It's Them 😭

More ideas with Snufkin:

I’ve got more coming

Initial sketch concept

Next- How Snufkin got his harmonica

I’ve said the same thing in a lot more words before. You want the Warners to be in-character?

They are smart but not logical. They are wise but immature. They are refined but chaotic. And they are well-meaning but mischievous.

These are the things that make them extremely flexible characters, as well as interesting, endearing, and cute. They’re kids who aren’t kids and adults who aren’t adults.

The Man-God: BSD’s Dostoyevsky and Demons’ Kirillov

So, I finally read Bungou Stray Dogs. And y’all, I freaking love this manga. It’s got themes of life, grief, death, trauma, and is chock-full of literary references and puns. 

Shocking no one, one of my favorite characters–the reason I started reading the story–is Dostoyevsky, since I’m… rather an admitted fangirl of Dostoyevsky’s novels. I’ve reread each of them at least twice and some (C&P) up to five times. Clearly BSD’s Dostoyevsky not the hopeful, faithful author, but he’s definitely a fascinating antagonist whose arc is digging into the themes of Dostoyevsky the writer’s novels–with a particular focus on the two novels that are my very favorite novels ever written, by anyone, in history: Crime and Punishment and Demons. 

But in truth, it draws more from Demons than from Crime and Punishment, right down to having BSD!Dostoyevsky directly quote it.

Demons is far, far less popular that Crime and Punishment, The Brothers Karamazov, and even The Idiot, so I was really surprised to see how often it’s been referenced in BSD (The reason it’s less popular is honestly justified: the first 100 pages are paced… horribly, but the rest of the novel is so powerful that I can overlook that). It’s been translated under a variety of titles as well: The Possessed, The Devils, and the most recent is Demons so that’s what we’re going with in this meta.

Pssst–look at how often BSD!Dostoyesvky is associated with demons or devils:

Yet Demons has been popular with literary theorists (one well-known critic has described it as containing “the most harrowing scene in all of fiction,” an assessment I’d agree with–and this is the scene I’m going to discuss in detail) and existentialists like Camus (sorry Camus). Anyways, I have a soft spot for Demons because it contains my very favorite character in existence: Alexei Nilyich Kirillov, who is the character BSD!Dostoyesvky directly quotes.

@blackandwhitemusician did a great analysis of the similar philosophies BSD!Dostoyevsky shares with Crime and Punishment’s Raskolnikov, but I want to talk about how BSD!Dostoyevsky is also modeled after Kirillov’s philosophical ideas. This isn’t to say he embodies them, because Kirillov is decidedly not a villain unlike BSD!Dostoyevsky, but BSD!Dostoyevsky definitely draws heavily from Kirillov’s ideals.

Kirillov is a character who, like Raskolnikov, embodies the contradictions of human nature, but in a hyperbolic way. He’s noted to have a “calm but warm and kindly expression"and adores children, playing with them, and he even helps his friend Shatov’s wife give birth (he’s endearingly awkward and scared for the whole ordeal). He affirms that he is “fond of life” and yet he is determined, from the moment we meet him, to shoot himself as suicide because in doing so he will save himself and the world. 

Kirillov’s reasoning is complex and at the same time, spotty, and stems from a deep despair and disgust with human sin. Sound familiar?

Time is also a major motif with BSD! Dostoyevsky and with Kirilllov. He does not believe in time as more than an “idea.” He insists that “life exists, but death doesn’t at all… [I believe] in eternal life here. There are moments, you reach moments, and time suddenly stands still, and it will become eternal.”

(Clocks constantly appear in BS chapter 42, Dostoyevsky’s introduction, as well.)

Kirillov also draws from other philosophies such as Descartes’ “I think, therefore I am,” affirming that “man is unhappy because he doesn’t know he’s happy… If they knew that it was good for them, it would be good for them, but as long as they don’t know it’s good for them, it will be bad for them. That’s the whole idea, the whole of it… They’ll find out that they’re good and they’ll all become good, every one of them.”

In other words, reality is what Kirillov makes of it in his own mind, which is what BSD!Dostoyevsky hints his ability is (but it isn’t).

It’s still a belief BSD!Dostoyevsky holds: that his beliefs create reality.

Kirillov muses, in conversation with his friend Stavrogin (bold is Kirillov):

“He who teaches that all are good will end the world.”

“He who taught it was crucified.”

“He will come, and his name will be the man-god.”

“The god-man?”

“The man-god. That’s the difference.”

