is yourself from one container to another as you will from one dream to another.
@@pabloelche0373 Your English is perfect man. Beautiful comment.
Maybe this is just me, but I've found that striving for comfort and peace is much more fulfilling than pursuing happiness. Because that's just it, we can pursue happiness but never actually find it, and if we do, it's usually so fleeting in this world. Happiness can come with comfort and peace, but the latter is usually more achievable and permanent.
I remember talking with a tradesmen about life, purpose, and happiness. I'm a writer and performer myself.
He said, and from older folks he's spoken to along the way, that happiness is fleeting. It's worthy, but isn't sustainable as a pursuit.
Fulfillment is. What makes you feel like you've done something worthwhile at the end of the day.
Is it in a hospital? A publisher's house? A restaurant? Is it reading? Traveling? Performing? Raising a family?
All are worthy pursuits.
But what gives you fulfillment.
Chances are, you're already doing it.
What I think is Miura conveyed his personal story into Guts. Miura's parents were artist, and he was influenced at a very young age. All his life, drawing art, making manga is all he knew, he never had anything except his drawing skills. As he grew, his skills eventually become better and better, as we see in his manga panels keeps evolving. Guts too started out as young swords man, and eventually became a master swordsman. That is why Gut's growth felt more realistic (even though he swings 160kg of iron) than any other character in fictions.
Your reflection on Miuras childhood is so interesting 🏆 That's true, it's much more believable to see a character over time continuously work on their skill than a character who just already has the skills
i love youtube videos like this, theres so much a deeper meaning behind 1997 berserk its not just an anime, its kinda like AOT in its own way because of the complications if you know what i mean.
Definitely, AOT has a lot of tricky plot and twists but the feeling of discovering how moments are linked and being on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next is very similar
I literally left Camp Pendleton to marathon this with my dad on July 4th 2024! Berserk 97 was a show my dad missed out on when he was a 90s teenager. I FUCKING LOVE THIS SHOW AND THE MANGA!!!!
What an awesome show to watch with a parent, hope it was a great experience 👑
What did your dad think of it?
The lack of purpose opens unlimited possibilities and the search is the journey unlike a person who is predetermined.
I wonder how much this applies to our lives. Are we somewhat predetermined?
Berserk was a story that hit me so hard because I watched it at a time in my life when I was searching for my purpose and a dream, seeking answers and trying to understand the immense emptiness I felt. I will always think it's beautiful how such a complex and sad story can bring so many people together. Because deep down, we all have a dream or are searching for a purpose everyday... Excellent video essay I'm glad I found it.
Lovely story, and I totally agree. Content like berserk can have such a defining effect on us as people. While we work out the world and ourselves it's so helpful and interesting to use these stories as minor stepping stones 🏆glad you enjoyed and look out for the next one 🤜🏼🤛🏼
This is an amazingly well scripted and edited video. Can’t wait to see this channel blow up and get the recognition it will earn.
Thanks for you kind words, hope you enjoy the next one too
great vid, couldn't tell it was 21 minutes until I swept through it all so quick. Keep making more!
Thankyou! I was worried about the length but am happy the long form was engaging enough
As far as determinism and free will go, I think what Berserk shows us is that there are elements of both at play. It isn't all one or the other. Yes, it's true that the events of the story push and pull the characters around into making decisions beyond their own will. They THINK they're doing it on their own, but in reality they're COMPELLED by the experiences of their life up until that point.
For example, Griffith reflecting upon the dead child after a battle caused him immense guilt for the men who die under his command which compelled him to seek funding through... "other" means, which in turn created a rift in his personality between the persona he kept up in front of others, and the feelings going on inside of his head, or his shadow. This split caused him to adopt his persona even more, which combined with his undefeated record in battle caused him to play up his persona even more, and bury his shadow even more deeply. After his loss to Guts on the hilltop, his persona was broken, and he was forced to face his shadow which he was unable to cope with which led to him bedding the Princess, which led to his downfall, which led to the Eclipse. Griffith had a choice at one point to prevent this split in the first place, and that was to acknowledge his feelings, confront them, and open up to somebody about them... but instead he bottled it up, put on a brave face, and created a schism within himself. Some may argue that he didn't have a choice, that his personality up until that point was wired to bury his emotions from childhood and maybe that's true... but then why did Guts, who almost certainly had an even more guarded personality, decide to open up to Casca when the time was right?
