More Mythology in Geass

[inulovinkit.livejournal.com]

While re-watching Turn 1 again, I noticed that Lelouch was reading the Divine Comedy (I have to say, that along with The Prince and Hamlet...Lelouch is quite well read, isn't he?) so, being like I am, I went and looked it up.

And I found something interesting...You know how we're always seeing Jupiter pop up randomly whenever we get those freakout!Geass scenes?

According to Wikipedia:

Sixth Sphere of Heaven. The sphere of Jupiter is that of souls who personified justice, something of great concern to Dante (Cantos XVIII through XX). The souls here spell out the Latin for "Love justice, ye that judge the earth," and then arrange themselves into the shape of an imperial eagle.

Jupiter, justice, eagle...I see a pattern here.

Which brought me to another thought...When C.C. says her name in that episode (was it 11? 12? I can't remember. D: ) Lelouch instantly recognized it. Given the hints, could we suppose perhaps she's someone from the Divine Comedy?

So, along with Celtic mythology (geis), Arthurian Legends, and Norse mythology (Ragnarok and Yggdrasil) and probably a little more interspersed here and there that I can't think of, now we're bringing medieval texts into it. Sunrise really did their research.

Comments

[powercorrupts.livejournal.com]

I'm hesitant to believe that Jupiter has to do with the Divine Comedy. I'd like it to, but given it's prominance in other Sunrise animes, I'm not certain it's not just a coincidence.

[katou-san.livejournal.com]

Give what Geass is about and how this applies, I would say it's pretty possible. Besides, just cause Jupiter has been in Gundam 00 and a few other shows as of late doesn't mean it's some werid recurring theme. Just a really odd coincidence at most. That and Geass has a lot of fantasy/mythology elements as is, so why not throw in some more.

[powercorrupts.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't consider Zeta Gundam "of late?" xD

[fox-holland.livejournal.com]

Beatrice still doesn't fit Lelouch's five-syllable lip/jaw movement.

As this mythos makes it so hard to find out C.C.'s name.
All we know is that Lelouch finds it familiar, but doesn't pursue the topic or is given any further relevant revelations from it.

[wyn209.livejournal.com]

:O It technically does, since in japanese it would be ベアトリス, making it 5 syllables.

[fox-holland.livejournal.com]

C.C. did say Lulu said it weirdly.

The vowels dun fit 6_9
My first objection will be with the first syllable, for some reason Lelouch does that th/f overbite that doesn't match with the bubbling one does with pronouncing b/v .
If the second syllable was A, then Lelouch would have to widen his mouth.
However, he does the opposite action that looks more like an I or E.

AND I should be studying for my important exams tomorrow D:

[fox-holland.livejournal.com]

If it was slow-mo, ,my head would asplode and die from utter confusion.

However, if you were to move your mouth in sync while uttering those syllables, you would find that it's really too awkward and a tad bit uncomfortable unless you slowed down enough.

I love guessing C.C.'s name, it's just soo hard to figure out D:

[miribai.livejournal.com]

Actually the guys on /a were debating this the other day. C.C's name I mean to say. The only speculation that I'd believe that they came up with was the witch Circe. Lelouch and the Brittanians do insist upon calling her a witch a lot and if you read her wiki, it makes some sense.

[fox-holland.livejournal.com]

Circe? Pfft.
Dun bring Greek mythos into this! D:

[miribai.livejournal.com]

But we can keep aruthian legend and irish myth. What you got against the greeks! DX

[fox-holland.livejournal.com]

Greeks ar...are European Union business *snaps at you* !! >[

[lavaliere]

It's been forever since I've read the Divine Comedy, so forgive me for inconsistancies

You know, I remember the frequently used scene of two worlds nearly touching, and it reminds me of the way the world is set up with the Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. In the series, the underworld, or the Inferno is situated below the earth (below ground). Directly above it, on the earth's surface, is situated Purgatorio which spirals upwards towards Paradiso, almost but not quite touching. Perhaps the formation of the two worlds and the formation of the world according to Dante are somehow related?

As for whether C.C is someone from the Divine Comedy, I'd be willing to think that she's possibly from the cicles of hell, since she's considered a witch. She was constantly persecuted and her personality is rather cold. She could, however, be a version of Beatrice, though I have a little bit of a hard time with this. Dante glorifies Beatrice, while Lelouch only sees C.C. as an acomplice and means to his ends (disregarding any possible romantic interest, of course). If C.C. were like Beatrice, I'd be inclined to think that Lelouch would, likewise, be Dante.

C.C. could also represent Virgil, guiding Lelouch through "hell" as they seek divine retribution the greater good. The way she also seems to communicate with Leleouch's mother (who could also possibly be Lelouch's Beatrice) would be similar to how Beatrice sent Virgil to guide Dante.

Of course, that's all a bit of a stretch, I think. Especially since I haven't read Dante's work for nearly 4 years.

Finally, in regards to Lelouch's reading choices, I think he reads such novels because they suit his analytical mind. Like how Seto Kaiba reads Nietzche, and Yagami Light is a genius. All three characters share that high intelligence trait and therefore seek literature that would not often be read by normal people.

[madhatterpan.livejournal.com]

I have yet to quit laughing over how Nina's making a Knightmare called Ganymede. I think it was Knightmare, anyways.

[fox-holland.livejournal.com]

I thought Ashford Company made the Ganymede, like a long time ago...?
It's the blue and white one that Nina fused with her nuclear bomb.

