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dgray_man2008-09-30 09:51 pm
lovely-fatima.livejournal.com) wrote in dgray_man2008-09-30 09:51 pm
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[discussion] Things That Make You Go, "Hmmmm", Part 1: Trinity
As I mentioned in another !discussion post, I've been tumbling a few things over in my head lately as concerns the seemingly inextricable links between Mana, Allen, Cross, Timcampy and the Earl. This first post concerns the concept of Trinity--specifically, the Christian concept of the tri-partate God that exists in mind, body, and spirit, and why I think Cross, Allen, and Timcampy are three parts of the same whole.
I'm going to put this under a cut because it's quite long and image intensive, and if you all are stuck with a slow connection like mine, then I know lots of images will make your computer's brain explode!
Okay. To begin, this is the panel that first captured my attention:
At first, I thought I was looking at a duality--two opposing sides of one entity. Then I looked closer. Just as in nature's dualities, there is actually a more subtle third. I had to ask myself, "if the artist wanted to show a simple duality, then why include Timcampy in the middle?" The theory of Ockham's Razor states that the simplest answer is usually the correct one, and the obvious answer here is that we're not dealing with twos, we're dealing with threes.
Let's take a look at Timcampy for a sec. When I first started reading DGM, I pretty much ignored the little guy except to say, "Awww. How cute! But why was he so big with Cross and then teeny tiny with Allen?" Then after the revelation of Mana's true identity and Cross' disappearance, I went back to re-read the series from the beginning. That's when I stumbled upon this:
My reaction was, "Is THAT Timcampy?" He's the only golden critter we know of in the series! The particular golden creature looming behind Allen is almost in a protective posture and if you attached Allen's left arm to it, it might fit seamlessly together. Not only that, it looks like a combination between a demon--an Akuma to be exact--and an angel--a horrible, masked face with all those teeth, and yet it has a halo and wings. Moreover, it's incomplete--only part of a creature, not the whole thing.
That got me thinking about the prominent cross design that marks the little golem. If you study religious mysticism, then you know that all spiritual symbols and their variations have certain meanings. The cross is no exception. I searched high and low looking for the exact kind of cross that Timcampy wears. The best I could come up with is that it is a combination of a Sun or Consecration cross and a Nestorian cross.
What I find really interesting is that the Sun cross is considered the oldest extant example of cross symbology in the world. Nobody knows exactly how old it is, but it is known to pre-date Christianity as it has been discovered in Sumerian and Egyptian iconography. The Consecration cross was used in the building of churches (or in the transformation of formerly pagan places of worship) as a sort of blessing or place-holder to serve until the church was complete and the actual Holy Cross could be used. Often twelve of them would be marked together on one wall or on a series of pillars to represent the Twelve Apostles and to suggest the strength of those who originally supported Jesus in his mission.
The Nestorian cross, on the other hand, is where the truly interesting concept lies. Unless you've studied religion or specifically the history of the Christian Church, you might never know who the Nestorians were (and are, since they're still around)--mainly because their rather unorthodox belief about the true nature of Christ was excised from the dogma of the main body of the Church in the very early days. Essentially, these people believed that the human personality of Christ and the divine aspect of God were two separate entities housed in the same physical space. In other words, within the body of the man Jesus there was the man's own human self and there was also the divine spirit of God.
Sounds an awful lot like what's going on with Allen, doesn't it? So even the iconography used with Timcampy has a deeper meaning that points towards the idea of true Trinity--Pure Spirit, God Mind, and Physical Form.
Here's another image:
This is the first time in the Manga that we see Cross. It's also when we realize that Timcampy used to be MUCH bigger than he is when we first see him. Now, I don't know about you, but for the longest time, it always bugged me that Cross just happened to show up and find Allen, and he immediately took him on as his apprentice. Of all the finders and Exorcists and other Generals actively seeking Innocence and accommodators, how is it that Allen managed to wander about without notice until Cross found him? Of course, in recent chapters we've come to understand that Cross *deliberately* took Allen in, knowing that he was connected to the Fourteenth. The question is HOW did he know?
Take a look at this:
What I want you to pay particular attention to is that panel there at the bottom. It's just before the moment in the picture above, but it's from Cross' perspective--AND, doesn't it look as if Allen has slashed his wrists and is bleeding out into the snow? That's just my own bit of speculation, but it would certainly go a long way to explaining exactly why Cross found Allen. If it's the Fourteenth's will to reincarnate in the world without losing time or experience, then he has to give manifestation to all three parts of himself. The most important of these is the Body. If that "incarnation" fails, then the other two cannot survive in the world. They would still exist--the mind and soul are eternal, after all--but they would be subject to the Wheel of Reincarnation like the other aspects of the Noah appear to have been. Thus, if Allen--the manifestation of the Fourteenth's "human", physical personality--dies, then that breaks the Trinity completed by Cross (Mind and Magic) and Timcampy (Divine Spirit). That's why Cross and Tim show up to save Allen. They HAVE to.
