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 Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 8:32 pm
Ah, Gendo...the cold, uncaring, straight to the business type? Or the hidden compassion, cunningly developed mind? One of my personal favorite character, Gendo was one of the characters I struggled the most to understand...because you really don't see much of him, but you know what he is trying to do. Like Shinji, I wrote a brief character analysis for the ole' Evangelion Fan Hangout, and here it is again, for future reference: Ashram_VII At first glance, it is very easy to pass Gendo off as an uncaring, cold-hearted man. But I believe there is much more to consider when looking at this mysterious character. Consider his job, he is the man responsible for keeping the EVA project alive, and with that job comes with it the responsibility of keeping all of Japan alive. (and to stretch it even further...the fate of the world) It almost safe to say that he has no time for anything else, that he cannot afford any time for anything else. Before I go on, I would like to note that all the things I have said and will say pretains to the Gendo we know before the movie "End of Evangelion" was released. (in other words, before things became very, very twisted and strange) Gendo's relationship towards Rei is not so hard to understand. Since Rei is, more or less, a clone made from the genes of Gendo's dead wife, it is safe to say that when Gendo sees Rei, ir reminds him of his wife and of the fonder memories he had with her. Gendo's relationship towards Shinji is a little more complicated. The best thing I can come up with is this...Shinji is Gendo's flesh and blood, legitamit son...and as such also carries traits of his deceased wife. In retrospect, when Gendo looks at Rei and remembers fond memories, it may be that when he looks at Shinji, he only remembers bad memories. Fathers also see their sons as the next generation of their family name. Gendo may see Shinji as weaker, or maybe not as strong as he would like Shinji to be. And he knows that Shinji is one of the chosen children, which makes it even more difficult. He is almost forced to push Shinji to his limits, since countless lives are at stake concerning the success of Shinji piloting the EVA. Ok, now that, that is all said and done, my final comments on Gendo. Indeed, he is a very cunning man who knows exactly what he is up against and knows exactly how to deal with it. He is completely determined to see that the Angels do not succeed in their quest and is willing to do anything to prevent them. Zealous is a good word to describe him. Since he is in such a position, it forces him to spend little, if any time with his son, which is one of his character flaws. In a way he does use Shinji, but it is for a greater cause, and in a way, I think Shinji comes to understand this. He does show some signs of compassion for his son in various places, but I don't think he really knows how to be a father. So, what do you think about Gendo Ikari?
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Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 8:40 pm
I basically agree with everything. Gendo seems uncaring and selfish to everyone. However...it is obvious that he loved Yui, but he also loves mankind, and wants to save it from the angels. Its fairly difficult to see this, since the majority of his actions dont justify this, and his silence doesnt explain it either. Some of the ways he went about things were somewhat unorthodox in a lot of cases...using Naoko to build his magi system, pushing his own son to limits in order to save mankind. But its true he does not know how to be a father, however he knows that there are more important things than just his son. This kind of person is hard to come by, a person who would sacrfice something that another would cherish, in order to fight for a cause greater than just friends or family.
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Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 8:54 pm
Uhm, I dont think he wanted to save mankind, that was Seele's little pipe dream of "Salvation".
However, not all humans wish to be 'one'. Lack of individuality would not be a good way of life.
That whole plan was insane.
Gendo did everything to see Yui again. He didnt really care much about anything.
And I'll admit, he didnt know how to be a father. He was just like Shinji, except for the fact that he could hide his cowardice better.
In EOE, he states himself, that he was afraid to get close to Shinji because he didnt want to hurt him or get hurt.
He's foolish for not realizing that by abandoning him, and treating him like he didnt even matter was hurting the both of them more.
If he coudlnt see what he was doing to his own son, then he's not worth much respect.
He's a coward, and he knows that Shinji has much more courage than him.
Gendo wanted to live free of pain, Shinji chose life as it is. With society, and all that goes with it.
Shinji chose pain. And Shinji chose reality.
My opinion on Gendo will never change. Sure, he had his determination and he did what he had to so that his dream could be made real, however if those are his only redeeming qualities, it doesnt say much.
And there's my two cents on Gendo.
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Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 8:57 pm
Gendo did want to being us all as one. in EoE he tells Rei to make all souls one and bring him to his Yui
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Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 9:00 pm
TheMessiah Gendo did want to being us all as one. in EoE he tells Rei to make all souls one and bring him to his Yui Yes, because Yui was there, that only motivated him. Technicalities don't count with me. Seriously... if I was turned into a pool of tang, I'd rather find my way out, rather than sit there and congeal because of one stupid man.
