Have you felt like the entire world's going to shit lately? Apparently the steady decrease in TV news consumption is being caused by the sights of the neverending wars and tragedies included there (Gaza, Ukraine, et cetera). It feels as if this cycle of violence will never stop. That humans will have to divide and fight each other endlessly.
The inciting point? An edit featuring parallels between Attack on Titan and Vinland Saga sent by my friend. I have spiralled into a whirlwind of questions, doubts and thoughts regarding the nature of humanity. What I'm talking about is violence and the necessity of it.
Both Eren and Thorfinn are raised on the thoughts of war and vengeance. In an unexpected attack of wall Maria, Eren's home is invaded and his mother is eaten by the titans- okay no seriously, I don't think I need to explain the story of AoT to you. Like, just be for real right now - once you get to watching it, you won't be able to stop it. If you haven't already, then go do it even right now, seriously. It's peak fiction for everyone, though beware of some heavier undertones in the story. Anyways, Thorfinn, on the other hand, was caught up in the Danish invasion of England while chasing Askkelad - the man who killed his father Thors. See the parallel? However, these two protagonists evolve in diametrically contrary ways. Eren gets S4 spoiled to himself by the Attack Titan and upon learning the truth - goes to fulfil his revenge mission, however this time on Marleyans rather than the Titans of Eldia. 80% of the world population, in fact. Eren chose violence - and as my friend interpreted it - thought that it was the only way to end violence in fact, the extinction of humanity.
I will destroy them all.
The political game of S1 of Vinland Saga ultimately leads to Askkelad dying, but not of Thorfinn's hands - and now, without his vengeful hate, Thorfinn has become an empty person. He gets sold off as a slave to a rich farmer called Ketil, being promised freedom after making space for clearing out a forest and sowing the seeds of wheat there, which would take about 4 years. S2 of Vinland Saga is critically acclaimed for Thorfinn's development here - mainly at the hands of Einar, an English farmer who shares his fate, but who hasn't lost his hate. He has nightmares every day about all the people he's killed - where he sees both Thors and Askkelad. One thing you have to know about Thors is that he was a world renowned viking turned ardent pacifist, right after accidentally starting a family. He escaped to Iceland to lead a life of peace there, however his past eventually caught up to him. In fact, this was the inciting point of the story - he was lured by the Jomsvikings, his former comrades, into joining the invasion of England. This is where Askkelad's band killed him and Thorfinn received his goal. But now, being devoid of that hate, Thorfinn had nothing. However, the days spent at the farm kept pushing Thorfinn towards making a decision, as he finally made a promise that he would never hurt anyone again.
Why so little about AoT? I've decided that I will read the manga soon, because I'm sure I misunderstood at least half of the story and I genuinely don't remember a thing. Meanwhile, the Vinland Saga manga, which I read in its entirety, has been brought to an end after 20 years of serialization recently. Oh, another parallel - S1-S3 of AoT were made by Studio Wit and the final one by MAPPA. S1 of Vinland Saga - Wit, and the second by MAPPA. Haha! Anyway, if you paid attention at the beginning you'd know that I absolutely take Thorfinn's side here. However, it's a bit more complex than that. You see, Thorfinn is forced to settle matters violently in the same season by fighting one of Ketil's guards, Snake. He refers to this as the "last resort", and he also fights with his bare fists, years of warrior experience amounting to great outmaneouvreing of his opponent. Not too long after in the same season, King Canute, who knows Thorfinn personally and has ascended the throne after his father Swen was killed by Askkelad in the prologue (former season), goes on to hijack and take over Ketil's farm because of the crown's fiscal crisis.
This is where the legendary scene comes in: Thorfinn demands to meet Canute, in hopes of negotiating peace. The king's men instead begin punching him into oblivion. They jokingly say that if he survives 100 punches, he will be admitted to an audience with Canute. After taking 32 hits straight on without hitting back, Thorfinn is knocked out...but then, he stands up. Bleeding from his mouth, spitting out his broken teeth, Thorfinn demands for them to continue. Paraphrasing slightly:
We just met today. We don't know anything about each other, so we have no reason to hate each other. Why would we have to fight? How foolish. It's Ketil and Canute who should be fighting. They should settle their matters over a game of Hnefatafl. There is no reason to send so many men to die. We just met...you are not my enemies.
I have no enemies.
While the sea was an obstacle to Eren, it was a way to build peace for Thorfinn. Because now, he was able to conduct a trip to Vinland - the land of his uncle's (Leif Erikson's) tales. I will also rewatch AoT and make a more detailed entry about it next time. Summer is ending (Kino reference) and I still have so much stuff to catch up to...either way, as an ending note. We can learn from Thorfinn that violence is never the answer - however, in very exceptional cases, it is necessary. Which is why we shouldn't use it often, only as a last resort, and instead always try to dialogue with our apparent enemies. Because a true warrior does not need a sword - he wins wars without shedding any blood.
Well...all of this sounds cool, but in the case of world revolution such peace will never work, will it?...