Hello everybody, I am interrupting my life-long lurking because I saw that you were recently discussing the Guts-Griffith duel from Volume 8. I consider it one of the most crucial moments in the story, and there are a couple of aspects of that fight, which to me look quite important, that I have never seen to be pointed out in the forum.
It is correct that
Indeed, many characters in that scene (Judo, Caska and Griffith, I think) make remarks to that effect.
However, things may be explained at a different level of detail, or abstraction; for example, what was the physical reason why the saber broke?
It is also true that
...but what is not pointed out here is that in Griffith's plan there is one little mistake; a discrepancy between his predictions and reality.
In Griffith's predictions, Guts is shown thrusting forward with his usual ferocity. But in the real duel, we see Guts take a step _backwards_ (check where the bodyweight lies in each picture...).
Therefore, the distance between the two in the real duel, at the moment of the swords' impact, is much greater than in Griffith's expectancy. So, Guts's sword strikes at a much greater speed/momentum than expected (in a circular movement, e.g. the slashing of a sword, the speed is greater as the distance from the center of rotation increases). I think this might be the physical reason why the saber broke, in Miura's intentions.
Secondly, this specific little mistake on the part of Griffith seems to shed some light on his relationship with Guts in that part of the story. Griffith expects Guts to behave, as usual, as a ferocious beast. Guts instead acts in a very rational manner. So, we might think that Griffith's mistake in this battle was to think of Guts as a predictable pawn, and not as a man in possession of an own intellect and will, really capable to follow his own path.
What do you think about these hypotheses? Perhaps I am reading too much in a detail, but I tend to think Miura is too subtle to depict such a discrepancy by mistake.
It is correct that
Aazealh said:Guts won because he was a better swordsman at that point.
Indeed, many characters in that scene (Judo, Caska and Griffith, I think) make remarks to that effect.
However, things may be explained at a different level of detail, or abstraction; for example, what was the physical reason why the saber broke?
It is also true that
Menosgade said:It's shown that Griffith knew what he was doing. He planned his attack
...but what is not pointed out here is that in Griffith's plan there is one little mistake; a discrepancy between his predictions and reality.
In Griffith's predictions, Guts is shown thrusting forward with his usual ferocity. But in the real duel, we see Guts take a step _backwards_ (check where the bodyweight lies in each picture...).
Therefore, the distance between the two in the real duel, at the moment of the swords' impact, is much greater than in Griffith's expectancy. So, Guts's sword strikes at a much greater speed/momentum than expected (in a circular movement, e.g. the slashing of a sword, the speed is greater as the distance from the center of rotation increases). I think this might be the physical reason why the saber broke, in Miura's intentions.
Secondly, this specific little mistake on the part of Griffith seems to shed some light on his relationship with Guts in that part of the story. Griffith expects Guts to behave, as usual, as a ferocious beast. Guts instead acts in a very rational manner. So, we might think that Griffith's mistake in this battle was to think of Guts as a predictable pawn, and not as a man in possession of an own intellect and will, really capable to follow his own path.
What do you think about these hypotheses? Perhaps I am reading too much in a detail, but I tend to think Miura is too subtle to depict such a discrepancy by mistake.