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Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 9:01 pm
Sir Langley TheMessiah Gendo did want to being us all as one. in EoE he tells Rei to make all souls one and bring him to his Yui Yes, because Yui was there, that only motivated him. Technicalities don't count with me. Seriously... if I was turned into a pool of tang, I'd rather find my way out, rather than sit there and congeal because of one stupid man. You wouldnt realize you were a pool of tang though...youd be running around naked sitting in people laps like shinji was. At least i think thats how it worked....
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Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 9:04 pm
gendo was selfish. he did not care what anyother person wanted just so he could get back to his wife. which by the way was impossible becouse she got absorbed into unit 01. but he did not know that.
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Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 9:05 pm
Stealing my own post from the "Who was your (least) favorite character" thread...
Heh heh, I also don't like Gendo. First off, he really rubbed me the wrong way the entire series. At no point was I like 'Man, that Gendo, he sure is awesome.' He willfully avoids talking to Shinji or dealing with the issues they have as if he were the child. He manipulates both Naoko and Ritsuko and basically tosses them aside when he's done (and although I'm no big Naoko fan, she couldn't have had a relationship with Gendo if he stopped it). He creates Rei, but he still has no ability to raise a child, so she ends up becoming as disfunctional as he is much of the time. He makes Shinji watch his best friend either get maimed or killed by his Evangelion. I mean, there's more, but do I really need to go on? He's not a good person. His goal is to get with his wife and as far as I can tell the rest of humanity is expendable as long as he gets to her. That's not nobility, that's selfishness.
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Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 9:07 pm
Kaze no Hyuga Sir Langley TheMessiah Gendo did want to being us all as one. in EoE he tells Rei to make all souls one and bring him to his Yui Yes, because Yui was there, that only motivated him. Technicalities don't count with me. Seriously... if I was turned into a pool of tang, I'd rather find my way out, rather than sit there and congeal because of one stupid man. You wouldnt realize you were a pool of tang though...youd be running around naked sitting in people laps like shinji was. At least i think thats how it worked.... It's probably not how it worked, because if it did, I REALLY wouldnt want to be there. Laying my head in a naked persons lap would only FURTHER my decision of independance.
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Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 9:33 pm
Sir Langley Kaze no Hyuga Sir Langley TheMessiah Gendo did want to being us all as one. in EoE he tells Rei to make all souls one and bring him to his Yui Yes, because Yui was there, that only motivated him. Technicalities don't count with me. Seriously... if I was turned into a pool of tang, I'd rather find my way out, rather than sit there and congeal because of one stupid man. You wouldnt realize you were a pool of tang though...youd be running around naked sitting in people laps like shinji was. At least i think thats how it worked.... It's probably not how it worked, because if it did, I REALLY wouldnt want to be there. Laying my head in a naked persons lap would only FURTHER my decision of independance. well, aside from Kaworu everyone was naked. i dont think it bother them that much. unless of course Kaworu is his clothes, which would make that shower scene all the scarier
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Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 11:16 pm
It's kinda eerie that Shinji would grow up to be Gendo, but I'm guessing that would only happen if he loses someone very close to him at a much older age. The only reason I think that Shinji could become Gendo is because Gendo said that he didn't believe anyone could love him. I'm pretty sure Shinji felt the same way. Rei was emotionless, Asuka yelled at him, and Misato closed herself up after Kaji's death. Like Shinji, Gendo needed people to reach out to him, and Yui did. That's probably why Gendo loved her so much, even to the point of nuking humanity into tang.
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Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 11:47 pm
Oh no. I didnt mean to imply that Shinji would grow up to be anything like Gendo.
Shinji really takes after Yui more, even tho he didnt get to know her. His nature is much more soft than Gendo's.
Shinji doesnt seem like the type to manipulate people the way his father did.
I dont want to promote Shinji here... or at all really, since I should hate him for some stuff... so ya...
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Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 11:49 pm
Yes, you hate him good. biggrin
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Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2004 12:15 am
Although this is a bit off topic, Rei is by no means emotionless, she doesn't know how to express her emotions like you and I do. As for Gendo, I don't like him at all...he used everybody to get what he wanted and manipulated Rei, Ritsuko and her mom too. I have one thing to say thats good about him...he was a driven man, but he was driven for the wrong reasons. The man didn't even have morals that I could decipher. When he puts Adam in Rei's stomach and touches her breast thats close enough to rape for me. If Yui saw something in that man, I wish I knew what it was. Of course, he was a bit different after she "died". But still...
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Eloquent Conversationalist
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Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2004 7:12 am
 this is all I got to say... btw, i didn't made this. it's my friend's.
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