In BSD, anything written in The Book becomes truth, and Dostoyevsky plans to use it to rid the world of the sins of ability-users. Similarly, Kirillov plans to use his decision to set people free, and Pyotr plans to use Kirillov’s mental instability and philosophical suicide to erase consequences for his own sins. And as Kirillov also believes this will make moments heaven, Dostoyevsky expresses (using religious language) that this will make a heavenly reality as well:

As Demons goes on, we find out that Pyotr Stepanovich had struck a deal with Kirillov. Since Kirillov really tries to believe that everyone and everything is good, when Pyotr asks him to kill himself and write a note specifying something Pyotr won’t specify until the time comes, to help Pyotr, Kirillov agrees. Pyotr notes that he doesn’t tell Kirillov what he plans—to have Kirillov take the blame for the murder of their mutual friend Shatov, which Pyotr commits—because he thinks that if Kirillov knows in advance, “Kirillov could not be relied upon.”

The irony, of course, is that by seeking to prove the ultimate will in the universe is of the individual, that the individual is his/her own god, Kirillov becomes an unwitting tool in Pyotr Stepanovich’s terrible plots. He contributes to the unjust death of someone he cares deeply for by taking the blame. And Kirillov did not want this at all. When Pyotr comes to collect, he realizes what he’s done (bold is Kirillov_:

“He is dead!” cried Kirillov, jumping up from the sofa.

“He died at seven o’clock this evening, or rather, at seven o’clock yesterday evening, and now it’s one o’clock.”

“You have killed him!”

…

“You are a strange man, though, Kirillov; you knew yourself that the stupid fellow was bound to end like this. What was there to foresee in that? I made that as plain as possible over and over again. Shatov was meaning to betray us; I was watching him, and it could not be left like that. And you too had instructions to watch him; you told me so yourself three weeks ago.…”

…

“I won’t write that I killed Shatov … and I won’t write anything now. You won’t have a document!”

Pyotr refuses to leave until Kirillov is dead, and Kirillov explains that “I won’t put it off; I want to kill myself now: all are scoundrels.” The exact opposite of what he expressed before about things being good.

“He’s guessed the truth at last! Can you, Kirillov, with your sense, have failed to see till now that all men are alike, that there are none better or worse, only some are stupider, than others, and that if all are scoundrels (which is nonsense, though) there oughtn’t to be any people that are not?”

And then we see what motivates Kirillov is a desperate need to have a reason to match his desire to live. It’s literally one of the main themes of Bungo Stray Dogs (bold is Kirillov):

 “If you stopped yourself, you become God; that’s it, isn’t it?”

“Yes, I become God.”

…

“Let it be comfort. God is necessary and so must exist… But I know He doesn’t and can’t… Surely you must understand that a man with two such ideas can’t go on living?”

And of course, this is BSD!’s Dostoyevsky in what I am betting is a direct quote from Demons as translated into Japanese: If god does not exist, then I am god.

His man-god belief, like Dostoyevsky’s in BSD, are explained thusly (bold is Kirillov):

“I’ve always been surprised at every one’s going on living,” said Kirillov, not hearing his remark.

…

“Hold your tongue; you won’t understand anything. If there is no God, then I am God.”

“There, I could never understand that point of yours: why are you God?”

“If God exists, all is His will and from His will I cannot escape. If not, it’s all my will and I am bound to show self-will.”

“Self-will? But why are you bound?”

“Because all will has become mine. Can it be that no one in the whole planet, after making an end of God and believing in his own will, will dare to express his self-will on the most vital point? It’s like a beggar inheriting a fortune and being afraid of it and not daring to approach the bag of gold, thinking himself too weak to own it. I want to manifest my self-will. I may be the only one, but I’ll do it.”

That’s a direct quote.

BSD!Dostoyevsky manipulates human will to lead people into committing suicide, and is killing them to create a new world without the sins of ability-users:

Kirillov says this right before he finally writes the false confession to Stavrogin’s murder and kills himself:

“Man has done nothing but invent God so as to go on living, and not kill himself; that’s the whole of universal history up till now. I am the first one in the whole history of mankind who would not invent God. Let them know it once for all…

“I am awfully unhappy, for I’m awfully afraid. Terror is the curse of man.… But I will assert my will, I am bound to believe that I don’t believe. I will begin and will make an end of it and open the door, and will save. That’s the only thing that will save mankind and will re-create the next generation physically; for with his present physical nature man can’t get on without his former God, I believe. For three years I’ve been seeking for the attribute of my godhead and I’ve found it; the attribute of my godhead is self-will! That’s all I can do to prove in the highest point my independence and my new terrible freedom. For it is very terrible. I am killing myself to prove my independence and my new terrible freedom.”