"But WAIT!" I hear you cry! "The Fourteenth made Cross promise to look after Mana, not Allen!"
That's right. He did. Let's explore that for a sec:
In Chapters 166-168, Cross finally spells it all out for Allen (and for the readers as well), but he also leaves a good deal unsaid. I think that the truth lies in what he didn't say but what he left for Allen to figure out on his own. We learn that Mana was the Fourteenth's blood relative, his brother. We also discover that Mana was with the Fourteenth right up to the very moment that he was killed by the Earl. So, apparently, was Cross, because as the Fourteenth was dying, the two of them made him a deal: If you promise to watch over Mana, then I promise to return someday soon. Cross tells us he was seriously skeptical--that is, until Allen appears. Strangely enough, Cross can't seem to give Allen an explanation as to exactly how the Fourteenth managed to transfer his memories to him. He just assumes that it happened sometime before he died. He's also seems genuinely sad that a "kid" like Allen was chosen as opposed to some "good for nothing" nobody would miss. This implies that Cross--hands down the most knowledgeable character in the series--*DIDN'T* have a critical piece of information.
Here's what I think. Cross was somehow involved with the Fourteenth before he died. I'd even go so far as to say that Cross probably sought him out, knowing exactly who he was and what he'd tried to do. The Fourteenth, having failed to kill the Earl and thus knowing that his days were numbered, started to make plans. If Timcampy didn't already exist *before* this point, he was probably created at that time as a kind of "soul jar" to house part of the Fourteenth's spirit. I think that he also made a secret decision--if he died, he'd temporarily transfer his memories to his brother, Mana, until such time as another host could be found. Upon meeting Cross, who is described as a skillful scientist in his own right by members of the Order who knew him before this potential alliance, the Fourteenth realizes that here is the perfect person to carry out his will--the Master Mind, who will inherit his knowledge of magic, of the workings of the Ark, of a great many things, including the truth about Timcampy and his chosen host.
I have a whole post coming about Cross and his connection to the Fourteenth and what that implies in regards to his death/disappearance at the end of Chapter 168, but what I'll say here is that Cross probably knew that there was a serious danger that he could lose *his own* personality to the memories *he* was inheriting from the Fourteenth. That's why I think the Fourteenth needed to promise him that he'd soon return in physical form, thus being able to re-acquire the memories he was passing on to him, to Mana and to Timcampy. This is also why I think Cross drinks so much. But again...that's a topic for another post.
This scenario helps to explain why Cross would even *have* to watch over Mana. Mana was the physical host and the recipient of the Fourteenth's memories when he died. THAT is why Cross says, "Mana kinda lost his mind when the Fourteenth died." It's literally true! At any rate, Mana is the vital link, and would have had to be protected. However, if we go with the idea that Mana's personality was suppressed or taken over by his brother's, then if we look at that scene with Allen, Mana and the dog again, we have to wonder if it was "Mana" who took Allen under his wing or if it was the Fourteenth who saw some potential in the battered and bruised urchin with a big heart. Was it Mana who unknowingly taught Allen the secret words and melody that would move the Ark, or was it the Fourteenth schooling his new host?
My guess is that it might be a little of both. I also don't think the Fourteenth expected Mana to die so suddenly before Allen was fully prepared to become the actual host. If the transfer happened anywhere, then it probably happened just before Mana died. OR it happened in that moment when Mana, as an Akuma, slashed Allen's eye. My reasons for thinking that are in Part 2.
In the meantime, I'll leave you with two more Trinity images. This first one is my favorite:
Much is made of the fact that Mana was a father to Allen, but what we forget is that Cross has been just as much of a father figure, if not an equally important one. So much of Allen's experience with Cross is told in small snippets, and all from Allen's perspective. He fears his Master, but he's also fiercely loyal and even pretty happy to see him when he finally shows up in the Ark. Yeah, Cross calls him "Idiot Apprentice" (which I think should be translated to Fool Apprentice, as the Fool is linked iconographically to clowns and the symbology fits Allen and his journey as a hero in the story), but look at that smile in this panel:
There's love in that smile. There's pride in there, too. That's why the embrace Cross gives Allen at the end of their audience touches me so much.
Here's the last Trinity image I'll post (even though there are countless others):
This one was the first image that made me start thinking that maybe Cross, Allen and Timcampy were linked. Look at that skull in the Pierot's right hand! Not only is it marked with Cross' cross, but it's also "wearing" Cross' long rosary! And can you spot "Tim" in this picture?