Guts' character is designed to show us that even in a deterministic world, our will can at least play SOME part in the events that happen in our lives. Griffith abdicated his will to causality in order to avoid or deflect responsibility. He rationalized that his dream required a mountain of bodies to reach, and that because he'd gone so far, and so many had already died, a few more dead wouldn't matter.
Guts didn't do that. When he realized that his pursuit of vengeance was selfish and wrong, he accepted responsibility and changed the course of his life. He could have kept on wandering the countryside killing apostles losing himself more and more to the beast of darkness until there was nothing left... but he didn't. Everything about his personality was inclined to continue that quest of vengeance... but instead he made a choice to give up on it before it was too late. Everything about his personality was inclined to reject the help of others for fear of betrayal... but instead he decided to accept the help of people who had previously tried to kill him. Everything about his personality which he was inclined to believe or act on based on his past experiences is something he made a deliberate choice - an exercise of free will - to reconsider, reevaluate, and reject.
griffith was manipulated by the god hand since he was a child orphan. i think his story is more about how malicious adults can influence children to become horrible adults and will often do so on purpose with specific intent in mind. griffith never really comes across as in control of his own actions
Been battling with depression for 2 years, havent left my home ever since i realised that pretty much all of the best pros in MMA were using some sort of PEDs or were deeply involed with some crime groups, something that i once saw as the most meaningful thing to me fighting and pushing your limit so you can get the UFC belt felt utterly meaningless upon realizeing the lenghts these so called "fighters" and promoters go to for the sake of profit/winning makes me sick all this inner child in me ever wanted was to be a great fighter be loved and have its purpouse
It's hard meeting heroes I suppose. You could still become a skilled fighter and compete in other leagues. Could even show people how to train/eat and foster a warriors mindset here on YT. Let your purpose change and allow for an evolution of your previous dream maybe?
@@Bravo6goindark take that pain and use it my dude just because most people are fake doesn’t mean you can’t be real and show people it’s possible to be the best through fair means
@@DamzDoherty much love man hope you have a blessed life ❤
Look up around whittens energy blueprint. Got.your lifestyle right, positive mood results. That and fix any health issues
Physical health issues I mean. Depression, anxiety etc are a result of a body not working correctly. Unless someone dies etc and there's an emotional.impact then depression is understandable but depression that never goes away is some sort of physical problem that can be addressed
The older I get the more I admire Guts for walking away from a well paying job in favor of his own personal betterment.
that is such a great/mature way to look at it. And so true, Guts knew deep down that he wanted something else, and he was brave enough to chase it. He gave himself a chance to be happier
Thanks for covering this, it’s good to see honest enjoyment out of Beserk when compared to everything else I’ve seen. Truly, thank you
I'm glad my appreciation for the anime and story came through. Let me know what you think of my other berserk anime and keep your eyes open for a new one dropping asap 🙂
Man this video hit hard. It's one of the strongest and my most favorite theme in Golden Age Berserk. Not going to lie, this video made me shed more than a few tears. Berserk and it's themes and messages mean the world to me, and has inspired me to find purpose and open my mind more to growing and changing as a person. Thank you for making this wonderful video!
@@Grasses0n thanks so much for you comments! And I'm glad the vid hit. Hope you enjoy the next one too :)
The way you conveyed how purpose should change as you move through life… man I said to myself “that was good” just because of rapidly changing fonts. Because it was good lol. Awesome video and editing. I loved hearing your ideas, they helped me appreciate Berserk in another way.
Thank you! I'm glad you liked that edit, I actually almost cut it from the final video, so am glad someone enjoyed it haha. Hope you enjoy the next one too
What a beautiful and articulated video you made. Breaking it down to what purpose is suppose to mean each individual really made me feel in similar ways Guts did in his journey. Thank you for this.
