Class is in session, boys (cause you know we're all roosters in here). You've watched the series, and you've hung around with us in the threads. You probably know by now that RGU is a story about becoming an adult. This is the main theme and topic of discussion of the show:
Now it's time for us to talk about the secondary themes of the story. While they are not at the core of it, like the main theme is, they are still essential to understand the remainder of the imagery that don't pertain to the former, as well as the finer dynamics behind the development of some of our main characters.
These are:
1. Codependency 2. Discussion of the traditional masculine and feminine roles
"Codependency is a behavioural condition in a relationship where one person enables another person's addiction, poor mental health, immaturity, irresponsibility, or under-achievement. Among the core characteristics of codependency is an excessive reliance on other people for approval and a sense of identity. Definitions of codependency vary, but it is generally defined as a subclinical, situational, and/or episodic behavioural condition similar to that of dependent personality disorder. The term is less individually diagnostic and more descriptive of a relationship dynamic."
Does this sound vaguely familiar to you? It should, because there are six codependent relationships in the story:
- Utena-Anthy (remedied on both ends) - Saionji-Anthy (remedied on Saionji's end) - Akio-Anthy (remedied on Anthy's end) - Touga-Akio (remedied on Touga's end) - Nanami-Touga (remedied on Nanami's end, possibly Touga's as well) - Tsuwabuki-Nanami (remedied on both ends)
Note that codependency is a spectrum, not a solid checklist. The codependents may not have all of the characteristics of a codependency, and their relationship can be only partially codependent.
>cow nanami >interior crocodile alligator >psychoanalysis what the fuck are utena threads even
Isaiah Cruz
We can strike three birds with one stone by explaining how Anthy is a late stage-codependent (enabler), then everything will fall into place.
But first:
- Utena: A by-the-books example of a codependent, cannot be more literal. Gets her self-validation and ego-boosts from protecting others while being oblivious to (or ignoring) her own feelings and needs. She only feels like she has a purpose in life when playing the childish role of the Prince, the white knight. This is why she persistently fights for Anthy in the duels despite ostensibly not wanting to partake in them (not just towards Anthy, she uses Wakaba to fuel her behaviour in the first episode too). Her validation-seeking through white-knighting is a dependency mechanism.
- Saionji: Another classic example of a codependent. Has an inferiority complex towards Touga, always feeling the need to compare himself to him and to one-up him somehow. He gets self-validation and ego-boosts from doing things that Touga can't, which is his drive for wanting to find "something eternal", as his way to "catch up" to Toga after the latter's supposedly shown Utena "something eternal" (he didn't, Akio did). He thinks he can finally get that "something eternal" through Anthy, i.e. via keeping the Rose Bride as his property. His validation-seeking through comparison is a dependency mechanism.
- Akio: Ah yes, our fallen Prince. He was always a codependent, both before and after his fall. As Dios, he was identical to Utena. Got his self-validation and ego-boosts from society calling him a good boy and blowing him kisses for saving girls in trouble while seemingly being completely blind to his own inner psyche. As Akio, it's the same thing, except that he now manipulates, gaslights, molests, abuses, and grooms people into loving him, and he will do ANYTHING to become Dios again (to get that "love" again). His validation-seeking through emotional manipulation and abuse is a dependency mechanism.
As if our characters needed to be more mentally unwell kek
Samuel Long
Nobody talks about my man Mikage His relationship with Mamiya was very similar to Utena's relationship with Anthy, Tokiko could be parallel with the prince for Utena. So ultimately he's what Utena could've become had she not got out of her coffin
Look here! Look listen! Ohtori Academy is a fucked up place ok?? Ban anyone giving the duelists advice
Michael Bell
why do you people keep making utena threads endlessly? to invite shitposting?
Bentley Scott
Ooo, I haven't forgotten about him actually, Mikage's fantastic, love this guy. I just didn't mention him because what he has with Tokiko and Mamiya can't be classified as codependency because neither of them enable him. Great character tho.
