Dazai/yosano Character Parallels Analysis ★

dazai/yosano character parallels analysis ★

includes: connection/past with Mori, themes of humanity, dehumanization, life/death, change, and Elise(?)

wc: 1.5k

Dazai/yosano Character Parallels Analysis ★

Beginning with the most glaring similarity, they have a mutual connection with Mori as a mentor figure in their past. (I'm not sure if I would assign the “mentor” role to him for Yosano, but for the lack of a better word, that's what he will be called here </3). He represents an important part of their traumatic pasts but in different ways. I want to stress the importance of understanding that the two of them were abused in different ways because of how Mori himself regarded each of the two, and that this is not to say one was worse than the other. I would also like to negate any argument that Dazai was not abused by Mori, this is false. While that is another topic I want to discuss in the future, I just want to get that out there.

Both are victims of Mori's tactics of controlling abuse and were utilized as tools for his plans. Yosano was used for her ability, as she was useful under Mori's immortal soldier regiment, while Dazai was picked up with the intentions to mentor him as a future successor to Mori because of their shared traits (refer to the 15 quote provided, their “common destiny” is being the Port Mafia boss). The reason I say they are abused in different ways is because of the methods Mori enacts on the both of them. While I don't want to say he respects Dazai more as an individual because of that inherent fear he carries of Dazai, however, I'm not really sure what else to word it as. Dazai is able to carry out a lot of his own volition while under Mori in the Port Mafia, and while he was still in a horrible place under this treatment, he did have some level of freedom on his own because of the way Mori viewed him. Mori recognizes that: one, Dazai lacks morals at this point in his life, two, that he is not loyal to Mori and could take him out at any moment (I would argue that he expects it if anything), and three, that Dazai is an extremely intelligent child beyond his years. Since he recognizes all of these aspects, he still controls Dazai to the degree he acts to everyone else, but he also does not push Dazai too extremely. Of course this is not to say his abuse to Dazai was not harsh, I am trying to compare the way Mori treated Yosano vs Dazai, and how this has affected them individually, not by the severity of either. He noticeably treats Yosano harsher, and he does go as far as to lay a hand on her, in the form of grabbing her hair. While he is not a physically abusive person, instead using psychological methods more often, this is an example of the disregard he has for Yosano as an individual herself. She is diminished to her ability in his eyes, and Dazai is almost akin to a mirror in at least Mori's eyes. Both of these lead into my next point, the way both of them experience dehumanization.

Both Dazai and Yosano are, to some degree, seen as inhuman for their abilities and past sins. This can be seen in something as simple as the names they are given by others in their lives. They are the "Angel of Death" and the "Demon Prodigy." Both of these names assigned to them from those around them serve as stark reminders of their past wrongdoings, to which I will expand upon later. Yosano was essentially forced to play God with countless lives until she created her own undead hell, and this burdens her for the rest of her life. As a result of these events, even though it was not something under her control as an eleven year old child, she is viewed in a vicious light for her ability and involvement. Similarly, Dazai's humanity is disregarded by those around him because of his actions and behaviors, but most importantly, his nature. To follow a commonly stated metaphor in BSD, his blood is mafia black. During his time in the Port Mafia, Dazai racked up a laundry list of crimes, and the methods he used were seen as cruel even by Port Mafia standards. Of course, his actions are not justified by the fact that he is a child during this time. Dazai is very much a person guilty of crimes enacted upon others, so he is not absolved from all agency in this, but it is still important to understand that his actions were heavily for survival and his own self destructive pursuit to find something to live for.

Coming back to these two and their pasts as these inhumane figures, both also go through a series of changes as a person to go on a better path. Dazai himself could care less about good vs bad during his Port Mafia days because there was no person who guided him properly on that course, but once Oda's death sets Dazai's path in stone on the good side. Oda's final request to him is to be on the good side, despite the indifference Dazai harbors. Dazai lives out this path up to the current events of the timeline, and he clearly benefits from being in the Agency. He goes to deliberate lengths to hide from his past as well, he avoids any possible association with that and denies similarities between him and those he has harmed during his Port Mafia days, namely those he hurt, like Akutagawa. At the same time, as I pointed out, Dazai is making the conscious choice to change. Yosano follows this similar path of trying with the Agency because of Fukuzawa and Ranpo picking her up from Mori after the isolation facility. The Agency does not require her for her ability, unlike Mori did, she is more than it. She chooses to continue to save lives with her ability because she so heavily values human life.

And this brings me to my next point, their shared connection with life and death, and their attitudes surrounding it. Both Dazai and Yosano greatly value life, as ridiculous as that sounds for a character like Dazai. Yosano is intrinsically connected to the cycle between life and death because of the nature of her ability. She holds life as having more value than death itself, and she expresses this with her drive to save lives. Dazai does not have the ability to control the cycle itself, but he does have a connection to it through his suicidal nature. He stumbles between the line of living and dying due to his inability to find a purpose to live, but he does appreciate life. Dazai appreciates the way other characters such as Oda live their lives, and the humanity Dazai sees in them. He does not believe there is an inherent value to his own life, but he voices his opinions on the human experience and he admires how others do find a reason to live. Dazai and Yosano's frame of mind surrounding life and death is not the same, however, they do share a mutual value for humanity and life in some fashion, even if Dazai seeks out death more than Yosano ever does.

