Geass and the Divine Comedy.

[lavaliere]

So, I'm wondering if anyone beside me pays this close attention to the stuff in the background of Code Geass, but I figured I'd ask~

I was rewatching R2's first couple episodes and noticed something interesting that Lelouch is reading in Turn 1. It's Purgatorio, the second part of Dante's Divine Comedy (coming after the Inferno). More specifically, it's Canto 22: The ascent to the sixth cornice, the sixth cornice, and the Gluttons. Now, when I first thought about it, I thought "lelouch is a pretty smart guy. eh reads classical literature and doesn't afraid of illiteracy."

But then I went back to read the Canto itself. At first glance, you wouldn't think that gluttony would apply to Lelouch in any way, but when we think about another form of gluttony, avarice, it does. Avarice is defined as "excessive or insatiable desire or greed." Wouldn't you say this applies very well to Lelouch in the way that he desires power?

And I think this particular part is intersting, if we were to apply it to him:
how, amid all the wisdom you posessed--
   and which you won to by such dilligence--
   could Avarice find a place within your breast?"

At these words Statius let a brief smile play
   across his lips, and fade. Then he replied:
   "I hear love's voice in every word you say.

Often, indeed, appearances give rise
   to groundless doubts in us, and false conclusions,
   the true cause being hidden from our eyes.

The first speaker is Virgil, the poet that leads Dante through Hell (the Inferno) and up through Purgatory. The second is Statius, another poet that joins the two in Purgatory as they ascend.

My translation is different from the one that Lelouch has:


Another thing that makes Lelouch's reading of the Divine Comedy interesting is what happens in episode 21. Anybody recognize this? It's probably one of the most famous lines from Dante's Divine Comedy. For those who don't know, it's what is posted above the Gates of Hell. The cantos read as this:

I AM THE WAY INTO THE CITY OF WOE.
I AM THE WAY TO A FORSAKEN PEOPLE.
I AM THE WAY INTO ETERNAL SORROW.

SACRED JUSTICE MOVED MY ARCHITECT.
I WAS RAISED HERE BY DIVINE OMNIPOTENCE,
PRIMORDIAL LOVE AND ULTIMATE INTELLECT.

ONLY THOSE ELEMENTS TIME CANNOT WEAR
WERE MADE BEFORE ME, AND BEYOND TIME I STAND.
ABANDON ALL HOPE YE WHO ENTER HERE.
(the Inferno, Canto III)

But what I want to know is how does this apply to the Sword of Akasha or the power of Geass? I'd love to chalk it up as "lol, Sunrise" but somehow I think Tanigutchi has some sort connection in mind...

And on a completely unrelated note... I see what you did there, Sunrise.

Comments

[moonloop.livejournal.com]

Wow, good eye! :D

[haunter]

It makes me happy that the English is Geass is English, not Engrish.

[darksage29.livejournal.com]

have you forgotten "momeland?"

[lavaliere]

I think that's one of the few Engrish examples. For the most part, the English in Geass is Surprisingly Good English. xD;

[furato.livejournal.com]

That, we can give the benefit of the doubt and declare loltypo.

[haunter]

I MEAN THE OTHER ENGLISH. DON'T CRUSH MY DREAMS.

[darksage29.livejournal.com]

lol. I thought everyone else saw the "Encyclopedia Britannia", so I didn't go ahead and screen it.

It's amazing that you managed to put a lot of thought into this.

[lavaliere]

I didn't catch it the first time I saw it, because I was too zoned in on the other books. xD;

[luinthoron.livejournal.com]

His book choice for the first season was quite interesting as well. As I noticed in THORA's recent blu-ray release, he's reading Hamlet (or "Hamret" :D) there.

[lavaliere]

lol, Hamret. "Exerrent well; you aww a flishmongu." /fail Engrish.

[powercorrupts.livejournal.com]

I have to agree (with where I think you're going, at least). I think since the first episode it's been clear that Lelouch has an unhealthy relationship with power - it was the initial reason I continued watching, despite disliking the rest of the show. Given the show's direction, I think it's clear that Lelouch will find himself "damned" for this vice in some form or fashion. What I find unclear is whether or not it will be an obvious sort of damnation, or a more insidious one.

In some ways, everything that's transpired to this point, every pitfall that's happened to him since the show began, can be tied to his powerlust. Most of Lelouch's greatest tragedies have indeed been his own fault, after all. In a way, everything that's happened to this point could be his damnation. Being the Emperor of Britannia could be his damnation, in a strange way (I kind of want a Dune ending, but I'm probably alone in that).