It's comments like these that make me want to create more content. Thanks for your kind words and I glad you got something out of the video
you are wondeful storyteller! i just finished the show for the first time this last week and your perspective adds so much clarity to a deep story
Thank you! I really appreciate that compliment and feedback. Glad the video came across concise. Feel free to check out my other berserk essays and let know if they help clear things up too
Wow Ivw learned so much on purpose, existential crisis, duty brotherhood, honor and men's duties from this anime. Just recently saw the anime last year and glad I did.
It truly is rich in life lessons. Glad you benefited from it
As for purpose, Jean-Paul Sartre said it best.
For most things, essence precedes existence. That is, the purpose of a thing comes before it's existence. At some point in history, we had a need for something to pick up food without touching it with our hands, and so we invented things like chopsticks, forks and spoons. But for people it's different... for us, existence precedes essence. We're born into the world not knowing purpose, and so we must determine what that is, and what it even means on our own.
@@DonutGuard That is a fantastic way to wrap up purpose, and also begins to lean into a Creationist argument
Eg: A forks essence was only established because it's creator desired a utensil. Humans essence is established because a devine or supernatural creator wanted... wanted what? And I believe that's the problem many people face. We just don't know our essence because our creator (God or a scientific law of nature) has never fully confirmed it.
Biblical text helps us create a reason to fill in the dots, but I believe these dots are what Berserk and Kentaro Miura narrative thrive in.
What do you folks think?
a take only a well off person could have lmao
@@grimalgram I think there's no need for biblical text to inform our sense of meaning, or purpose. It's something we create for ourselves.
I don't know a quick way to explain, but the Pre-Platonic Greeks had it right. Life is absurd. It's inherently meaningless, marked with impermanence, pain, and suffering. However, it is through our struggle to overcome pain, suffering, and most importantly ourselves that we can create our own meaning. I think Kentaro Miura agreed, because Berserk more or less echoes the same sentiment.
I mean, think about Selinus the Satyr, who laughed at Midas and told him that what was best for man was to never be born, and what was next best was to die soon. He understood man better than Midas, and knew that it was death and struggle that allows our lives to have meaning at all.
Maybe I'm weird, but the idea of a faith that promises an eternity free of struggle is downright offensive. It's meaningless, just like Selinus' existence. An everlasting existence in paradise where you never struggle... what's the point? What's the purpose?
@@saturationstation1446 well, Jean-Paul Sartre was French after all lol.
I give my gratitude to the video creator because I stumbled upon this at a very moment I really needed it. Thank you for your contribution and deep impact you had on this particular moment of my existence.
Thank you, I really appreciate your comment and am glad the video found you when it did. It's comments like these that make me want to create 🏆
Solid content and commentary, you echoed my views on Guts and his search for purpose exactly.
Keep 'em coming.
Thanks for the kind words. I'm cooking up the next one so stay tuned
I like to think Guts was able to humble himself enough to open up and feel. Leading to the blooming of his free will. Griffiths pride led to his deterministic fate.
Thats a very interesting idea. I love the thought that being humble and open will allow you to shape the life you want
Many times like Griffith we fall for the same traps, the seeking of a selfish goal, outcome or purpose but really we are just serving the self-passion that has hold of our attention or in Christian terms, we serve sin.
It isn't until Guts realizes it's his relationships with others that defines his purpose in life.
We can never be made whole on our own, it always takes another! :)
That's a lovely interpretation of Guts journey
Man, I loved this. I'm super glad I found it. It's super well written and it puts to words a feeling me and many others had when watching the story of Berserk.
And it's also why we find it so inspiring. A man in search of capital M 'Meaning'. When he could have found a bunch of little m 'meaning' in a bunch of things.
The conclusion was also chef's kiss. "I hope none of you feel like you waste your life, instead follow your skills or sparks to light your path and perhaps you'll find what you were looking for your whole life. But if not I hope the process is what makes you whole and just as Guts attempted, leave it at that, before it's all too late."
I'm so glad you enjoyed it and love your premise of big M's vs little m's.🏆 The conclusion came from a genuine place so I'm glad it hit
Say it with me
Kentaro Mee-ura.
