RocketMermaid
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- Posted: Tue, 11 Jan 2005 04:24:22 +0000
In the third novel of the manga Battle Angel Alita, the main character (Alita) expresses the desire, as a fighter, to be like "a razor's edge of purest steel." Her motorball coach, Esdoc, inwardly chastizes her for her lack of metallurgical knowledge: pure steel is relatively weak, and impurities must be introduced into the mixture to properly strengthen the metal. In his words, "the impurities give the steel life."
There is an obvious implication about the nature of purity as a whole here: nothing that is totally pure, or wholly innocent, can exist unsullied and remain intact. In fact, the implication is that purity is not so much a virtue as a weakness. However, to properly categorize that implication, we must analyze both the connotations of the term "purity" and the categories of purity that apply to the situation.
Purity has several different definitions: a lack of sin, lack of experience, a lack of any taint or variable factors. The further connotations are those of intensity, benevolence and/or innocence. But how, then, can these be negative factors?
The three primary aspects of man to which one would usually apply this quandry are the body, the mind and the soul. "Purity" of the body usually refers to maintaining one's body in as wholesome and untainted a state as possible, without sullying factors such as drugs or bad food. In the universe of Battle Angel Alita, however, such things are impossible: half of the characters, including and especially Alita herself, are cybernetic in nature, having much or all of their bodies replaced by mechanical components. Moreover, the environment of the Scrapyard and the surrounding world is often inhospitable with pollution; by definition, purity of the body is impossible in Alita's world. Still, while it is impossible to avoid physical taint, such things cannot always be taken as positive influences either: everything from drug abuse to nanotechnological parasitism ravages the book's characters. So the quandry can hardly apply to the body.
What, then, of the mind? One can try to argue things like psychological or sociological impurity; however, the mind thrives on input, and mankind is inherently a social animal. The influence of life experiences, outside ideas and social relationships is both inevitable and necessary for one to be a complete, healthy human being. Likewise, purity of identity is impossible because these outside factors have an immense effect on the shaping of one's personality and identity; even Alita, throughout the series, changes vastly through her trials. In terms of mind, Esdoc's statement about impurities having a stimulating, positive effect fully applies. But then, this could not have been Alita's intention either.
So we are left with the intangibles of the "soul," which are yet more difficult to define. To argue about purity of "essence" is impossible, as it is a completely nebulous factor and, by some arguments, could be split into different aspects in and of itself. Alita's theology is unknown, but it is doubtful she was referring to purity from sin: she acknowledges her own shortcomings and has been able to see through those of others, such as Makaku, to the complex personalities within. Purity of intent is unlikely as well, as intent is greatly derived from the mind, and purity of intent rarely equates to purity of action. Purity of action is impossible as well, as that concept cannot exist without a moral/ethical system dictating it, and one cannot account for all the influences one's actions might have.
All that's left, really, is purity of will: the ability to focus every aspect of one's being to a single end and achieve that which he is compelled, for whatever reason, to do. It is this that makes up not only the crux of Alita's vow, but the locus of the struggles of the different characters as well. Even mad scientist Desty Nova uses his nanotechnology to achieve the "conquest of karma" - which can be seen, in the world of this book, as the final factor inhibiting that purity of will. Both Nova and Alita act as catalysts for the other characters to achieve that which their talents and compulsions drive them to do, and it is that underlying will that calls all of this forth.
So, in a roundabout way, let's make this a thread about the idea of purity and how it can be applied, and in what ways it actually exists. I simply used the Alita example as an argument from the comic's own worldview and facts; feel free to argue your own as well. 3nodding
There is an obvious implication about the nature of purity as a whole here: nothing that is totally pure, or wholly innocent, can exist unsullied and remain intact. In fact, the implication is that purity is not so much a virtue as a weakness. However, to properly categorize that implication, we must analyze both the connotations of the term "purity" and the categories of purity that apply to the situation.
Purity has several different definitions: a lack of sin, lack of experience, a lack of any taint or variable factors. The further connotations are those of intensity, benevolence and/or innocence. But how, then, can these be negative factors?
The three primary aspects of man to which one would usually apply this quandry are the body, the mind and the soul. "Purity" of the body usually refers to maintaining one's body in as wholesome and untainted a state as possible, without sullying factors such as drugs or bad food. In the universe of Battle Angel Alita, however, such things are impossible: half of the characters, including and especially Alita herself, are cybernetic in nature, having much or all of their bodies replaced by mechanical components. Moreover, the environment of the Scrapyard and the surrounding world is often inhospitable with pollution; by definition, purity of the body is impossible in Alita's world. Still, while it is impossible to avoid physical taint, such things cannot always be taken as positive influences either: everything from drug abuse to nanotechnological parasitism ravages the book's characters. So the quandry can hardly apply to the body.
What, then, of the mind? One can try to argue things like psychological or sociological impurity; however, the mind thrives on input, and mankind is inherently a social animal. The influence of life experiences, outside ideas and social relationships is both inevitable and necessary for one to be a complete, healthy human being. Likewise, purity of identity is impossible because these outside factors have an immense effect on the shaping of one's personality and identity; even Alita, throughout the series, changes vastly through her trials. In terms of mind, Esdoc's statement about impurities having a stimulating, positive effect fully applies. But then, this could not have been Alita's intention either.
So we are left with the intangibles of the "soul," which are yet more difficult to define. To argue about purity of "essence" is impossible, as it is a completely nebulous factor and, by some arguments, could be split into different aspects in and of itself. Alita's theology is unknown, but it is doubtful she was referring to purity from sin: she acknowledges her own shortcomings and has been able to see through those of others, such as Makaku, to the complex personalities within. Purity of intent is unlikely as well, as intent is greatly derived from the mind, and purity of intent rarely equates to purity of action. Purity of action is impossible as well, as that concept cannot exist without a moral/ethical system dictating it, and one cannot account for all the influences one's actions might have.
All that's left, really, is purity of will: the ability to focus every aspect of one's being to a single end and achieve that which he is compelled, for whatever reason, to do. It is this that makes up not only the crux of Alita's vow, but the locus of the struggles of the different characters as well. Even mad scientist Desty Nova uses his nanotechnology to achieve the "conquest of karma" - which can be seen, in the world of this book, as the final factor inhibiting that purity of will. Both Nova and Alita act as catalysts for the other characters to achieve that which their talents and compulsions drive them to do, and it is that underlying will that calls all of this forth.
So, in a roundabout way, let's make this a thread about the idea of purity and how it can be applied, and in what ways it actually exists. I simply used the Alita example as an argument from the comic's own worldview and facts; feel free to argue your own as well. 3nodding