[madhatterpan.livejournal.com]

So confusing. When Millay and Suzaku were chatting in episode five, Millay says "I wonder if she wants to complete the Ganymede"...according to the Eclipse subs. I guess...she's just off doing something to it.

[froggster.livejournal.com]

The Ganymede belonged to Lulu's mother. It went to the Ashford family after her death and Nina is investigating/updating/completing the knightmare :3

[honou-no-izumi.livejournal.com]

The Ganymede had been a prototype made by Nina's grandfather's company, at which one of the prototype was piloted by Lelouch's mother. But because of something I forgot... the production of Ganymede was discontinued therefore the prototype Ganymedes were destroyed save that one the Ashford kept. So in a way I'm not surprised that Nina wanted to complete it

[fox-holland.livejournal.com]

Nina's grandfather's company?

[honou-no-izumi.livejournal.com]

Yeap. I think it was mentioned in one of the Picture Drama. The one where the girls in the bath.

[honou-no-izumi.livejournal.com]

Oh wait... my mistake. Milly's grandfather's company. Nina's grandfather was among the people who worked on the Knightmare. Just checked the Picture Drama.

[ladyassassin27.livejournal.com]

Its offical Code Geass is Political Philosophy! Because for some reason every thing I study in my PolPhilo class, makes me thing of elements in code geass ... Hmm Sunrise, I'm incredably intriged.

[o-melody-nelson.livejournal.com]

I'd be more entrigued by the Hamlet thing as sort of a glimpse of Lelouche's downfall; a prince destroyed by his need for revenge. But that's just me.

[realms-of-life.livejournal.com]

Lelouch is VERY Shakespearean and the authors love playing with the archetype. Hamlet also loves and is hurt by his mother, and is up to destroy a King. Lelouch has also a lot of Richard III and Macbeth themes going on... to point a few. Yes, he does have tons of Shakespearean genes and you've got to love him for that - just take a look at his amazing monologue when he offs Euphie. XD I was not surprised when I found out he likes Hamlet. XD

Oh, btw, hopechan makes fun of that in one of her fics. If you haven't read it yet, you totally should (along with all her fics.) XD

[realms-of-life.livejournal.com]

Interesting point and I will think about it for a bit. :) I'd like to point out another (probably irrelevant) detail: Jupiter is the ruling planet of Sagittarius, Lelouch's sign. Jupiter - the God and the Planet - are very connected to rulers and providers in general.

I'm still not sure about why Dante is playing such an important role this season, but maybe Sunrise will let us know soon enough. I guess it's not only about Lelouch's inclination for the poetic and beautiful (and analytical as hales731 pointed out), since we have Dante themed frescoes and all. It's interesting that you have mentioned Heaven. The 6th circle of Hell is reserved for the heretics, which include, I guess, witches and warlocks.

If anybody was Beatrice, I'd guess it would be Nunnally - she is the one who is shown falling beyond Lelouch's reach with the frescoes in the background and she is the one Lelouch keeps searching this season.

I like to believe that C.C.'s real name has a deeper meaning to Lelouch, something huge enough to shock him - and then he tells her her name and her power were things saved for this time, meaning his time. He interprets C.C.'s name as a destiny. I vote for an Arthurian name. XD Maybe Viviane (Nimue) or Morganne, but I would vote for the first, since C.C. is a person who gives power to others and Arthur is what Lelouch wants to be when he grows up. :)

Of course, I'm just rambling here. Please do ignore me. XD

Also, C.C. forgot everything. I wonder if it was Charles' doing or what.

[fox-holland.livejournal.com]

Morganne sounds very convincing, but stoopid Lulu and making weird overbites that destroy all modes of what is sense.
Doing an overbite with Mo feels too awkward.

[realms-of-life.livejournal.com]

Mmm, good point there. :) But I still vote for an Arthurian name because that would explain Lelouch's reaction (he actually thanks her afterwards, and C.C. is basically moved to tears by that). The good thing about Arthurian characters is that some of them have tons of alternate names, so anything goes. :)

[inulovinkit.livejournal.com]

I really hoped C.C.'s name was from Arthurian Legends, because I love them so. The only name that really seemed to fit was Morgaine la Fay, and given the "F" thingy he does first, perhaps he said it a la Japanese, "Fei no Morugan"...ish? (However that would be translated into Japanese) AND it fits 5 syllables, too...

I just want C.C. to be Morgaine la Fay too much.

[realms-of-life.livejournal.com]

I think that would be awesome. Her role in the story feels more Vivian-ish to me tho, and there is that water theme going on (lake?). But then again, Morgan has always been the outcast, so... I always thought it was probably an Arthurian name and I think it would be awesome no matter which name it was. There is also the fact that the first time Lelouch sees C.C.'s "aura", or whatever it is, it seemed to be shaped like a sword to me, but I might be seeing things. XDDD

[inulovinkit.livejournal.com]

That's the fun thing about Code Geass. On the outside, it just looks like some generic mecha show about a rebellion. But if you really watch it, there's so many different themes and mythology thrown in, that it makes a history/english major like me happy. :D

[realms-of-life.livejournal.com]

Agree 100% with that. XD

And that's an awesome smirk.

[inulovinkit.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but I got to fix the icon. It's not clear enough for me. D:

[fox-holland.livejournal.com]

No o's or u's.
THEN again, did Sunrise meant for the pronounciation to be realistic?

With all this speculation, I'm so sure that one of you have gotten the right answer and I'm gonna feel so much like an ass when we find out.