On the other hand, his damnation might be something that has yet to unfold. Swimming lessons seems the obvious one, but there are a great many ways he could end up that could drive home the point. C.C.'s belief that she is damned, that she is a witch (and thus a heretic), and more importantly, Lelouch's acceptance of damnation would seem to fit in with this idea. If some form of punishment for Lelouch's sins awaits him, I'm sure it's no less than he's expected he's due for.

I think it really depends on where Geass is going at this point. Swimming lessons seems almost too obvious, but at the same time, a happy ending doesn't really jive with what I expect from Geass, either.

I chalked the quote in 21 up to "lol sunrise," but forgot that of all things, it had been the Divine Comedy that Lelouch had been reading earlier. (I personally love the bit of characterization of Lelouch reading classic literature. He plays the classic hero and villain often enough for it to be beautifully ironic)

Maybe I'm just completely and utterly missing the point, though. I really should attempt to discuss Geass sober one of these days, it might improve the fandom's opinion of me.

[lavaliere]

I've given up trying to analyze Geass sober. Because, frankly, I doubt the writers write it while sober. I really think they like to take every bit of political, historical, social, and psychological concept relevant to the world today, stick them in a blender with some fuschia sprinkles, then dump the undoubtedly delicious cocktail out on the drawing pad.

But, I do get what you're saying and we're on the same wavelength. Lelouch seems to embody quite a lot of traits of the Classical Tragic Hero, complete with Oedipal complex, Hubris, and what looks to be a set up for a tragic fall (which he's already had at least once). Already, C.C. has mentioned that Geass will separate him from humanity and Geass makes so much of a point at driving that concept home that I will be very dissapointed if they don't finish with Lelouch becoming exactly what C.C. warned him. Yes, Swimming Lessons seems too obvious, but a similar path seems appropriate. Maybe even something like a TTGL ending. Lelouch may ultimately create the world he wants to see, but can't live in it.

But if Sunrise doesn't go the obvious or predicted course: we've all been good clowns. Sunrise, you trolls

[powercorrupts.livejournal.com]

The writers are definitely on something. I can't imagine anyone coming up with some of those plot twists (or feeling a need for them) while in complete control of one's faculties. All the same, they're doing something right, given Geass' popularity. xD

At this point, I have no clue what end they have planned, but if it's not appropriately relevant to Lelouch's flaws, I might be a little disappointed. I think no matter what, though, at least at this point they've set it up for that to be the thing to take him out - especially with this Emperor set-up of his. He's spent the entire series rising to this point - if he does fall, it will only make it that much more satisfying. As much as Lelouch is my favourite character, appropriate classicly tragic come-uppance would be truly amazing. Though, all things concerned, I was halfway expecting the writers to make good on their Arthurian references and have him die along with Charles, but I suppose in the end they resisted the Mordred comparison.

If Taniguchi is Ribbons, then that just means that everything just makes that much more sense. Seriously excellent trolling, there.

[lavaliere]

Eh, I'm actually not surprised that Geass is popular, considering it's story line. It's the type of plot that seems popular these days in television. I mean, there are plenty of American TV shows that are very similar, just not animated (ie. Lost, House, etc).

Argh, Mort d'Arthur, I hate you. D: And all your variations. I still think Geass has time to pull off a Mordred comparison, even if Anya isn't related to the Emperor. They've gone through with nearly every other comparision so far, and with the current pace of the story telling, it wouldn't be surprising if it even happened in the next episode or something. I still want to see Gino fall for Kallen and then die.

As for Lelouch... Yeah, I'd totally be disappointed if the series didn't go through with the tragic fall. Of course, if they pulled of something else, while making it as fabulous as episode 21, I'd applaud Taniguchi. But being a fan of classical literature, I'd be happy to see a modern day (and Japanese) equivalent. I'm sure Aristotle would be proud too.

My pet theory is that Taniguchi really is Ribbons (or at least thinks like him). Partially for the lulz, and partially for the trolling. Geass has been a good game so far. Keep it up, Taniguchi. |D

[hellangelss.livejournal.com]

soooo many props to you for finding Dante.

actually, +100000 to Sunrise for including Dante o___o

[lavaliere]

:) Thanks~ I have too much time on my hands

[kyandii-holic.livejournal.com]

But I like Engrish D:

Nice catch. I've been studying the Divine Comedy since primary school (we even made a musical about it) and I love these little references sometimes Sunrise throws in. I'd love to analyze CG in Dante's terms and to ponder about where he would place any single character in an hypothetical afterlife. Usually Death Note is my first pick for Divine Comedy but Code geass is another inspirational ground.