This Trinity picture leads me into the next post in my Things That Make You Go, "Hmmm." discussion: Skulls, Scars, Crosses, and Masks. Stay tuned!
I'm going to put this under a cut because it's quite long and image intensive, and if you all are stuck with a slow connection like mine, then I know lots of images will make your computer's brain explode!
Okay. To begin, this is the panel that first captured my attention:
At first, I thought I was looking at a duality--two opposing sides of one entity. Then I looked closer. Just as in nature's dualities, there is actually a more subtle third. I had to ask myself, "if the artist wanted to show a simple duality, then why include Timcampy in the middle?" The theory of Ockham's Razor states that the simplest answer is usually the correct one, and the obvious answer here is that we're not dealing with twos, we're dealing with threes.
Let's take a look at Timcampy for a sec. When I first started reading DGM, I pretty much ignored the little guy except to say, "Awww. How cute! But why was he so big with Cross and then teeny tiny with Allen?" Then after the revelation of Mana's true identity and Cross' disappearance, I went back to re-read the series from the beginning. That's when I stumbled upon this:
My reaction was, "Is THAT Timcampy?" He's the only golden critter we know of in the series! The particular golden creature looming behind Allen is almost in a protective posture and if you attached Allen's left arm to it, it might fit seamlessly together. Not only that, it looks like a combination between a demon--an Akuma to be exact--and an angel--a horrible, masked face with all those teeth, and yet it has a halo and wings. Moreover, it's incomplete--only part of a creature, not the whole thing.
That got me thinking about the prominent cross design that marks the little golem. If you study religious mysticism, then you know that all spiritual symbols and their variations have certain meanings. The cross is no exception. I searched high and low looking for the exact kind of cross that Timcampy wears. The best I could come up with is that it is a combination of a Sun or Consecration cross and a Nestorian cross.
What I find really interesting is that the Sun cross is considered the oldest extant example of cross symbology in the world. Nobody knows exactly how old it is, but it is known to pre-date Christianity as it has been discovered in Sumerian and Egyptian iconography. The Consecration cross was used in the building of churches (or in the transformation of formerly pagan places of worship) as a sort of blessing or place-holder to serve until the church was complete and the actual Holy Cross could be used. Often twelve of them would be marked together on one wall or on a series of pillars to represent the Twelve Apostles and to suggest the strength of those who originally supported Jesus in his mission.
The Nestorian cross, on the other hand, is where the truly interesting concept lies. Unless you've studied religion or specifically the history of the Christian Church, you might never know who the Nestorians were (and are, since they're still around)--mainly because their rather unorthodox belief about the true nature of Christ was excised from the dogma of the main body of the Church in the very early days. Essentially, these people believed that the human personality of Christ and the divine aspect of God were two separate entities housed in the same physical space. In other words, within the body of the man Jesus there was the man's own human self and there was also the divine spirit of God.
Sounds an awful lot like what's going on with Allen, doesn't it? So even the iconography used with Timcampy has a deeper meaning that points towards the idea of true Trinity--Pure Spirit, God Mind, and Physical Form.
Here's another image:
This is the first time in the Manga that we see Cross. It's also when we realize that Timcampy used to be MUCH bigger than he is when we first see him. Now, I don't know about you, but for the longest time, it always bugged me that Cross just happened to show up and find Allen, and he immediately took him on as his apprentice. Of all the finders and Exorcists and other Generals actively seeking Innocence and accommodators, how is it that Allen managed to wander about without notice until Cross found him? Of course, in recent chapters we've come to understand that Cross *deliberately* took Allen in, knowing that he was connected to the Fourteenth. The question is HOW did he know?
Take a look at this:
What I want you to pay particular attention to is that panel there at the bottom. It's just before the moment in the picture above, but it's from Cross' perspective--AND, doesn't it look as if Allen has slashed his wrists and is bleeding out into the snow? That's just my own bit of speculation, but it would certainly go a long way to explaining exactly why Cross found Allen. If it's the Fourteenth's will to reincarnate in the world without losing time or experience, then he has to give manifestation to all three parts of himself. The most important of these is the Body. If that "incarnation" fails, then the other two cannot survive in the world. They would still exist--the mind and soul are eternal, after all--but they would be subject to the Wheel of Reincarnation like the other aspects of the Noah appear to have been. Thus, if Allen--the manifestation of the Fourteenth's "human", physical personality--dies, then that breaks the Trinity completed by Cross (Mind and Magic) and Timcampy (Divine Spirit). That's why Cross and Tim show up to save Allen. They HAVE to.