(Kentaro) (Muura)
"Damn It".
Hahaha, how did I pronounce it? Can you spell it out phonetically?
Excellent bro, I absolutely love the vibes. Berserk is a series that touches the soul and you do a great job analyzing it. Love your input, keep it up.
Thanks mate! Glad I was able to tap into berserk and that you enjoyed the vibe of the essay. Keep your eyes peeled I have more content coming your way 🤜🏼🤛🏼
Phenomenal video, thank you for this!
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it. Feel free to check out my other berserk essays and let me know what you think
Guts finds his purpose in one of the latest chapters, and his purpose is to care for the people he's with
@@IgnatiousRainwater sounds like a noble purpose. Do you think he will stick to it?
This video is awesome - really good insight and well put together
Thankyou! I'm glad you enjoyed, let me know what you think of my other berserk essay too if you're interested 🙂
@@grimalgram I'll give it a watch later!
i dont even know what to say, ive been struggling, unfulfilled , maybe trying to please others more than to please myself. this video was like freaking therapy, and i know its just a video, but man that changes my perspective, obv abt berserk and the character that guts represents, also what i want and who i want to be. Thank you for your insight. Was a great video to watch and one ill def watch again. also first vid ive seen from you and easily an insta sub from me. Props to you and the way you think.
I'm really glad you got something out of this. I think all stories have the potential to teach us more about ourselves and the world, so it's as effective as you let it be. Tha ks fkr the sub and Im looking forward to your thoughts in the next video 🤜🏼🤛🏼
You have embodied the series in this 20 minute video. Thank you.
I'm glad i caught some of that essence. Hope you enjoy the next one too!
I think you totally hit the nail on the head with ur statement (probably isn’t ur exact words)about how sometimes we look at ourselves as worthless. Which I do from time to time(am not saying that for sympathy but just to highlight how ur statement hit home) and we forget what we mean to others. That’s s pretty profound statement, Cos we all have family who would be destroyed if we done something horrible like suicide. Also many family members depend on us. If I done something stupid like end myself then I would deprive my father of a son,my son of a father and also my sisters and their kids of a brother and uncle respectively. I’m mean that connected with me. Thank you.
I'm glad that you connected with it. Not only do we have family that may care very deeply for us, but also friends and even acquaintances who enjoy parts of us, small things that we might never even discover they care about :) I hope you can let that appreciation in and also give it to others too
Purpose doesn't equal happiness...........WOW. I've been struggling with that concept all my life.
It's a hard one. At the end, I think it's perspective that may make you the most or least happiest
I like how you brought attention to the word 'Happiness' near the end. I often think people use that word when they really mean excitement, but what they truly desire is 'Peace', which is the sharpness of what the dull word happiness can't offer. An old saint once said, "Happiness comes from a clean heart and a clean mind."
In our world of distractions, oftentimes, we just seek numbing entertainment because the road to peace is quite painful. To clense ones heart and mind can be a herculean task.
That quote is fantastic, and i agree with your excitement point. It can be very difficult to not be lost in distracting activities that in the end are unfulfilling. Thanks for you comment and I hope you enjoy the next video too.
Griffith= ultimate purpose amd ambition = evil, hurting others (ambition is talked about a lot as good or bad)
Guts= aimless, no purpose = hurting yourself
best analysis video i have ever seen, i rewatch it couple times every month
@@danielb.7224 what a compliment! Thank you!
One of the greatest videos I have ever seen. Really glad I came across this video and your channel. Your words have significantly helped me in my pursuit of my own purpose, please continue making more videos like this. I know this channel will blow up and get the recognition it deserves❤️❤️
Wow, thank you! Its really fulfilling hearing comments like these. Cheers for the well wishes and let me know what you think of my Griffith essay, does it have the same impact?