Yet Kirillov is inventing god: himself. He signs the paper and then does kill himself, but it’s not without the last terrible, terrifying realization that he does not want to die. He wants to live. And he fights Pyotr, biting his finger nearly off, before committing suicide. But Kirillov, as wrong and tragic as his philosophy is, is the one who recognizes the theme of Demons.

“Stavrogin, too, is consumed by an idea,” Kirillov said gloomily, pacing up and down the room.

The point of the entire tragedy in Demons is basically if you are consumed by an idea, it will turn you into a devil. Kirillov is, along with Shatov, perhaps the most likeable main character in Demons (others are far more horrifying as their various political, religious, and philosophical ideas take them over). And so is Dostoyevsky in BSD: consumed by his ideas, convinced his will is all that matters.

It won’t end well.

!!CHAPTER 109 SPOILERS!!

WHY ARE THESE PANELS SO SIMILAR. WHY ARE THEIR EYES SO SIMILAR.

Fyodor was lying in this scene, putting up a facade, does that mean Dazai is doing the exact same thing? Both scenes are SO INCREDIBLY similar. Sigma shoots Fyodor in the shoulder, Chuuya shoots dazai in the shoulder, Fyodor tries to appeal to Sigma, Dazai tries to appeal to Chuuya.

The difference here is the appeal doesn't work on Dazai's end, because Chuuya knows him.

His expression at the end is almost begrudging, if he really is even at least partially conscious he would almost definitely be showing more emotion than just slight annoyance after SHOOTING DAZAI IN THE GODDAMN SKULL

Are...are you speaking from experience saiki? Be honest saiki when you were a young child did you use your powers to get lots of free popsicles so you could eat them all?

Mate I said we needed hanako to cry but not like this

Like man is frozen in time😭

Panel One: Yakko: Come, siblings! Letters from our adoring fans! Wakko: And I've got some too?! Yakko: Yep! Some for all of us! Dot: You must mean MY adoring fans? Panel Two: Dot: We're all great! It's been a bit boring not having to go to work all the time, but I've gotten to practice boxing! Panel Three: Yakko: Gosh, those are so much nicer than those stinkers on twitter! Panel Six: Wakko: Wowza! Thank you, Mr. Man! See, I told you people liked us! But Dot is the cute one! Dot: It's true

Synonyms or Antonyms: Dazai and Dostoevsky

From the moment they meet within Bungou Stray Dogs, Dazai and Fyodor are set up as foils. 

Foil Definition. In literature, a foil is a character that shows qualities that are in contrast with the qualities of another character. The objective is to highlight the traits of the other character.

That is to say from the moment they are drawn in panel together, the audience is naturally meant to compare and contrast them. Their entire first scene plays their similarities and differences up. First, Dazai dresses as Fyodor not only as a joke but to draw the eye to how similar they are, both of them dark haired skinny males with pale complexions who wear overcoats. 

Dazai explains he was able to predict where Fyodor would end up, because if he were in the same situation it was what he would do. When he says that, Fyodor shows Dazai the same smile he showed him earlier, like Dazai is looking in a mirror. 

Dazai and Dotsoevsky are able to read each other so well, knowing the other like they know themselves. Which allows both of them to continually one up the other and predict the other’s movements. However their relationship extends far beyond ‘Being the same’, or just the fact that they’re both highly skilled manipulators who are able to pull off complex plans. It’s even much more than Dazai and Fyodor are just smarter than everybody else in a way that isolates them. They are each other’s inverse in almost every way while appearing to be exactly the same. I’ll elaborate in detail beneath the cut.

Keep reading

Luffy vs. Usopp: Luffy's Turmoil

The fight between Luffy and Usopp in Water 7 is one of many iconic moments in One Piece and the fact that it's been analyzed to hell and back is a testament to that. However, what is usually discussed about it are Usopp's actions and why he reacted to Luffy telling him they have to get a new ship the way he did. But rarely do I see people talk about Luffy's side of things and why he snapped at Usopp so hard Sanji had to kick him. And that's a shame. So I decided to do just that. This is an analysis of Luffy's POV of the whole ordeal.

When Luffy hears that the Merry is beyond repair from the shipwrights, he reacts with anger and denial - just like Usopp later that day, although not as aggressive as he is willing to listen to the shipwrights' explanation. He clearly cares about the Merry; that is his nakama and they are telling him to abandon her? No way! He would never do that! (see: Nami, Robin, Sanji.) He actually raises the same points in objection as Usopp later.

