I totally understand context, and of course, to sanitise the truth of the setting is to tell a story poorly: in my own writing, especially my current WIP, I tackle rape and violence against women, because the setting requires it, but Im always mindful of gratuitous depictions of rape, and of rape used as a mere plot device to get jump scares from readers and viewersor even worse, to titillate. She at first hated Guts, because she felt he stole her role as the right hand of her commander Griffith. I don't know anyone who says that. Why? let casca decide what's best for her. As a result, Guts was on the receiving end of the ire of . This infant is expelled by Casca's body in the physical world and becomes a malformed "Demon Baby" allowing Femto (Griffith's demon name) to use the infant's body to materialise. Can Guts beat Goku? Open-mindedness is just considering every possibility, including the possibility that your brain fell out. This made a huge impression on Casca, who resolved at once to follow Griffith everywhere he went, doing anything for his sake as a junior knight. also yes guts really cares for her and protects her but that doesn't mean he can just assault her. Casca is a former unit commander of the Band of the Falcon and an estranged companion of Guts . She is barely vocal, only ever uttering a few nonsensical murmurings, and Guts is left to sojourn with her across the world to find Elfhelm, the land of the elves in which he hopes to find her cure. Are you really comparing shit that Femto did to Guts's presumable hinging on mental illness? Look I know assault is inexcusable, but he there was reason for it. The Chad Berserk Armor vs The Virgin GodHand. However, Casca eventually fell in love with Guts. Casca was the only female soldier in the original Band of the Hawk. In that moment she just was a tool for him to get closer to Griffith (a tool since she as a person doesnt matter in this equation at all, whats important is what Griffith did to her). Louis Kemner has been a fan of Japanese animation since 1997, when he discovered Pokemon and Dragon Ball Z in elementary school. I think the actual explanation is that he'd been awake for like 2 days at that time, casca kept eating all the food, so he had less to work with. Together, they overcome their past trauma. You have more historical incidents like the Rape of Nanking, and then you have the astronomical rape stats from the Democratic Republic of Congo, the rape numbers in South Africa, and the increasingly regularity of rape and rape culture in the West#MeToo is new, but the abuse is as old as the world itself. For more information, please see our He was the man who rescued casca for no reason other than it's the right thing to do. But he was still awake when he started. After Griffiths attack, Casca is broken. Casca is the love interest of Guts in the manga and anime Berserk. Therefore, it is the epitome of Griffiths evil that, during his ascension to the Godhead, he not only devours his former bandmates, but rapes Casca whilst forcing Guts to watch. In fact, Goku may win this one. She at first hated Guts, because she felt he stole her role as the right hand of her commander Griffith. Shes beautiful and strong and so human, everything that I like in women characters. It's not supposed to tell us that sometimes attempted rape is ok. I don't think this means that Casca is emotionally weaker than Gutsshe's just a different person, responding differently. Obviously what guts did was entirely wrong theres no way around that. As the relationship between Guts and Casca grows, Zodd is also involved. Casca was the only female soldier in the original Band of the Hawk. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Maybe you need to reread it, but you make it sound like he willingly did that shit. He was there for Griffith last year when he was using new demonic power to unify the worlds of demon and man. What actually happened was he pinned her down and bit her boob (lol?). 9/10 Treated Poorly As A Bad Omen. Its harrowing as it is frustrating, and the Medieval context can only go so far before the rape becomes gratuitous and lazy. They do this by entering Casca's mind during a ritual performed by Hanafuku. The only reason why Guts' attempted baby murder isn't higher up on here is because the child disappears at the first crack of sunlight. For years Casca wanted -- and hoped for -- her relationship with Griffith to be something more. The Demon Child appeared almost exclusively at night, but during the day would sometimes manifest in a shadowy area to avoid the sun. well this is berserk for you. Guts slipped, he made a mistake and he regretted it right after. This is a guy who is fighting monsters 24/7 to protect someone and himself. Adressing the fact that Femto's and Void offerings to the Behelit werent completed because Caska,Guts and the Skull Knight (Sort off) are still alive. They were never a good couple. In this moment he hates Guts but he also knows that Guts has the power to soothe that hate right back into love. Of course this isn't nearly enough to do what he did, and that's where the Beast of Darkness comes in. Bravo. In chapter 93, before Guts leaves for his BS journey, he sees her naked breasts with focus on the brand and gets in her face, almost kissing her (again remembering her assault -> getting physical himself). Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Though they harbored strong feelings for one another in Berserk, here's why Griffith and Casca ultimately couldn't work as a couple. I know this was a while back when you wrote this, but I agree. Casca was the only female soldier in the original Band of the Hawk. It was out of frustration and desperation,but still unforgivable. Guts decided to go away alone on a journey for revenge against Griffith and all apostles who serve him. but that's not the way berserk works. Not once. he was aware of what he was doing or at least half aware of it. She deserves better. And then, the worst moment in the manga happens: Guts becomes overwhelmed by the Beast of Darkness, that symbolic apparition of his inner demons and pain, succumbs to his own anger and hatred and negativity, and takes it out on Casca by sexually assaulting her, biting her breast. Initially, Zodd disliked Guts and his party. Here's why. Until just now when she gained her mind back. And when he finally gets casca back, she is a shell of the woman he loved and it clearly pains him to see her like that. She was Griffith's most loyal and adoring knight in Berserkbut her total commitment to him provided zero challenges. And guess WHY that happened? I wasn't comparing guts and griffith. Hot take: i like this version of the armor better. In fact, he hardly seemed to notice her at all. This trait is displayed throughout the trilogy. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. child though but that's hardly been touched upon up until this point. In many ways, it comes with the territory, and even in the real world, right now, rape is a common tactic of war and conflict. Because of her jealously, Casca is often annoying at times, regularly chastising Gutss behaviour (which she sees as selfish), refusing to treat him with respect, and verbally abusing him when she gets the chance. In that sense, Griffith was simply Casca's employer, and he would terminate his contract with her and the other Band members when and if he had to. but he's also the guy who risked his own life trying to rescue guts from zodd and he didn't want his men to get hurt either since he asked casca to retreat. The mercenary Guts, whom Griffith saw in a very different light than Casca, was the sole exception. thanks to trauma of eclipse and everything thereafter which eventually developed into this thing in his mind which he has no control over. She seemed to definitely be pained by it and the composition of the panels seem to show it as a dark moment without any consent. NEXT: 5 Ways Berserk Is The Best Manga (& 5 Manga That Are Better) After what happened to Casca, all the intimacy they had (romantic and sexual) simply was gone, and I think he became a bit sexually frustrated. He was awake when he started assaulting her. Casca did just that, and in one move, Griffith allowedher to save herself while also empowering her as a budding warrior. She was soon proven wrong. Casca is left totally broken after the Eclipse and will not let any man, including a severely injured Guts, touch her. Casca and the other Band of the Hawk members were nothing but tools to him, andeventually, Casca was forced to admit defeat -- Griffith did not love her. . Farnese promises Casca the strength she will need to deal with the pain in return. Basically, he finna need some therapy to truly get through all his deeply ingrained personality issues. They consummed their relationship before rescuing Griffith from prison after he slept with the princess. It is often said by the men around her that if not for Cascas leadership, they all would have died. While Griffith took good care of his followers, including Casca,he saw them all as tools for his ambitions rather than true friends. it has nothing to do with griffith whatsoever. Of course this isn't nearly enough to do what he did, and that's where the Beast of Darkness comes in. And that desire still exists since the BoD is still very much a thing, his new formed group might keep his darker desires at bay for now but that did not erase them and under certain circumstances he could again be placed into a position where he might follow through on them. Years later, she finally realizedit was never meant to be. Really? I'm not defending Guts or rape whatsoever, this is a hard topic to talk about and this is just my opinion. These examples are human, and I wish they were explored more, away from the sexual assault. I'm not saying miura is doing a bad job but I also want him to deal with this. And manga is a very visual medium, it is literally a skin-crawling experience to read Cascas rape scene, and whenever I re-read the manga I skip the whole five-plus pages it goes on for. For fans of the manga Berserk and its adaptations. And so, its absolutely beautiful seeing his relationship unfold with Casca in the chapters preceding the Eclipse sacrificial ceremony. The Demon Child lives long enough to occasionally protect Casca from restless souls before dying to become the vessel for a reborn Griffith. A ressistance formed by humans not protected by the Griffith and suffering in the world outside Falconia. Guts group is determined help Casca overcome her pain, and become