Excellent video especially in a way that conveys some more vague and definitely present themes throughout the monster that is Berserk. I'd like that add the Hound/Hawk motif with Guts and Griffith. With Guts it's so obvious, after every fight he goes alone and "protects the door" (the point with a good view) but still is at his "master's" side when the time is due. Now don't think i'm degrading here, a lot of people function like that, it's just that Miura himself went and portrayed Guts as a hound. Guts the protector of Gambino, Griffith then Casca, and in between he would have time when he would wander around just "trying to survive". Griffith is the hawk, the one who needs to feel that he has everyone in his grasp, who flies above everyone and sees everything (or so he wants to think) but like Icarus from Greek mythology he seeks to soar to even greater heights until there's only himself and his dream there and he slowly stops to see that he is hurting the ones who matter (Icarus reaches the Sun and burnt his wings, only to fall). Although Guts seems lonely, he will always tend to take the righteous path and protect the weaker, as he has learned through many loss that being a stray beast is not a good life, he misses the old comradery. Griffith's dream seems filled, as Charlotte mistook it "many friends and allies" but his dream is very much a barren one, very sadly he probably would've in time realized as he does later that his friendship with Guts alone shone brighter than the "piece of junk" he chose for himself (the castle), but through cause and effect, it was bound to lead to the Eclipse.
Thanks so much! I'm happy you found it interesting. Good working on combing into some more themes in berserk. The animal symbolism is great, dogs, hawks and so on. I wonder what Casca would be?
That scene in the bar with that quote from Judeau... It's just amazing. I love Berserk. It simply is my favorite, out of everything, all things, I absolutely adore it.
It is a fantastic series. Glad you enjoyed the scene as much as i did
You are so good at this!
I love this anime man. Was getting lost in it.
Great watch, love your analysis of purpose within it. Might have to go watch it again 😂
@@AaronMeliaGeary you're too kind! Glad you enjoyed it 😁
brought me to tears, beautifully created. thank you
@@deebabydoll6429 thankyou! 💜💜💜What an amazing reaction!
There's an idea from what I've seen in Buddhism and Hinduism that we are complete and whole, just by virtue of existing. That we are part of the totality that makes up all of existence and that totality is also part of us, we aren't separate. I've found this to be personally more helpful than the search for a fleeting and changing external purpose
That is a peaceful sentiment which honours the natural world in a sense. I believe it too, though I think we as humans who have free will easily complicate and yearn for a reason or purpose.
@@grimalgram agreed. Although I belive what I wrote is true, it's a hard revelation to hold on to. I think until one has an experience of enlightenment it takes constant work to remember. So I guess Ironically enlightenment becomes the goal/ purpose 😆
Haha agreed. The paradox is a fun one if we make it
16:08 "so what is he without his sword?"
Having read the latest post-Miura chapters, that line hit hard...
Such a well constructed tale berserk is. Glad the line hit hard
Great video man. I love berserk. It really helped me figure myself out when I first saw it like six or seven years ago. Watched it many times since.
Cheers! It's so crazy how potent the writing and specifically the 1997 anime was for people. Even rewatching as I write it hits hard
Brilliant video essay. Nowadays, most video essays spout some pseudo-philosophical mumbo jumbo to earn a few cents of ad revenue. You, however, have shown me a new way to further appreciate this story I thought I knew. Thanks + subbed
@@robinferdous9164 Oh mate I really appreciate your feedback 🏆 It was tricky to find the right angle that kept true to how I felt about berserk while also keeping it engaging enough to view for 20mins. I'm glad that In the end it resonated with you
This guy promoting bezerk well🤧…now I’m watching it
@@Defecit-7 please tell them to give me a sponsorship 😅
great vid. 2 thumbs up
👍🏼👍🏼 Thank you! Hope you enjoy the next video too
Great video. Have already rewatched berserk 2 times in different points of my life. I struggle with the same question here and there, as I had just graduated college and my purpose has never gotten any clearer. I do although always come back to what guts learned through the eclipse, as to not take what u have for granted as it may never be the same. I think the most important lesson we as people can take into finding purpose is to stop looking for it, may it allude us. Instead take a deep breath and look around at who is there for you and the relationships you have built. BE GRATEFUL!! And also like u mentioned we are forever evolving and changing, so to does our ambitions, set your self goals no matter how small, commit yourself, work hard but enjoy the process. And most importantly don’t forget you are never alone, "it is not good for man to be alone" - Genesis. I believe this was said before God made Eve to be a partner for Adam.