"But WAIT!" I hear you cry! "The Fourteenth made Cross promise to look after Mana, not Allen!"
That's right. He did. Let's explore that for a sec:
In Chapters 166-168, Cross finally spells it all out for Allen (and for the readers as well), but he also leaves a good deal unsaid. I think that the truth lies in what he didn't say but what he left for Allen to figure out on his own. We learn that Mana was the Fourteenth's blood relative, his brother. We also discover that Mana was with the Fourteenth right up to the very moment that he was killed by the Earl. So, apparently, was Cross, because as the Fourteenth was dying, the two of them made him a deal: If you promise to watch over Mana, then I promise to return someday soon. Cross tells us he was seriously skeptical--that is, until Allen appears. Strangely enough, Cross can't seem to give Allen an explanation as to exactly how the Fourteenth managed to transfer his memories to him. He just assumes that it happened sometime before he died. He's also seems genuinely sad that a "kid" like Allen was chosen as opposed to some "good for nothing" nobody would miss. This implies that Cross--hands down the most knowledgeable character in the series--*DIDN'T* have a critical piece of information.
Here's what I think. Cross was somehow involved with the Fourteenth before he died. I'd even go so far as to say that Cross probably sought him out, knowing exactly who he was and what he'd tried to do. The Fourteenth, having failed to kill the Earl and thus knowing that his days were numbered, started to make plans. If Timcampy didn't already exist *before* this point, he was probably created at that time as a kind of "soul jar" to house part of the Fourteenth's spirit. I think that he also made a secret decision--if he died, he'd temporarily transfer his memories to his brother, Mana, until such time as another host could be found. Upon meeting Cross, who is described as a skillful scientist in his own right by members of the Order who knew him before this potential alliance, the Fourteenth realizes that here is the perfect person to carry out his will--the Master Mind, who will inherit his knowledge of magic, of the workings of the Ark, of a great many things, including the truth about Timcampy and his chosen host.
I have a whole post coming about Cross and his connection to the Fourteenth and what that implies in regards to his death/disappearance at the end of Chapter 168, but what I'll say here is that Cross probably knew that there was a serious danger that he could lose *his own* personality to the memories *he* was inheriting from the Fourteenth. That's why I think the Fourteenth needed to promise him that he'd soon return in physical form, thus being able to re-acquire the memories he was passing on to him, to Mana and to Timcampy. This is also why I think Cross drinks so much. But again...that's a topic for another post.
This scenario helps to explain why Cross would even *have* to watch over Mana. Mana was the physical host and the recipient of the Fourteenth's memories when he died. THAT is why Cross says, "Mana kinda lost his mind when the Fourteenth died." It's literally true! At any rate, Mana is the vital link, and would have had to be protected. However, if we go with the idea that Mana's personality was suppressed or taken over by his brother's, then if we look at that scene with Allen, Mana and the dog again, we have to wonder if it was "Mana" who took Allen under his wing or if it was the Fourteenth who saw some potential in the battered and bruised urchin with a big heart. Was it Mana who unknowingly taught Allen the secret words and melody that would move the Ark, or was it the Fourteenth schooling his new host?
My guess is that it might be a little of both. I also don't think the Fourteenth expected Mana to die so suddenly before Allen was fully prepared to become the actual host. If the transfer happened anywhere, then it probably happened just before Mana died. OR it happened in that moment when Mana, as an Akuma, slashed Allen's eye. My reasons for thinking that are in Part 2.
In the meantime, I'll leave you with two more Trinity images. This first one is my favorite:
Much is made of the fact that Mana was a father to Allen, but what we forget is that Cross has been just as much of a father figure, if not an equally important one. So much of Allen's experience with Cross is told in small snippets, and all from Allen's perspective. He fears his Master, but he's also fiercely loyal and even pretty happy to see him when he finally shows up in the Ark. Yeah, Cross calls him "Idiot Apprentice" (which I think should be translated to Fool Apprentice, as the Fool is linked iconographically to clowns and the symbology fits Allen and his journey as a hero in the story), but look at that smile in this panel:
There's love in that smile. There's pride in there, too. That's why the embrace Cross gives Allen at the end of their audience touches me so much.
Here's the last Trinity image I'll post (even though there are countless others):
This one was the first image that made me start thinking that maybe Cross, Allen and Timcampy were linked. Look at that skull in the Pierot's right hand! Not only is it marked with Cross' cross, but it's also "wearing" Cross' long rosary! And can you spot "Tim" in this picture?
This Trinity picture leads me into the next post in my Things That Make You Go, "Hmmm." discussion: Skulls, Scars, Crosses, and Masks. Stay tuned!