Now, to address Elise. Her as a topic is separate from the rest only because the connection between her, Dazai, and Yosano is speculation on my part. It is not something observable as fact to canon, unlike something as the two's relationships with Mori or their shared themes. It is clear that Elise is at least partially inspired by an eleven year old Yosano. Before the events of the Great War, Elise is shown to follow orders blindly. She is a subservient ability, and her usual liveliness is not present at this time. This changes after Mori loses Yosano, and Elise behaves like an average child at this point, but the specific traits he takes from Yosano are her willpower and opinionated personality. Another notable detail in Elise's design is her hair bow, which does resembles Yosano's hair pin. This can be attributed to Mori's obsession with Yosano at this age, but I don't believe her likeness to Yosano is only because of that. She also shares traits with Dazai. What I'm referring to his her hair and attitude towards Mori himself. Outside of the time when Elise is based upon someone else, she wears her hair up in a bun. Though she is absent from timeliness between the Great War, we do see her after that, and she now has more open, wavy hair. While you can attribute to this design just for the sake of it, I do think it is interesting to point out this similarity between her and Dazai because Yosano has perfectly straight hair. Elise also chastises Mori, something that Yosano does not do, but Dazai does voice his disapproval of Mori and straight points out his faults, which Elise does too. She also exhibits similar behavior to Dazai in negotiating for what they want, neither lies, and I say this is a trait she got from Dazai only because Yosano does not do this. I think that Mori projects traits of these two onto Elise, a manifestation of his desires, both because of the obsession and because Yosano+Dazai symbolize regret from the past.

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marvelwonderwitch

3 years ago

Hello Omni! May I request Owen trying to apologize to Mia through his actions, but Mia doesn't get the message until Owen verbally asks for forgiveness.

Awww!! I don't think we'll ever get it, but I really hope we get to see Mia and Owen interacting with each! Is Owen at all remorseful for his actions?

~~~

Mia glared harder and harder as she watched Owen Shaw

When Dom had told her Deckard would be coming, she had been excited to see the man again. He gave her all sorts of tips about cooking and knife throwing. He had even gotten her an impress set the last time she saw him

What she wasn't expecting was for Deckard to bring his brother and sister

Hattie was nice, if awkward around kids. It was actually funny to see a hardened MI6 agent almost fleeing from a four year old trying to give her a spit covered candy. However, Mia had been pissed when she had seen the other Shaw brother

She would never forget the kidnapping or how Gisele lost her life against Shaw. Quietly, she had taken Deckard aside and asked him to keep his brother away from her. Luckily, Deckard understood completely and followed her request

But. That didn't stop Owen from trying to approach her

Or her kids

Mia had been busy talking with Tej that she hadn't noticed Jack getting overwhelmed and having a meltdown. She was normally good at catching the signs of when he needed a break from the commotion, but she had been distracted

What she hadn't expected was Owen to hurry over and help calm Jack down. He had gently talked to him and helped cover his ears to block out the noises. Stunned, Mia could only stare as Jack's breathing started to slow and the tears stopped

A moment later, she was rushing over to them

"Get away from him!" She hissed lowly and tried to keep her posture loose so not to scare Jack

"Just trying to help the little tyke." Shaw said smoothly, raising his hands up in surrender. "I've had the same issues."

Mia narrowed her eyes at him

"Come on, honey, let's get inside." She rubbed Jack's back and led him inside to help him calm down

She pointedly ignored the way Owen was looking at them with empathy

---

Frowning, Mia bit her lip as she tried to sharpen one of the knives Deckard had given her

It was on the rare occasion she helped the crew on a mission and she wanted her blades as sharp as she could make them. She was good with a gun, but they needed to be stealthy during this mission

However, the only knives she's ever sharpened were kitchen ones and not large hunting knives. She wasn't used to using a whetstone to sharpen them

So focused on the task, she hadn't heard footsteps walking up to her

"If you keep going like that, you're going to damage it." A soft voice told her

Mia nearly jumped from her seat at the unexpected voice and gripped the knife tightly as she glared up at the man almost looming over her

Owen simply stared at her, not bothered by her harsh gaze

"Here. Let me show you."

"And how do I know you're any good?" Mia sneered

"Cause I've been doing it since I was a babe." Owen shrugged

Keeping her eyes narrowed at him, she finally handed the equipment over. She hadn't been expecting Owen to sit closely next to her and show her how to do it properly

"You need to angle it right..."

Mia would never say it, but she appreciated the lesson Owen gave her

---

It had been a few weeks after that incident and Mia could feel herself slowly relaxing around Owen

She had finally admitted that he seemed good with her kids and allowed him to help coach Jack with his ADHD. It was nice to see her little boy rushing up to the man and not be judged for rambling about whatever had taken his fancy that month. Owen would always listen with rapt attention and encouraged Jack's interests

It also helped that everyone else in the crew had accepted Owen's dry wit, love of cars, and intelligence. Mia could feel herself softening around the man

But she couldn't understand why he always seemed to be offering her help

She was frankly getting sick of the man getting under foot, asking if he could carry anything, do something, or clean. However, when he offered to help in the kitchen, she had found out how bad of an idea that was

Because now she was looking down at three completely burned pies

"How could this happen...?" She mumbled, poking at one with a fork. It was almost all pure ash

"Sorry." Owen cleared his throat and looked away from the pies. "Deck always said I was shite at cooking."

"All I did was tell you to put them in the oven." Mia frowned and narrowed her eyes. "You didn't do this in purpose did you?"

"No!" Owen glared at her. "I was only trying to help."

"Why?" Mia snapped, done with all the things Owen had been trying to help with. "Do you think I'm incompetent? That I can't do things for myself?"

"No, not at all." Owen said quickly

"Then why do you keep doing all these things? I don't need your help!"

"I know!" Owen shook his head. "I just wanted to show you how sorry I was for, well, the past."

Mia blinked and could only stare at Owen

He met her eyes but she could see his hands fidget slightly at his sides

"So, all this was... an apology?" She asked tentatively

"Yeah." Owen sighed. "I didn't want to harm you back then, and wasn't planning on it. I just wanted your brother out of the way."

"And that makes things ok?" She hissed

"No." Owen shrugged. "You don't have to forgive me. I only wanted to show you that I'm sorry."

"By destroying the pies?" Mia drawled, unimpressed

"Ok, that wasn't supposed to happen." Owen mumbled, a slight tinge of pink on his cheeks

Mia could only stare at Owen, looking him up and down. Finally, she sighed

"I still haven't forgiven you, but I'm not as angry about it." She admitted. "But, if you ever try to hurt me or my family, I'll cut your balls off and force feed them to you."

Owen nodded thoughtfully before a small smirk played on his lips

"You'll have to learn how to sharpen your knives by yourself then."

Mai could help the small laugh that left her