[e-eleniel.livejournal.com]

I realised it, too... Even re-read the P. Canto 22 after the 1st episode...

Call me a fool, but ı like to think in this way cıonsiderin the above comments on CG being a Classical Greek Tragedy...

I think we can't completely call CG a Greek Tragedy. Yeah, Lulu has all the requirements of a tragic hero, his hubris, his Oidipus complex and all... But Lelouch doesn't start as a hero who has prosperity and later on falls to ruin. At the very beginning we see him already lost a lot of things. And he had already has a few moments of fall-ruin-loss of everything he has... But we can always argue that the climax hasn't lived yet and maybe his complete ruin will come as his death... Who knows but in some forums I read that the producers promised a happy ending-at least for Lulu- to the fans... How much credible, arguable.

Yet, then again, I very much want to see CG unfold as a reverse-tragedy, ie. from ruin to prosperity... since CG destroyed many cliches of Mecha anime genre, why not we see Sunrise do the same to the classical tragedy genre...

In light of this, I have been thinking about Divine Comedy allusion of the first ep...

I fancy thinking that CC is Virgil to Lelouch who descends to his own Inferno and CC guides him-not always explaining what they experience-see, but as a guide of sorts for Lelouch to reach his own heaven. As another commenter pointed out, CC deems herself damned and has no place no where... Though Virgil doesn't think so, he has no place to go, too. Neither heaven nor hell, his existence hangs in between, namely in purgatory...

If we take Nunally as Lelouch's Beatrice, then he thrives for reaching her, who represents the innocence, light, salvation for Dante... Though Nunally is seemingly out of the picture and Lulu no longer only does what he does for her sake, I like to think this way.

This also supports my idea of CG turning out to be a reverse tragedy -something like this don't exist, at least term-wise-. I mean by Virgil's-CC's guidence Dante-Lelouch travels from Hell to Heaven to reach to their salvation-ideal world that their Beatrice-Nunally emboides- wishes for....

Baw... Forgive me for these scattered thoughts... and don't laugh at me :D

[zalem.livejournal.com]

Taniguchi said Lelouch's ending would be a "satisfactory" one for him, not a happy one. Unfortunately, that's really vague. But it does eliminate some things. There's no way he will get "swimming lessons" because that is certainly not a satisfactory ending for Lulu. But it could be something like he does finally achieve everything he wanted, but dies at the end. Remember he wants to destroy geass as well, he might just do something to sacrifice himself in the end. My guess is he will have a heroic death or he will have a Gurren Lagann end like Simon and go off on his own. Perhaps he'll be blind by the end if he does live. Another end would be if he finally gives C.C. her smile and she chooses to die and he takes the burden of her code. If he really wants an end to geass he might have to take that responsibility.

[e-eleniel.livejournal.com]

Um... Really the current spoilers leave so much possibilities for CG's ending. Many aruge that Lulu will really lose everything -by death or by betrayal- and die a tragic death. CC's face when he announced his ascend to the Brit. throne troubles me actually, she looked so sad -as if in the name of Lelouch-. I don't know how to analyse "satisfactory"... A blind-incapaciated Lelouch near Nunally in a world she dreamed of seems so ironic and possible. so say he'll fake his death to live in an isolated place with what left behind his friends and Nunally, some say that all of the main characters will have heroic deaths -leaving all the evil characters alive-...

For me none of the arguable ending plots are satisfactory... Maybe I could go with the isolated but nonetheless happy small group of friends with Lelouch...Yet it seems so pink with flowers that it is an impossible ending with the way CG goes...

It is for sure that many of the fans -including me- wants him alive and somehow satisfied with the way things turned out to be at the end. Swimming lessons would just ruin the show for many of the fans. even if he turns out to be dead, I at least want that other people recognize him as someone who tried to do good though he destroyed many things in the process. But... Who knows...

[yedijoda.livejournal.com]

Actually, I thought that CC's face was troubled because Lelouch Geassed everyone to accept him as emperor, and she'd just allowed Charles to be killed because he was forcing his own reality/vision onto the world. By Geassing everyone into accepting him as emperor, Lelouch just did something of the same thing that Charles was threatening to do, and what CC had abandoned him for.

Does that even make any sense? (It's been a super long day.)

I'm still betting on the tragically bittersweet ending. Lelouch himself is too damaged and has done too much to live comfortably in the kind of world he's creating.

