Griffith Discussion

[Yoshi]

I wanted to make a thread about Griffith.

Griffith is an enigmatic character. But I am of the opinion that Griffith, much like Guts is prior to the Conviction Arc (where he becomes a good person) is a morally grey person. And much like Guts has bipolar 1 disorder from the beginning, Griffith is a sociopath from the beginning, but that doesn't prevent him from caring about people such as Guts and even Casca. I believe he was lying to himself when he said he sees the Band Of The Hawk as tools and not friends, because he claws at himself enough to where he bleeds over the guilt of having to use them in battle, a lot like Guts feels guilt over carrying the sins of other people and being blamed for it. He would also not have been able to sacrifice the Band Of The Hawk if he didn't care for them to an extent.

The reason I compare him to Guts so much is that part of the reason they have such a strong bond is that they both have dark aspects about their personality, but are still human. I know this isn't a common opinion these days, but Femto is clearly different than Griffith, since he is basically morally black.

Do you agree or disagree with my opinion? Discuss.

 

[Symbiote]

He did nothing wrong.

 

[Classic Adamas]

I view Griffith as narcissistic and sociopathic. I don't think he cared about anything or anyone beside himself and his goal. He viewed Guts as his property and a tool rather than a friend, and Guts being able to defeat him is what destroyed him.

 

[ahill1]

I think Griffith cared for them, his goal was just a priority in his mind. He also thought that since many ppl already died by his way of leading things, him dying there and not carrying his will wouldn't be a proper pay off for all those wasted deaths. He was clearly tormented by sacrificing many lives, which is why things such as sleeping with rich guys for money and military power sounded preferable to him. And Guts changed him, I think he was the sole one Griffith looked as a true friend. Griffith said that a friend to him would be one who didn't simply carry Griffith's will and rather decides to follow their own path, yet he was clearly opposed and moved when Guts took such action.

 

[Papasmurf]

He was definitely possessive and narcissistic, but as his manifested psyche in the form of a guilt ridden boy tormented by the sacrifices he had his soldiers make illustrates, he's quite full of human emotions prior to the Eclipse. It's clear he loved Guts, whether platonically (or I should say obsessively) or sexually, considering he repeatedly showed and thought in monologues that only Guts out of tens of thousands of enemies and comrades made him act rashly and overshadowed his dream. It's also false that he didn't care for Casca and the other Hawks considering he wouldn't be able to sacrifice them or feel as though his blood was freezing because their deaths were pouring into him, but once evil surged into the crevice carved by that heart-wrenching pain, all his humanity was lost, so he became willing to go to any lengths to get what he wanted - whether it be raping Casca in front of Guts and hundreds of Apostles because he felt like it and it would show he truly "owned them" and that he was above the person he used to be when he still cared about human bonds (albeit he doesn't seem to have lost EVERY ounce of emotion upon becoming Femto). Or plunging the entire planet into chaos of fairy tale beasts becoming real because the two worlds converging suits his present desires of ascending further/enacting the will of the Godhand.

All in all, I entirely disagree he was a psychopath at all, his ambition is what solely drove him until his meeting with Guts, where he was drawn by Guts' recklessness and courage and tenacity and Guts drawn to him for his seeming perfection and single-minded aims to reach the absolute top. Unfortunately when he saw that his love for Guts cost him his original drive and drove him to the state where it was sacrifice him and his comrades for the sake of his life and ambition, he chose the latter. Tbf I'd have done the same since who'd rather die in that vegetable state than become a pagan deity but whatever.

 

[Papasmurf]

@Yoshi What makes you think Guts had bipolar disorder (1)? Bipolar 1 is characterized by severe manic episodes, moreso than the two other forms of bipolar disorder and the rates of suicidal ideation and dysfunction is especially high with that diagnosis. I mean Guts could probably be qualified for disability payments by today's standards even forgetting about his missing body parts, but other than extreme PTSD from being raped and neglected as a child and having severe attachment issues I've never seen it like that personally. He does ruminate a lot though which is common in bipolar and depression patients.

 

[Papasmurf]

I actually think Casca might be bipolar as she had more hissing fits than Guts while Guts never really felt like he was on top of the world like a lot of people experiencing mania.

 

[Yoshi]

@Kenshi , mostly his anger.

 

[Papasmurf]

@Kenshi , mostly his anger.

You can have anger related to other conditions

 

[Yoshi]

You can have anger related to other conditions

Oh, and his split personality.

 

[Papasmurf]

Oh, and his split personality.

Split personality isn't bipolarity. Bipolar refers to highs of varying degrees (mania, hypomania, cyclothemia) and depressive lows. Very few people have been confirmed to have MPD, less than 200k a year even in the US's overdiagnosed mental care system and when they do, it can be ad many as 24 personalities each fighting for or sharing control over the "light" (dominion over thr body). Bipolarity affects millions of Americans and some are highly prolific artists, actors, writers and directors. Very, very few have DID (MPD). If they did, they are most likely going to be locked up as they can't be held accountable for their actions.