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Naruto: The thin line between the beast and humanity. |
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As all of you know, Naruto has finally debuted on Cartoon Network on the Toonami animation block. Most are enthusiastic to see the young ninja on Western shores while others are dreading the masses of "Narutards" who will be flooding every Anime related forum. Most hate it, most love it, I myself am a neutral fan. I will catch an episode now or then but I am no a hard-core fan. No, I don't watch it for the fights or the "Sexy No Jutsu", I watch it for an entirely different reason.
For those of you who don't know (or who haven't seen the first episode or read the fist chapter of the Manga) Naurto is a special little boy. He is the nine tailed fox who destroyed his village some years ago. Which means, Naruto has some serious potential to be one of the greatest ninjas around.
Now with that out of the way, let's skip ahead to where Iruka and Mizuki-sensei begin talking about Naruto.
At the part where Mizuki reveals Naruto's secret, he begins to speak about Naruto as the beast. While Iruka disagrees and speaks about Naruto as the boy. What does this have to do with anything?
First of all, what defines a human being? Someone who contributes to society? Someone who acknowledges the existance of himself and others? Someone who has the ability to look at a situtation by the guildlines of what is right and wrong?
Naruto's village view Naruto as the beast that destroy the village a long time ago, the do not view him as a human being, but as an animal. All of the things he does are not because he chooses to do them, but rather because it is in his beast-like nature. That his behavior can not change and that he cannot progress as a human being, because he is an animal. Animals are compulsed by involuntary movements, which means he cannot do something voluntarily.
Now, Iruka sees Naruto as the human being, as the boy. Who sees his antics not as animal like behavior but rather as a cry for attention. He sees Naruto having all of the qualities of a human being. Having the characteristics such as emotions, reason, and personality. Thus making him a human being.
Now why is this so important? Because Naruto wants to be Hokage. But being Hokage is not about being the strongest, or the fastest, or the most intelligent, but rather is a title which the community gives to one individual. It's not something you can win or have to meet certain objectives in order to recieve the title, but rather when the community sees you in a different light. The Hokage represents all that is good in the community, vigilance, self-control, protection of the weak, honor, and respect. You have to earn the title from the community, you don't even have to take down a 20 foot toad!
Anyways, I will be enjoying this series just to see if Naruto will learn what I have just described.
Thank you.
 SJL · Wed Sep 21, 2005 @ 07:19pm · 5 Comments |
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