Adam Smith's Invisible God Hand: Economics, Politics, and Berserk

[hbi2k]

Something I wrote, mostly for my own enjoyment, but it might be of some interest to anyone who feels like attempting to scale my wall of text (Warning: Spoilers for anyone who isn't current with the manga, including the Lost Chapter

Comments

[kingbunny]

Please Lj-cut!

*continues to read*

[hbi2k]

That's what I love most about Berserk-- it's full of all these crazy demons and stuff, but despite their appearance and wacky powers, every demon and spirit etc. is, by every relevant moral standard, still human. They have free will and are capable of making moral choices, and even of making correct or good moral choices, as the Slug Count's refusal to sacrifice his daughter shows. And in just the same way that any huge faceless corporation you can think of is still ultimately made up of people, blaming the Idea of Evil for everything that's wrong in the Berserk universe isn't just a "devil made me do it" copout, because the Idea is nothing more or less than the sum of humanity's desires.

I find it fascinating (and extremely depressing how much the idea seems to ring true) that humanity's wish that the Idea fulfills isn't an end to suffering, but someone else to blame for their suffering. That humanity as a whole would rather put someone else in charge than take responsibility for their own lot in life.

[madonnalal]

While I can't say that I agree with your ending points, this was very enjoyable to read. Thanks so much for posting it.