~~~

I hope you enjoyed friend!

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marvelwonderwitch

3 years ago

The Post Plus Protest is coming! Updated Edition

WHAT ARE WE DOING?

Fill out the survey on the original Post Plus post (be polite, don’t spam, but GET YOUR POINT ACROSS that we don’t want this). Since we mean business, it’s time to hit them where it hurts; Ad Revenue.

We’re proposing a 24 hour log off as the main event of phase one.

WHEN IS THE PROTEST?

The protest starts by logging off on August 6th, 2021 at 12am Eastern Time (US). Here’s a quick chart to help figure out when you log out. AUGUST 6th, 2021 12 am Eastern Time (US) 4 am UTC 5 am BST/London 6 am Central Europe Time 7 am Moscow Standard Time 9:30 am Indian Standard Time 12 Noon Hong Kong Time/Australian Western Time 1 pm Japan Standard Time 1:30 pm Australian Central Time 2 pm Australian Eastern Time

AUGUST 5th, 2021

11 pm Central Time (US) 10 pm Mountain Time (US) 9 pm Pacific Time (US)

THE END TIME IS 24 HOURS FROM THE START TIME!

So that means if you log off at say, 6 am Central Europe Time you’ll log back in at 6 am Central Europe Time on August 7th. We’d prefer if if there is no posting, no queues, no likes, and no reblogs during this period.

WHAT IF I CAN’T/WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?

Like this post, share it, and use the hashtags #tumblrlogoff2021 and/or #postplusprotest on ANY and ALL social media. If you’re using the mobile version, you can always leave an honest review on the app center of your choice (once again: be polite, don’t spam, but GET YOUR POINT ACROSS!).

WHY IS POST PLUS/POST+ SO BAD?

Tumblr’s primary focus is on FAN content (whether any of us want to admit it or not). Putting these kinds of contents behind patreon like paywalls is a terrible idea and the legality is NOT in the user or their subscribers favor. You can absolutely get in legal trouble for what tumblr is proposing with this new feature. There’s also the worry about the site’s (poor) security and access to Post Plus users bank information. Do you really want a site that lacks a functioning search function and whose userbase routinely get hacked to have your credit card information? No, you really don’t.

WILL THIS WORK?

Maybe, maybe not. It’s an attempt at doing something to combat tumblr’s impending self-inflicted demise.

ANYTHING ELSE?

There’s a time zone checker linked in a previous post if you need it and I’ll try to fix any mistakes to times as I find them. Keep an eye out for future posts closer to the protest date and the eventual phase two! Thank you ALL for your support so far.