[aoi-rein.livejournal.com]

Abandon all hope, ye who enter here

After I read your post, I went rewatched the scenes with this sentence again. I suppose the Gates of Hell refers to Gate of World of C here. Isn't the Emperor wanna create a gentle world without lies? I guess if this plan really succeed that means everyone is settle with their very own characters, no need, no lust, also without the 7 sins. In other words, it means there no longer hope if you are satisfied with what you are now. I assume it's what the Emperor wanna create.

[ariadnechan.livejournal.com]

wow thanks for the points up!!! Divine Comedy really fit all code geass

[rainbow-cnxn.livejournal.com]

Now, when I first thought about it, I thought "lelouch is a pretty smart guy. eh reads classical literature and doesn't afraid of illiteracy."
Oh, you have no idea how much I lol'd, despite myself.

I knew he was reading The Divine Comedy, but never caught the Purgatorio page. Good eye. (Now, how does Sunrise manage to type up entire pages of Dante and fake bio info with impeccable grammar, yet get the name of their show wrong for about a month? "Revellion", anyone?)

Anyways, good post. I'd say that Lelouch's "avarice" is a bit more nuanced than a simple desire for power, though. I think that after Turn 21, it's pretty clear that he really despises his geass, and the preview seems to make it clear that he holds little love for the Britannian crown, too. He doesn't desire power, but he does desire results, and he will take that power for the time being to effect it.

Since we barely averted the Eva ending, I'm also seeing a TTGL ending here. The HAPPY END potential for our Trio is abysmally low right now, though Nunnally's status upgrade to "alive" gives a little bit of hope.

So we have Norse, Arthurian, (possibly also Judeo-Christian and others based on what V.V. said,) and Hindu mythologies, along with Dante thrown into the mix. I'm half-expecting to see some Beowulf and Milton tossed in there soon, too, for maximum classical EPIC IMAGERY. The Geass-equivalent of Pandemonium would be pretty awesome to see.

[kuroiinu-chan.livejournal.com]

though Nunnally's status upgrade to "alive" gives a little bit of hope.

Wait, really? Is this a reference to the abiguity of Odysseus' comment to Lelouch ("When we found Nunnally, we thought there might be a chance...") or has there been an update in another form? I'd be so happy to see Nunnally alive...

[powercorrupts.livejournal.com]

There's some spoilers posted recently on animesuki that have been circulating. I think they were reposted here as well.

[rainbow-cnxn.livejournal.com]

It should be a post to the comm from yesterday. But uh, spoiler warnings, if that wasn't apparent enough.

[kuroiinu-chan.livejournal.com]

So glad to see that more people noticed the "Laciate ogne speranza, voi ch'intrate," as well as Lelouch's reading material! It would be incredibly interesting if Sunrise did include more parallels or references to Dante.

On the other not, I completely missed the Encyclopedia Britannia. That's amazing. xD

[dr-wats0n.livejournal.com]

I definitely see many parallels to classical literature in Geass. Probably most of all Hamlet (yeah, Captain Obvious, rite? :V). As for the Sword of Akasha/Ragnarok/World of C/whatever, that's just Eva all over. Seriously, it seems as though Sunrise wasn't even trying there.

Anyway, I find it funny that Lelouch’s doom is ultimately not his desire for power, but the fact that he possesses a heart and a conscience and really just wants a piece of happiness in his life, as C.C. put it. In other words, the same thing that makes him so likable and worthy of compassion is ultimately the reason behind all of the monstrous things he does (i.e. annihilating the Geass cult as revenge for Shirley, geassing people into absolute obedience due to breaking down after Nunnally’s death etc). Personally, I’m hoping for a TTGL ending, but given the path Lulu has taken recently, I doubt the writers will let him off the hook that easily.

[aiyamin.livejournal.com]

May I ask which translation you're using of the Divine Comedy?

[lavaliere]

Ciardi's English translation. :)

[aiyamin.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[lavaliere]

np~ I rather like it because Ciardi does a decent job of keeping with Dante's triplet rhyme and syllable scheme. :)

[aiyamin.livejournal.com]

It also seems like Ciardi's translation is easier to read from the brief excerpts you've provided. I've been meaning to read the Divine Comedy but I couldn't decide which translation to use. You've helped me make the choice so thanks again.

Great analysis btw. Code Geass crack is awesome but I also love to see serious discussion of this series every now and then. ^^ Thank you for taking the time!

[dorkbunny.livejournal.com]

HAHA. I didn't even realize the Encyclopedia bit. Clever, Sunrise ;D

Interesting stuff! :) I didn't even know about the Divine Comedy, brb reading it up now :D