But then Iceburg reminds him that he's the captain and would be putting the rest of his nakama in danger if he doesn't pull himself together.

And Luffy takes that to heart for Iceburg is right.

So, after taking out his pent up feelings on the Franky Family, he makes the hard decision as the captain, because as much as the Merry is their nakama, unlike the rest of the crew, she is not a living being (he doesn't know about the Klabautermann at this point but the point stands even if he knew). But he is still grieving for her! His nakama is at the end of her life and there's nothing he can do about it. So when it's time to tell Usopp the sad news, he deals with it like ripping off a band aid. He goes straight to the point, no feelings, just the cold hard truth. Because thats how he deals with delivering sad news that deeply affect him as well (as seen in Wano when he tells Tama about Ace's death) because he is grieving and it's hard for him, too. Luffy doesn't like complicated things and dealing with his own grief is complicated. So he simplifies it. To appear calm and steady, because he is the captain and must show his resolve - no weakness allowed, he delivers the news with a smile.

But he overdoes it. Luffy is hurting so he wants to move on from this painful topic as soon as possible. Unfortunately, that is not the way to go about it. Usopp's already been in distress after losing the money and getting beaten up and now Luffy's telling him they are abandoning the Merry like it's no big deal. Usopp can only interpret Luffy's actions as cold-hearted. But that can't be, this is Luffy we're talking about! He cares about his nakama, right? So Usopp demands an explanation. But Luffy is hurting and just wants to move on so please Usopp just stop questioning his decision he is the captain and has the final word!

And so they shout; unable to listen to the other over their own feelings.

Until it culminates in Luffy finally shouting the painful truth that he's been avoiding this entire time. Their nakama is at the end of her life and there is nothing that can be done. A catharsis.

Luffy visibly calms down after that. But only for a little bit. Usually, this would be the end of the misunderstanding and thus the end of the argument and both parties would go on to support each other in their shared grief. But that would require both parties to get their catharsis. While Luffy got his catharsis by finally confronting the harrowing truth of the Merry's impending demise which reflects his deep fear of loneliness and losing loved ones, Usopp's true deepest anxieties lie somewhere else - the feeling of his own inadequacy and the fear of being abandoned for not being enough which he projects on the state of the Merry. And so the argument continues.

Usopp starts questioning Luffy's judgment (calling him dumb for trusting some strange guys and doubting the shipwrights' integrity) his captaincy, and, most importantly, he starts questioning whether Luffy even cares for the Merry, whether he actually cares about his nakama. And that hurts. We as the audience know the extent to which Luffy is willing to go for his nakama. We know how deeply and freely Luffy loves. And his nakama know it, too. That's one of the reasons they stand by him. Or at least they should know that. Usopp is too blinded by his own fears and insecurities that, in that moment, he forgets this undeniable truth. He accuses Luffy of turning his back on an injured comrade, of only pretending to care. Usopp's words hit like a gut punch. Luffy snaps.

"Don't think you're the only one taking this hard! Everyone on this ship feels the same way!"

That includes Luffy as well. If Luffy wasn't dealing with his own pain, I'm sure he would have noticed the hidden meaning behind Usopp's hurtful words or at least realized that Usopp was just lashing out and doesn't actually mean what he is saying, that he is actually crying out in pain, wallowing in his own anxiety, because Luffy is an excellent judge of character. But at this moment, his judgment is clouded. How dare Usopp accuse him of such a horrible thing! Usopp is his nakama and should know that Luffy does care! How dare he! And just like Usopp, in his anger that stems from hurt, Luffy (almost) says something so hurtful that Sanji rightfully kicks him. But it's too late. It doesn't matter that Luffy didn't actually mean it and apologizes after realizing what he said. The damage's been done. Usopp's fears have been confirmed. And so he leaves and challenges Luffy to a duel. If Luffy were to refuse or fight him half-heartedly, it would only add insult to Usopp's injury by hurting even the little pride Usopp has. So Luffy accepts and fights with his whole chest.

It is a hollow victory.

In one single day, he learns one of his nakama is too badly damaged to accompany them on their journey any longer, pushes another nakama away in his grief and anger, and Robin is still nowhere to be found. Luffy is the captain and it's his duty to be the steady rock for his crew in tumultuous times. But when he is torn between dealing with his emotions and being a captain that his crew can rely on, Luffy is on the verge of breaking.

However, Zoro says it best:

And so, Luffy hides his tears under the brim of his hat.

“Sorry there weren’t any! Goodbye 🎵”