A Question About Ore vs. Boku vs. Watashi

[lavaliere]

I think we've all had enough with posts relating to Episode 19, yes? Even if I still get teary-eyed just thinking about it So, let's have a bit of a discussion.

Forgive me if this has been discussed before. I haven't seen a post on it, so....

Even those of us who completely fail at moonspeak Japanese are able to pick up certain words and phrases at times. I do this, myself, from time to time. And so, going back to watch the first season again, I picked up on something I hadn't before. Zero refers to himself with the watashi form of me or I whereas Lelouch uses ore.

Now, I understand that the way a person refers to themselves depends greatly on their personality. Someone who is more polite tends to use boku or watashi while a guy who is more self-assured might use ore. Those that are very self-assured, or even egotistic might use ore-sama.

We know that Suzaku switches between ore and boku usually when he's affected by the Live Geass or certain aspects of his past. But why does Lelouch switch between ore as his usual self and watashi as Zero? Is it just to keep people wondering about the true identity of Zero or do you think there's another reason?

I mean, Suzaku seems to differentiate between Zero and Lelouch, choosing to see them as two seperate people at times. Rolo does it too, sometimes, but not nearly as often as Suzaku and eventually drops the concept all together after Lelouch sways him to his side. Does anyone else do this as well? Does Lelouch see himself and Zero as two different people or does he see them as one and the same? I'm thinking he believes he and Zero are one and the same, so why the use of watashi? Why not even just boku?

Comments

[kadekmoment.livejournal.com]

I think "watashi" at least at the beginning was for a completely neutral, mysterious persona that could embody everything and nothing. Perfect for a leader whose identity was supposed to remain a total secret. But as it went on, I do think that he began to separate the personas as he needed them in his life (before they began to fuse when he started going into battles unmasked, etc.).

THESE ARE MY QUICK THOUGHTS

[qwertumz.livejournal.com]

I'll agree with this one - it was for formality, really. Especially since ore indicates boastfulness, and it is true that Zero was boastful at the beginning, he needed followers, and littering his speech with egotistical phrases that need not be there wasn't the way to get them.

... I think. <:

[kadekmoment.livejournal.com]

Sounds right to me! One needs to at least sound as formal (and serious) as possible when donning a tulip mask of justice, after all.

[lavaliere]

That's what I thought too. Especially when people wondered if Zero was male or female. But I'm not sure there was ever much of a separation between Zero and Lelouch, as Lelouch thought it. He seemed to see them as one in the same... It always seemed to me that Suzaku was just the one to see Zero and Lelouch as separate because, at first, he never considered Lelouch to be Zero. Later, when he finds out they're one in the same, he still separates them.

maybe I'm over thinking this...

[kadekmoment.livejournal.com]

Mm, I was thinking in situations like Euphie's death? Where as Zero, he used her death as a means to gain more ground in his movement (and later on claimed the same in the cave scene). But as Lelouch, he cried for her.

[lavaliere]

I'd never thought of that... I guess I didn't see it that way as much. Hm...