shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,860
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Post by shaxper on Mar 10, 2016 19:56:45 GMT -5
 Published: October 1999 Synopsis: "Usagi meets a young boy determined to live a life of adventure. The boy follows the long-eared ronin hoping to learn swordsmanship. When Usagi refuses to teach him, he arranges his own demonstration." Notes: Discuss the issue and/or post full reviews below! |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Apr 1, 2016 19:55:03 GMT -5
I love how Usagi "helps" Eizo that being a farmer is best for him, it reminded me how he convinced that village girl her provincial boyfriend was the safer bet.
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,860
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Post by shaxper on Apr 3, 2016 5:23:02 GMT -5
I'm still always troubled by Usagi telling the kid that he can't be a Samurai because he's a peasant. It's historically accurate, but it doesn't match Usagi's much more modern code of ethics, in which he treats women and peasants as equals.
I realize he had other reasons for not wanting a young innocent to follow his path, but his response just came off so cold and dismissive. I didn't expect Usagi to react like that.
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Post by stillpoint on Nov 17, 2016 2:01:00 GMT -5
I'm still always troubled by Usagi telling the kid that he can't be a Samurai because he's a peasant. It's historically accurate, but it doesn't match Usagi's much more modern code of ethics, in which he treats women and peasants as equals. I realize he had other reasons for not wanting a young innocent to follow his path, but his response just came off so cold and dismissive. I didn't expect Usagi to react like that. Yeah, it does seem uncharacteristically curt. Maybe there's a little resentment in it. Why would anyone want to be a samurai? All that honor and duty and seppuku. As much as Usagi loves harvesting seaweed, shaping pottery, and attending village festivals, I think he'd prefer to be a peasant. But he can't because that's not what he is (it would never occur to him to pull an Ikeda). So when a peasant wants to be something he or she is not (in Usagi's woldview), Usagi gets a bit gruff. |
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,860
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Post by shaxper on Nov 17, 2016 2:21:45 GMT -5
I'm still always troubled by Usagi telling the kid that he can't be a Samurai because he's a peasant. It's historically accurate, but it doesn't match Usagi's much more modern code of ethics, in which he treats women and peasants as equals. I realize he had other reasons for not wanting a young innocent to follow his path, but his response just came off so cold and dismissive. I didn't expect Usagi to react like that. Yeah, it does seem uncharacteristically curt. Maybe there's a little resentment in it. Why would anyone want to be a samurai? All that honor and duty and seppuku. As much as Usagi loves harvesting seaweed, shaping pottery, and attending village festivals, I think he'd prefer to be a peasant. But he can't because that's not what he is (it would never occur to him to pull an Ikeda). So when a peasant wants to be something he or she is not (in Usagi's woldview), Usagi gets a bit gruff. Interesting perspective, as usual, stillpoint. It had never occurred to me that Usagi might resent his social rank. |
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Post by brutalis on May 7, 2018 13:37:27 GMT -5
Another life lesson here or everyone: take some time to appreciate what you have and not always wishing for something else. We all have wondered over and wished for the path not taken at some time or another in our lives. As children our "dream" job or life always seems to change with the wind. Eizo shows us the typical childish attitude of wanting to be what is considered cool or powerful. In that time everyone who isn't royalty is usually faced with a life of poverty or becoming a foot soldier and all Eizo can see is what he doesn't want and believes being a samurai will be better.
Usagi has spent his life training and learning the ways of a Samurai and has slowly learned over time that such honor and skills do not always make for the greatest life. Constantly traveling, struggling, fighting and at times just living from day to day can be harsh and unforgiving with few true rewards and I can see how Usagi may regret that being Samurai has kept him from other joys and love in his life. Seeing a child who is unknowing of the reality and doesn't see the "truth" is likely something Usagi confronts many times in almost every village he passes through and knowing this Usagi is NOT one to encourage such false dreams in a youthful mind.
The grass is not always greener over the hill, or over the next hill after or even the next hill after that one sometimes...
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