a better person. It's a story meant to challenge our perceptions of right and wrong. Guts' group is determined help Casca overcome her pain, and become a better person. or do you think guts has screwed up big time? The rape scene here is so long, so brutal, takes up so many panels, involves so many close-ups and sensual shots. She is in love with him. Instead, they accuse anyone who has a criticism of the portrayal of rape in Berserk as overly-sensitive, looking at it from a Western-feminist viewpoint (as if having respect for women is solely a Western invention?) Casca poses an interesting discussion topic on forums. Later, Guts found Casca suffering from high fever, so he decided to warm her body. Griffith was once Casca's personal idol and hero, and every other member of the Band of the Hawk saw him the same way. However, there is a catch. Is Casca in love with Guts? Like the other members of the Falcon, Casca is a bit of a shell initially, her main purpose being to help Griffith, to fight for Griffith and to burden herself with his dreams whilst always forsaking her own. He graduated high school in 2009 and received his Bachelor's in creative writing from UMKC in 2013, then put his skills to work in 2019 with CBR.com. In the world of Berserk, a child that was born from the womb of a corpse was considered a death omen. Im not defending guts actions, but you have to understand that any other person wouldve raped casca in that situation, and guts somehow controlled himself when years of bottled up emotions just burst out. You were the only one to say this. Why are you so triggered? Griffith tends to have that effect on people, and duringBerserk'sGolden Age arc, his wit, sophistication, intelligence and charisma regularly allowed him to win over anyone he needed as an ally. It was about ownership over her, and how that made him feel so powerless when Griffith raped her. What we're seeing in Guts and Casca's story are people trying and failing and sometimes succeeding at regaining their lives after one of the worst betrayals ev-ver. Skull Knight could have helped Guts and Schierke to kill all the Kushan enchanted beasts in Vritannis and to kill the Sea God. Anywhere that bases its social tenets on patriarchy is a society in which women are at risk of rape and sexual assaultsome contexts are just less accountable than others, and in a Medieval context, women arent even viewed as fully autonomous humans, so of course there would be no punishment, and the act itself just seen as a normal part of everyday life. 4/10 Lady Farnese's Terrible Night This is another scene I have to skip. Does Guts still love Casca? Not only is she unlike the other women in that her interests differ from theirs, but shes also dark skinned. Over time, Zodd develops a slight attraction to Guts. The Apostle almost died when the Count had to fight Guts to get the behelit. Immediately before Caesar's assassination, Metellus proposes a request to Caesar to allow his brother to return to Rome from his exile. Remember, this isn't real life. You're telling me a guy who cuts his arm off and protects her every damn day willingly assaulted her? He tells her she can do what she wants, despite the protests from the other men, and she soon rises through the ranks of mercenary life, proving her worth and skill. This traumatic event has remained in his mind throughout his life. There is something to be said about the corruption of (his?) Casca is the love interest of Guts in the manga and anime Berserk. The more open the better. Golden Age OVA-wise (aka ClanGI continuity), it got her wetter than Guts and Griffith got in their water fight Papasmurf Zeta Elite Legend Joined May 30, 2015 Messages Casca is not attacked because she is a delicate flower of a woman, Griffith chose her as a victim literally because she was such a loyal friend and valiant comrade. Its extension appears to be for a bit of sexual gratification, and I cannot excuse Miura of drawing her abuse in this way. And during the assault the "Beast of darkness" took over. Guts surrenders himself to this motley crew, relying on them to look after Casca, firstly to enable him to fight without worrying about her, and more importantly, to protect her from his darkness. honestly the whole thing broke my heart. You guys know Im a massive Berserk fan. there is a reason why they call him anti hero and that's not just because he is anti sociable. long story short, there is no reason for me to believe that the man who has cut off his arm to protect casca would never try to rape her after all that trauma . Her design drew me to the story because it is rare to see black characters in manga, or black characters that are not stereotypes, especially women. He became a favorite of the Midland king and a war hero, but it was becoming clear that Griffith cared only for himself and his own ambitions. The Count had been a savage and had sentenced countless innocents to death for heresy. It is clear she hates him, but the hate soon turns into an earnest desire that she only acknowledges when Guts departs from the band. We do know that Zodd wasnt an ordinary apsotel. In a way,she was a dead-end to the forward-thinking Griffith, while the exciting and powerful Guts created a path to the future. When he gets a hold of his senses, his relationship with Casca is severed, and Guts has no choice but to allow a random ragtag group of strugglers to accompany him on his trip to Elfhelm. Casca had a difficult childhood, growing up as the youngest of six children in a poor and remote village. you can not just assault someone and then feel sorry about it!!! She becomes mute, her once shrewd mind descending into a childlike muddle. This is what makes the story so interesting. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. The Demon Child was the offspring of Guts and Casca, brought into the physical world as a small misshapen imp after being tainted by Femto's rape of the pregnant Casca. thank you. Originally a callow peasant girl living in a remote mountain village, [8] she develops into a well-attuned warrior upon joining the Band of the Falcon and aids greatly in the group's storied successes during the Hundred-Year War. very wrong. . But there are some aspects of her character arcand that of several women in the story, in factthat make me uncomfortable, and its for that reason why Im always reluctant to recommend Berserk to others, unless I totally understand their preferences first. However, Casca eventually fell in love with Guts. first of all, I respect your opinion and the fact that you like guts so much that want to defend him at all costs makes me smile. All the latest gaming news, game reviews and trailers. I am so looking forward to more badass moments from her. Casca is the love interest of Guts in the manga and anime Berserk. And I also strongly believe that guts is very well capable of doing horrible things in his life and that's what makes him a good protagonist. Guts is still human you gotta remember that and a man can only take so much. Its another shame that one of Miuras most fascinating and interesting women characters is reduced to a mute plot device, a mascot-like burden which serves to drive the protagonist forward, all the while the reader and the protagonist lament her demise. Casca is the love interest of Guts in the manga and anime Berserk. yes he was manipulated but the beast wasn't the one who made the decision and you have to consider the fact that the beast is a part of guts. From Episode 89. It is extremely uncomfortable. She flees the carriage, and stumbles onto Griffith and his recently assembled mercenary band. Come on, Miura, be fair to Casca. Will Caska forgive him or not, considering that he assaulted her AND abandoned her for two years in a cave, BUT also cut off his arm for her, lost an eye trying to stop Griffith from raping her, saved her from rape multiple times (Wyald, Goat Demi-Apostle) and managed somehow to bring her to a magic fairy Island where she got her sanity back? Yes, Guts did something technically unforgivable. Not that that would make it any better, but it would help me understand why some defend what Guts did or still see them as romantic. At one time driven solely by his will to survive, Guts finds purpose in life upon joining the . In a way, she was a dead-end to the forward-thinking Griffith, while the exciting and powerful Guts created a path to the future. Even in the midst of the Godhand ceremony, when all the demons are belched onto the earth and proceed to devour everyone, Casca instantly takes the lead, commanding the soldiers to get to safety. Casca lost her mind however through a form of post-traumatic stress. The same arguments thrown to Cascas character could be levelled at Griffith pre-Godhand ceremony, but people rarely mention this. What Changed in Wireless Intercom From Wired Intercom, Ukraine Remains on Top of The Digital Trends, Technological Improvement Speaks a Lot About Recent Crypto Growth, DIY Vs Professional Termite Control Service | Which One Is Best, The 5 Most Affectionate Reptiles Who Like to Cuddle, How Custom Uniforms Can Benefit Your Business, Benefits Of Using A Marketing Intelligent Tool For Your Business. It all lies in the eyes; because of the shading used, Casca's eyes are so hardened. Its a pivotal moment in the series and explains Gutss current misanthropic nihilism, his trauma and his reluctance to make friendsthis isnt the first time hes been betrayed: he suffered rape, neglect, and emotional abuse as a child, and had to learn again and again that the adults around him often meant a lot of harm. Casca all this time more or less thought that she was in love with Griffith. personally I go with the latter but I want to see your opinions since I really liked guts and casca together before that shit. I mean griffith has never been a good guy. Because if Guts' behelit activates and summons the Godhand, he gets another chance to attack them. so I need your opinion on this guys. also yes guts really cares for her and protects her but that doesn't mean he can just assault her. During this time, he helps Casca in her journeys to save the world. She provides an alternative response to the Eclipse: whereas Guts descended into cold, cruel violence, Casca lost herself in another way. Episode 191: Guts relinquishes responsibility to others, no longer able to trust himself. You do realize Femto/Griffith KNEW what he was doing, but Guts has this fucking beast which is like a patient of schizophrenia suffering with hallucinations, not being able to realize what's