Inu-Yasha Naraku and the question of love

Ah, you beat me to it. XD Here I was all ready to point out - purely for the sake of mentioning it - that demons are not inherently evil and hateful (as evidenced by Shippou, Kouga, and even Sesshoumaru).

But certainly, I'm inclined to agree with you that Naraku is, at least thus far, not showing any signs that he's in any way redeemable. I'm somehow tempted to think that he would need to be beaten down, reduced almost to nothing and forced to start anew, if he were to have any chance of finding more in himself than bitterness, hate, and ambition.

I suppose what I find dissatisfying about Naraku is that he's such a complete villain. I tend to prefer characters who are in many ways cruel, malicious, and self-serving - and yet, at the same time, retain something which makes them not entirely black and white personalities. Naraku is a bit too easy to dismiss as pure evil, which is why I find myself wanting to see something else in him - even if I know it's not there. XD

 

Well, actually I'm not that twisted, but when I'm through this phase that I go through in caused by built up stress and anger, yeah I might but then again, every cruddy personality test I ever took pointed my way towards Naraku, get what I mean... :sweat: :sweat2: And sorry, I was tired while writing that other thing, well, see I got the real episode mixed up with this fanfiction I read, and ugh...oro? :dizzy2: :dizzy2: :dizzy2: But still.....can't I pretend that he has a heart? :anime:

 

I guess we have all learned a valuable lesson here today. Dont write posts when your tired. Anyway, back on topic.

Naraku did intend to kill her, remember he disquised himself as Inuyasha and gave her that fatal injury, which made her go after the real Inuyasha. He knew that if those two fought, one would die and the other would be too weak to stop him.

 

A slight correction there, Miko. While it's true that Naraku gave Kikyo a fatal injury, he was counting on the idea that once Kikyo disposed of Inuyasha for him that she would then use the Shikon Jewel to wish herself well again, therefore tainting it with malice and obtaining her life - two things Naraku wanted above anything. Unfortunately this backfired when Kikyo, who knew the effects wishing for her life would have on the jewel, decided the corruption wasn't worth it and died a tragic death instead, insisting that the jewel be burned with her body (so Naraku didn't achieve either goal)

 

From everything that you guys have said about the later episodes in the series (I'm still waaaaaay behind, thank you YTV!) it seems almost like Naraku's an addic! Only he gets his "high" out of power and manipulation. Anne Rice's Lestat is a bit the same way, he says he "wants to make things happen" and the actual (usually negative) consequenses really don't matter to him. Just as long as
something happens.

Hehehe, I know people like that. :sweat2: Heck, I'm related to one!! And nothing makes her happier than driving everyone else around the bend!! :glazed: :glazed: Evil's a kick, and they totally get off on it.

But, I also love the idea of Naraku trying to make himself "better" by making himself less human. Now I can't wait to see what happens further along in the show!!! :anime: :anime: :anime:

 

*Nods* I've often found myself feeling the same way and have been tempted numerous times to portray Naraku as something other then evil/hate incarnate in my mind, though there's no tangible evidence to back this up, and inwardly I know that Naraku *is* evil-incarnate and will probably remain that way until the conclusion of the series, knowing Takahashi.

I suppose this is what makes me appreciate villains like Sesshomaru (all right bad example, I don't really like Sess all that much, but I value his life more then Naraku's), because Sesshomaru, while keeping an apathetic demeanor, still possesses the capability to feel love (platonic or otherwise - though I prefer platonic with this duo) as evidenced by Rin and even Jaken at times. His actions are usually the effect of some heinous crime commited toward him, he rarely kills without reason. I'm not saying that justifies anything, but at least (unlike Naraku) he doesn't slaughter entire villages just because he can.

Naraku's only true purpose in the series is to provide an antagonist for the Inuyasha group and give us someone to despise, a character we can channel the blame for everything into, and though I do wish he were a little less two-dimensional, it can't be helped.