I know this was a long rant, but this topic/question is very dear to my heart, love you all.
Looks about the right size for something that is dear to your heart.
So many great passages too and sentiment which I agree with. I hope you find solace in the confusion and continue to live a happy life 🏆
Excellent video man, you absolutely crushed it.
Thanks for the kind words! Hope you enjoy the next one too
Grim! I just realized you're responsible for the 'Berserk 1997 Is Special' video. I wanted to pick your brain and have sent you an email, so hopefully we can chat. (If anyone hasn't seen Grim's video yet, head over to the channel and check it out)
@@grimalgram I dont know whats going on with UA-cam but my reply didn't send for some reason. But absolutely, sorry I'm getting back to you late. Unfortunately I lost access to my last business email so I made a new one, the updated one in my channel is the correct one. Thank you for the shoutout as well, I really appreciate it
All good mate! I'll forward it to the correct email and we can chat
Great video bro!
Thankyou!
Amazing video great job!
Thanks mate! Hope you enjoy my other berserk essays too
great video, this deserves more attention. Great editing and sound
@@ofnull thanks! I appreciate that, feel free to share it around 😁
This video was so well put together
@@hhowdy Thanks man! Really appreciate the kind words
Great video bro
Thanks! Hope you like the next one too
Great video brother. Love your perspective and the editing is smooth
Thanks mate! Let me know what, you think of the next one too 🙂
"When people give advise, they're simply speaking to themselves" JFC 🤯
Feel free to steal that one! I think I did the same
I want to add onto "changing purpose" thing. As a person with conflicting purposes, I learned that the best way to deal with it is to move to the second one after the first one is achieve. Therefore, it's important to pursue a purpose that let you move on without any bad consequences FIRST. You may confused by my words so let me make things clear using myself as an example.
I have, currently, three purpose. To make a living out of creating Contents I love, To become a self-sufficient and free person (with minimum responsibilities possible) and To build a family I always dreamed of but never got. You can clearly see how my second and third purposes are contradicting each other. I struggle with them for too long because I can't choose one over another until I realized one simple things.
I can choose to start building a family at any point if I become a free person but I can't choose to become a free person if I'm already in a family" (I don't call a person who MUST do certain things for the sake of others a free person. It doesn't matter that person want to do so because the option not to do so is almost non-existent.)
After realizing it, I come to realize how important it is to prioritize a purpose that leave you with many room for changes and improvements. If you don't have multiple purpose like me, be aware of what you're pursuing or considering to pursue right now because not all purpose are tolerate to others and one can even close the door to another.
English is not my mother tongue but I hope you'll understand what I meant.
Well explained! I relate to the contradicting purposes as well. Do you ever think though that your constraints (lack of freedom/money/time) they give further meaning to the road you choose to travel, and if there were none, than achieving your dreams would have less meaning?
@@grimalgram Nice point, Man. Seem like I'm gonna deprive my sleep from overthinking it tonight.
Hahaha you good man. Rest up
This video is UNDERRATED
Thanks! Feel free to share it around 🏆
I like the sparks line because it shows how you can enjoy the little things in life, because those little things contain within them a world beyond our own and can tell us so much. It’s like a sailor looking out to sea or a engineer seeing a piston move
Yes! That's so true. As a base rule perhaps we should accept that there is a spark or beauty in all things. What do you think?
@@grimalgram thats all relative I think. Only a monk or a hermit could get use out of holding that viewpoint, and maybe some theorists. Its not always practical to hold for most people, but I think its something we should recognize from time to time
Your breakdown of freewill vs causality was clutch, look forward to future videos!
Thanks mate! I appreciate the feedback
This might be a little bit esoteric and cringey to say in a YT comment, but I as someone who’s had a fascination with religion and pre-history, Guts’ response to life seems to be almost Hermetic in the way that it steels you for the pursuit of purpose in a purposeless world… Griffith, on the other hand, looks at the purposelessness of the world and adopts the Gnostic response: if purpose doesn’t matter in the end, then everything is meaningless; as long as I can convince myself the world is meaningless, then it doesn’t really matter what I do, so long as I get what I want.