happening. I'd say it's up to Casca and how she feels about it. Since the two saw each other in opposite ways, their relationship was doomed. I cant wait to see her resolve the issues of her past, to reclaim her sword, reconcile with Guts properly, and start living and leading and loving as a whole, fleshed out character again. Guts, as the protagonist, gets the limelight and as such, we see most of his fights and his inexplicable strength. Casca incorrectly thought Griffith could give her more and become the path to her own happy future. She at first hated Guts, because she felt he stole her role as the right hand of her commander Griffith. Covering the hottest movie and TV topics that fans want. Casca was the only female soldier in the original Band of the Hawk. In the dream of Casca , she sees the dog guts in a way of accusation to herself, a bit like the bestial side of Guts who wants her dead, a weight carried indefinitely without destination, the dog continually wounded and dying . there is also to say that the next eclipse for her is vague, like a dream, she observed from a distance , how from the depths of the sea I looked into the surface, unable to feel, unable to think . Miura does not seem to want to give much importance narratively to that fact, remember that it is from volume 22 that Casca is afraid of Guts, and he has changed for her , Casca has always and only been a living plot for Guts , Miura showed their relationship and the feelings she felt at Farnese and schierke for a reason, same thing for the fetus as a final fragment , ..Casca has chosen the easiest way to deal with her trauma and unconsciously she regrets leaving Guts alone, because it's not Guts who leaves Casca first, but she's the one who locked up herself, she's been raped, she has all the excuses in the world, but the same thing can be said for Guts who at that moment was alone and in depression, the character of Griffith is different from Guts and Casca he does not try to change for the people he cares about but he changes for his dream. He tried to rape her in that exact moment because he was triggered from seeing her assaulted (again). (His behelit sword killed Neo-Ganishka, it could have easily killed the Sea God.) also, since you like to compare guts and griffith , I have to tell you that I could never imagine griffith doing what he did while watching the golden age arc. There's a reason people say the eyes are the window to the soul and this art is a prime example of why. Inthewidely acclaimedBerserkanime and manga series,complex and heartfelt relationships drivethestory just as much as engagingaction scenes. Unfortunately, all these poor rape examples are in Berserk, and many of the fans (I lurk on the subreddit) are reluctant to see these depictions as problematic. Both were rescued from The Eclipse chaos and brought to safety by Skull Knight (a character not in the anime). Many view her as strong and skilled in name only, because a lot of her feats are off-panelled or shown in flashbacks. The point is that he did something horrible and that he has been atoning for it ever since. However, Casca eventually fell in love with Guts. He has found out from Skull Knight that Casca has a mental problem and needs help. It's interesting exactly because she might actually not forgive him after all. He needs to empathize with Casca's pain and see her as her own person despite her loss of faculties. I can't like Guts after him trying to rape Casca. I am triggered because guts and casca are supposed to be the romantic couple of the series and romanticising or ignoring sexual assault is not acceptable for me. He doesn't want Guts to come near him because Guts has such an influence on his emotions. He was his adoptive father and taught him how to fight. He was not doing it because he was thinking about their times together/ he wanted to comfort her the way she comforted him during their first time/ misread some sort of sign from her as consent etc. The two are one and the same, it isn't a schizoid/split personality relationship, merely a totemic manifestation of his own actual rage, aggression, hatred - this applying not only to Griffith, Apostles, himself, but also to sex. Cascas devotion turns to extreme jealousy when Guts joins. His ultimate goal is to have his own Kingdom, and he aims to use his ascendancy to marry Princess Charlotte, heir of Midland. what I was saying is that what guts did was wrong. It was probably because Corkus was his ally and he was a mercenary. Her love for Guts was so strong that it completely blew her feelings for Griffith out of the way. But the motivation behind it was not even about her but as a way for him to put himself on the same level as Griffith. I too hope that they maintain and support that distance, for their own sakes. The relationship between Casca and Guts is one of the key storylines of the original Berserk manga, but it was built on the back of another fateful relationship: the one between Casca and her boss, Griffith. I personally still love them together and I even wish there were more fellow female readers, it's like a low-key love story underneath, well, a lot of other things. . It's a work of fiction where we can see that Guts really is Casca's best chance forward, even if he also posses a risk to her.