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Nihilism in Monster
I wanted to express some of my thoughts on monster so I will do so in this thread but obviously I'm gonna spoil things so watch/read monster before proceeding further.
I wanted to express some of my thoughts on monster so I will do so in this thread but obviously I'm gonna spoil things so watch/read monster before proceeding further.
Nihilism is the belief that all values are baseless and that nothing can be known or communicated. It is often associated with extreme pessimism and a radical skepticism that condemns existence.
A true nihilist would believe in nothing, have no loyalties, and no purpose other than, perhaps, an impulse to destroy
Johan Liebert is the definition of Nihilism. His Entire Character is a thesis on Nihilism by Urasawa. His Entire journey in the story is his journey from a nihilist to a true nihilist. At the start of the story, Johan kills ppl without purpose and thinks everything is -
insignificant. Johan was a subject of kinderheim 511 and due to the events that occur there, he is a person who makes his own rules based on his own beliefs despite the rules of society placed upon him. He believes nothing matters and at the end of the world its just him and nina
This belief of his, is the influence of one of franz bonaparta's picture book's story "the monster without a name". He wants to break society's rules and make it look as if he has done nothing wrong. His entire belief changes half way through the series.
In the middle of Munich Arc, Johan finds and reads franz bonaparta's picture book again and he screams and faints. This is the moment Johan went from a nihilist to a true nihilist with only the impulse to destroy in him.
This is where Johan's Perfect Suicide plan starts. Both a Philosophical and Physical Suicide. He plans to kill Franz bonaparta for giving him a reason to exist and then kill himself and it would mean he finally reached true nihilism which Johan calls "the final landscape"
Before i continue to talk about Johan, i want to talk about Roberto. Roberto is a Nihilist. but not a true nihilist. Roberto liking a cup of cocoa meant that there was some meaning in his existence which is why, before dying Roberto asks Johan if he can see the final landscape to
which Johan says no as Roberto never really was a true nihilist. Another Example of a nihilist is Grimmer. But Grimmer's Take on Nihilism is a different one. He accepts and knows that life is nothing and it means nothing but he tries and goes out of his way to find meaning, -
he goes out of his way to feel emotions. While Roberto wanted to be a True Nihilist, Grimmer tries to and succeeds in finding meaning in life. Grimmer clings to "The Magnificent Steiner" a television show that gave his existence meaning.
Grimmer's Final Quote "The Last Episode of Magnificent Steiner, I'm sure he returned to being human again." is one of the best quote in the series and ties back into Johan as a character.
Back to Johan.
Johan after the munich moment, now comes to the belief of nothing matters, nothing is Equal. which lead's to one of his best quotes "The only thing humans are equal in is death" which is the essence of true nihilism.
Johan after the munich moment, now comes to the belief of nothing matters, nothing is Equal. which lead's to one of his best quotes "The only thing humans are equal in is death" which is the essence of true nihilism.
Johan from the beginning feels as if he's controlling fate itself but at the end fate betrays him and gets shot by a random drunk.
This is where Johan Survives the Perfect Suicude
This is where Johan Survives the Perfect Suicude
For those who come to accept that life is without intrinsic meaning, there are three main ways to react.
- Philosphical Suicide
- Physical Suicide
- Acceptance
- Philosphical Suicide
- Physical Suicide
- Acceptance
Johan Survived both a philosophical Suicide and survived a physical suicide. The only option left is acceptance
The ending of Monster is very open to interpretation but i think Johan Accepts Nihilism and lives very well knowing that. That is the Ending i feel fits perfectly.
The ending of Monster is very open to interpretation but i think Johan Accepts Nihilism and lives very well knowing that. That is the Ending i feel fits perfectly.
i forgot mentioning before but the roof game that johan teaches the kids perfectly tells johan's belief before realizing true nihilism. johan believed that he was superior since he survived a gun shot. the winning condition of the roof game is to survive regardless of if you fell
Thank you reading!
Monster is an incredible anime, an amazing thesis and study on human psychology and philosophy that questions morality and Humanity
A masterpiece in all sense
Monster is an incredible anime, an amazing thesis and study on human psychology and philosophy that questions morality and Humanity
A masterpiece in all sense
thank you for reading. of course i make a typo