Thought I was reading a Jungian picture-book when I first started reading Berserk, and this video is a great essay/reference that affirms that. Profound reading of what the anime conveys!
Please continue to make high quality video essays like this one, you earned a subscriber
Thanks for you kind words! I hope you enjoy the next one too
Bruh, I love you. I don't know HOW the alghorhitm knew this is what I was needing but this is what I was needing right now.
Thank you.
I'm so happy you got something out of it! Sometimes things just appear when we need them. Thanks for your kind words
Wow, what a good video! Definitely the ending.
Glad you enjoyed it
this is beautifully put!
Thank you! Hopefully you like the second one too
Thank you so much for this video….. berserk’s messages / themes / philosophies / questions have shaped me more than any other, except maybe rilke’s letters to a young poet… which is kinda at odds with berserk’s ideas, and I believe miura’s perspective on purpose is healthier and more correct.
I'm so glad you enjoyed it and thanks for adding rilke's to my list. Keep and eye out for the next video :)
This is a fantastic video dude. And it’s so early in your channel, really well done.
Thanks mate! Really glad you enjoyed and thanks for the feedback. Hope you like the next one too
Great video! I love Berserk for his hidden meanings. Thank you.
@@janstarosta3646 thankyou!
I was looking for video describing berserk in this way for long time. Great video you should make more like this.
I'm glad you found it. I have a few more in the works similar to this and look forward to see what you think
Amazing video that helps lay out the series themes in such a coherent way. I hope you get more subscribers cause this is prime content.
I'd also like to say while the hand that pins guts down is both a motif for the lack of control shown in the intro but is also representative of Donovan. While the 1997 anime doesn't dig that deeply into that aspect of the story and never mentions it directly it is still heavily implied especially in the dream sequence. This adds more depth as it also represents Guts having his control taken away from him in a more literal sense.boli
Thank you, that's such a kind comment.
Yeah I was wondering when those who have read the manga would comment on topics which were cut/edited In the anime. The thought of Donovan and his impact on guts in the nightmare definitely crossed my mind but I felt it would be a tangent that would stray away from what was included in the base anime, making it more about the manga if I included it. I really like how you have communicated the impact of Guts losing physical autonomy through this though.
man I love this show
such a great vid, ty
Cheers, hope you enjoy the next one too
how tf do you only have 600 subs, thought this would easily be a 20k+ channel?! keep it up bro great vid!!
Haha thanks so much man! Just starting out so really appreciate the compliment. Hope you enjoy the next one too
Little did Guts know, that Griffith already did consider him his equal...
The pairs miscommunications are next level
Fantastic video!
@@Nossie1 thanks! Hope you like the next one too
Yo, don’t stop making videos. This helped me beyond measure. You are a light❤
@@Jawneylaulau thankyou, that is a very kind compliment 👑 and I'm glad the video could be of service. you just made my day
“That thing that makes you whole” I’ve been searching for this for a while now. Still haven’t found it but I have noticed something. If you help those around you with good intentions, you will be noticed and respected. But you’ll never find your purpose.
@@franka6680 to some that is purpose. There is a comment down below somewhere that talk on big meaning and little meaning. I found it helpful 🏆
Keep up the good work brother!
@@Myers_Johan thanks mate! Hope you like the next one too
"The Spark" episode from the '97 series, as well as the same section from the manga which I later read, has always stuck with me since experiencing it for the first time. From what I have seen, I think it's interesting how you can experience a "spark"- not just by doing something on your own that creates it (like Guts swinging his sword, or people in real life doing what they love to do), but by also accidentally or unexpectedly stumbling upon it (like how Guts first came across his other "spark" through the Band of the Hawk, or how people in real life may realize that what they love to do the most isn't the only thing that has meaning).
Finding purpose or being content seems to be the final say in everyone's life. It's just up to oneself to decide. Even if there are strings attached to you along the way, you can still at least try and break free.