OK, now back to Anthy. In all three relationships, she is the enabler type, the one who "enables the other person's addiction, poor mental health, immaturity, irresponsibility, or under-achievement." However, due to her late stage-symptoms, and the mountain of abuse she's went through, she cannot be called a willing enabler, but a shackled one. Let's refer to the late stage codependent spectrum here (keep in mind I'm talking about Anthy before she completely recovered from her symptoms and became independent at the end)
>Can't maintain relationships, Isolation Check. She has no friends and doesn't really want any, this is even a plot point early on. >Numb, Helpless, Hopeless, Depression, Despair Absolutely on all three, this is the crux of her issues. >Increased Anger and Conflict She is quite passive aggressive if you pay attention to how she acts (you would be too after having your agency stripped from you for so long). >Lack of Self-Care, Suicidal Literally doesn't care about herself beyond simply being the Rose Bride, and actually attempted suicide. >Practicing Addictions, Chronic Illness She has neither of these, but as said before, this is not a rigid checklist.
She fits the late stage enabler type almost to a T. She enables Utena's white-knighting, Saionji's inferiority-complex, and Akio's manipulation.
Oh, and I guess it's worth mentioning that Anthy also fits the recovery signs in the codependency spectrum too >Self Esteem Yes. Actually being loved genuinely for once restored her sense of worth. >Aware of Feelings and Needs Absolutely. She knew what she really felt and what must be done, and so firmly walked out of Ohtori Academy without looking back. >Practices Self-Care Dressed and did her hair the way she likes it at the end. >Interdependent Relationships Both her and Utena recover from their codependency at the end and became jointly-independent, so yes. >Assertive Communication, Intact, Flexible Boundaries Nicely told Akio to go fuck himself. >Empowered and Pursuing Goals Is determined to find Utena in the outside world all by herself.
With these out of the way, the remaining three dynamics are easy to explain.
>Touga-Akio Touga seeks validation from Akio through imitation, as he pretty much sees him as an idealised version of himself, and Akio enables his behaviour out of narcissism.
>Nanami-Touga Nanami seeks validation from her brother as she sees him as the perfect man (therefore his approval is valuable), and he enables her behaviour out of narcissism.
>Tsuwabuki-Nanami Tsuwabuki seeks validation from Nanami through treating her as an object of protection (saw toga save her as a kid, thought toga looked really mature and cool, so he wants to be there for her to imitate toga), and she enables his behaviour of out narcissism.
Touga recovered from his codependency with Akio after his interests started conflicting with the latter's plans (that is, Utena's fate). Nanami recovered from her codependency with Touga after she got disillusioned with him. Tsuwabuki recovered from his codependency with Nanami after learning to not rush his way to adulthood.
I think this is enough text walls for one thread from me, don't wanna clutter it too much. Next time, I'm gonna about talk about the other secondary theme.
Elijah Butler
This is good shit, carry on. I don't have anything to add.
Charles Morgan
Ohhh, wait, I forgot one more thing: the codependency symbolism.
You know how up until the last 1/3rd of the show, Utena was the one pulling a sword from Anthy's chest while the latter is in a submissive position, then Anthy ends up being the one to pull a sword out of Utena while standing next to her? The sword is a symbol of power and agency.
This shows the development of their relationship from codependency (where anthy enables utena's power fantasy), to joint-independence (where they are more on equal footing, literally), although that development is not completed until the very end of the story.
Instead of Utena deriving her power (sword. playing knight.) from Anthy who is in a submissive position (enabler), Anthy helps Utena bring out her own power, and Utena accepts the change (helps her achieve strength on her own rather than derive it from her being submissive). It's also worthy to note that around this point, Anthy takes a far more proactive role in the duels, rather than just watching from the sidelines like she usually did at that point.
Well. I'm re-reading Demian. Great fucking book btw. It's nice to see how Utena takes things from it. Take for example the "bird breaks the egg" monologue. However Demian puts much more enphasis in duality; the two worlds: one of family, religion, rules and another of crime, sexuality. This duality is often represented by Abraxas. A divinity that is both god and demon at the same time. In Utena however, the theme of duality is no that present. Have you read Demian? How did you find it in comparison to Utena? (this isn't /lit/ after all)
Camden Russell
Oh, I haven't read Demian yet (it's on my list), I'm just aware of its Gnostic content, and of Utena's ideological reference(s) to it.
>In Utena however, the theme of duality is no that present. Ehhh, yeah, not really, there isn't one.
Hudson Bailey
it's a good read. Not too long as well. Akio kinda reminds me of Demian when he shows the student council "the end of the world" in those car scenes. It's like he's showing them adulthood without him being and adult first
Well, Demian is supposed to be viewed by Sinclair as an idealised version of himself, right? The StuCo too see Akio as an idealised version of themselves, AKA an adult, with the tragedy here being is that he's really a manchild stringing them along into his illusions.