It's a very thought provoking part of the show and I think the point you raise on secondary sparks is really important
I recently got dumped by my first girlfriend and for a lack of better reason she said she felt like I lacked purpose and ambition and it struck me hard and I feel lost and broken. I think now more than ever I relate to guts and the anime as a whole. So thank you for making this. I don’t know why or what my purpose is but I will find my spark and follow it and let it grow and change without losing sight of what matters the most.People that matter to me
Sorry to hear that man, looks like you have the opportunity for some big growth here. Your final line is so important and it sounds like you or on the right track. Keep going!
I think it's worth mentioning that Judea while accepting his place in life also is too weak to survive the eclipse while Gutz the only man who desired the struggle to become stronger on his own was the only survivor.
Yeah, that's a great point. The person who took the harder route was better equipped in the end
Fantastic video, I believe one of the main contributing factors is that they both have romantic feelings for eachother.
Obviously it was coated throughout the story, but I think it adds a lot to the scene when Griffith describes what he sees as a friend. I saw it as Guts feeling crushed by the fact that Griffith simply didn’t see him that way, and the only way he would is if Guts had an ambition or dream.
I also noticed something interesting about Judeau. You pointed out how he realized he would never be the best at anything, so instead he finds purpose by helping those who are. He had feelings for Casca, but rather than pursuing her, he felt that Guts would be the best person for her, so he tried to bring them together at any point he could. He gave Casca the medicine to help Guts heal, and he even asked Guts if he considered getting with her.
In the end he seemed to regret this decision, as he died he wished he would have told Casca how he felt. Almost as an admission that his way of living wasn’t fulfilling in the end.
God, Berserk is so good.
This is a great interpretation. I like both the idea that they had feelings for eachother or they wanted to be even closer friends, but seem monumental given their backstories and motivations.
As for Judeau, they truly seem like such a gem of a friend to put others before them
absolutely Legendary video, literally the perfect style of editing for a video like this. The commentary is also amazing yo. Keep up the good work!
@@hexzless thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed. Stay tuned for the next one
This is one of my favorite videos, thank you
@@raff5595 thanks raff! I'm glad you enjoyed it
That is a great video, you have some really good points about things a lot of people are struggling with and perhaps even overlook in Berserk
Thankyou! I'm glad you enjoyed it
love the fkn video mannnnn watched it the right point in my life, where the future brings a lot of questions.
Glad it had an impact mate! Hope you enjoy the next one too
Masterpiece
@@theahmadaharb cheers! what high praise. Hope you enjoy the next too
there is no way you only have 115 subs. this video is fucking insane.
Haha I'm hoping to get more by making quality content that actually adds something to UA-cam
Absolutely brilliant video. Berserk saved me.
Thankyou! It's such a powerful anime, and the more I research the more I find statements like yours. Glad you had a positive outcome from it
Definitely one of my favourite videos
Thank you! I'm glad it made and impression. Hope. You enjoy the next
nice video mate, can never get bored to hear about Berserk
I'm glad you enjoyed it, cheers
Nice essay. Good luck!
Thank you! Hope you enjoy the next one too :)
Wonderful video essay! Definitely earned my subscription. Good luck!
Thank you! Hope you enjoy the next one too
very very good video, you man will have a lot of subscribers if you continue like this
Haha thankyou! Let's hope your foresight is true 🔮
Such beauty , it was really pleasent listening to this
Amazing! I'm glad you enjoyed it and hope you like the next one too
only 7k views? This deserves way more! Great video bruv!
Thankyou! Feel free to share it if you want to help me with views 🤜🏼🤛🏼
This is such a great video and I’ve basically watched every big berserk video
@@jacobneuman6161 thankyou! Glad you're enjoying the series so much!
I hope you make many more on berserk maybe even the manga you’re amazing dude I appreciate you bro !
Thanks for the high praise! I just put out another one on Griffith, let me know what you think 🙂
@@grimalgram All right man
great video
Thanks! Feel free to check out my other berserk essay and let me know what you think