The Saddest Story
Soujiro’s Seta’s life is the most saddest and depressing story-line throughout Rurouni Kenshin. Before saying anything let me review the other sad stories: Kenshin, Yahiko, Sano, Megumi, and somewhat on Kaoru. It is evident that between all these cases that Kenshin’s is that saddest, as he was orphaned, and his guardians were killed protecting him. Yahiko is also an orphan, but he did not experience as much violence as Kenshin did and Sanosuke became a gangster after Sagara’s death, which, although violent, did not plague him by regrets or unnecessary deaths. Megumi, of course, only had some doctor connection with opium, while Kaoru had a dead father.
Now that I have touched upon those points, let’s get to Soujiro. Soujiro’s story-line is the most sad and depressing one of all. Firstly, Soujiro, unlike Kenshin, is an illegitimate orphan, meaning he was rejected from society in the very beginning. Kenshin was not repelled from society, he was sold off, but he made new friends, and had some respect. Kenshin also managed to have loving guardians (even if it was for a short while), while Soujiro grew up in an unhappy environment. Soujirou never found love EVER, he was both mentally and physically abused. Mentally because he could never show his true feelings, which can easily be compared to kenshin’s cross-shaped scar, teaching Kenshin to be quiet about his past. Kenshin’s scar, however, was a sign of hate and love both, showing that Kenshin, unlike Soujirou, was loved. In Soujirou’s case Shishio Makoto did not love him, he used him to fight and spread his message of “Blood of the weak and food for the strong.” Soujiro never found love in this as from the very beginning, Shishio did not help him but made him “become strong” on his own (ie. giving him the katana to fend on his own). Even though Kenshin’s protectors died, he met Hiko shortly afterwards, who taught him to love again, followed by Tomoe. Hiko gave Kenshin something to look up to and gave him an occupation, teaching Kenshin the basis of Samurai. Due to this, Kenshin was never confused in his ways, he knew he was killing, and justified it for the new era.
Soujirou, on the other hand, was confused between believing in his conscience or Shishio’s philosophy. He never showed his emotions, and by god, the kid laughed in the face of death but cried when he killed his relatives. Thus meaning that from the very beginning he didn’t know which path to follow. Soujirou, like Kenshin, had a past that was haunting him, except his past was a bit worse because unlike Kenshin, it was not clear to him. Kenshin knew his past and his reasons, while Soujirou did not, and could not understand reasoning. He always hid his feelings, and although Kenshin did this too, he was able to open up to his friends, while Soujirou could not open up to anyone because the very people around him were the ones he questioned. Kenshin also had a reason of keeping quiet about his past, but Soujirou’s past was based on a flimsy factor; that Shishio had “saved” him, when in fact, Shishio would have easily left Soujirou to die. Soujiro was left on his own to take care of his problems, while in Kenshin’s case, Hiko stepped in and took the burden off his hands. If Soujiro had not succeeded, Shishio would have left him to die, as he believed Soujiro was weak.
Soujiro’s lack of emotion was a very sad and scary aspect. Kenshin barely showed what was on his heart, but his Kenki and emotions always went along with his fights and talks. Although he acted very innocent most of the time, Kenshin could easily turn serious and give off Kenki in a battle. Soujirou looked the same throughout the whole series, no one could ever tell what he was thinking. Kenshin was the same way to an extent, but Soujiro was thoroughly hidden.
Kenshin’s most depressing story-line was that he accidentally killed his own wife, Tomoe. Although this is very emotional and sentimental, it cannot even compare to Soujirou. Soujirou never knew love, and this is what made it depressing. Although Kenshin had killed Tomoe, he did realize and make his promise to stop murdering after the war was over. Kenshin still had his memories of Tomoe and and although it was sad to loose her, it would have been sadder if he had not loved at all. He had a purpose to his being, to his life, and later on, this guided him to Kaoru. While, all the while, Soujirou had no purpose at all, he acted like a robot, had no one to talk to or share his feelings, and never had anyone since his birth. Though this would mean that Soujirou never knew the pain, I’m sure that Soujirou, if we looked at him longer, would feel an impenetrable pain later on for all of his murderous acts. Even if Soujirou never loved a person, that would be even worse, because pain without any reminder of love is not balanced, and only pain is left. Kenshin had that pain, but he eased it with Kaoru, with his wondering, and basically his whole time with his people. If Kenshin did not know what pain was, he would never realize happiness, and vice versa. Since Soujirou did not, or could not know any love, he will have a more difficult time adapting, and even so, it is evident that he realizes that love exists. This makes it worse because he knows what it is, and he feels the lack of it, this is what makes him question Kenshin’s battle. Soujirou is found saying “Why did you not save me?” meaning that he wanted to be loved, and the fact that he wasn’t, made him what he was and he had no emotional output to put all of those feelings.
To get to the point, the saddest story was of Soujiro. He had a story-line that was both unique and interesting, like Kenshin’s. Yet his went beyond the regular expectations. Kenshin himself was surprised, and he knew that something “really bad” happened to Soujiro, as he related to Sanosuke. Soujiro was also the most hard to beat enemy that Kenshin faced. I read it in a poll manga.
I’ve agreed with everything you said, Soujirou’s story was really very sad, he hadn’t the good example, someone’s principles to follow, and has he himself tells while fighting with Kenshin, he was waiting for ‘Kenshin’s’ help… but he never did showed up… instead of him unfortunately Shishio found him first. But what makes his story a little better is that he had never surrender totally to Shishio’s evilness… well he was one of a kind. The battle between him and Kenshin was for me the most exciting one. ^_~
I agree that Soujiro’s life was quite a tragic one, but I think the story about Amakusa Shougo is even worse, to be a christian in disguise, see both your mother and father get killed because they believed in the “wrong god”. The only life he choose to live was the words both his mother and father told him, to be a god, to be the hope for the Shimabara christians.
I totally agree on everything that you said. Soujiro is a great character and I believe that if he knew about the nice things in life and experienced them, he would definitely be kind and friendly. Soujiro was not only being used by Shishio but was being led astray and confused to the point that his thoughts were muddled and he no longer knew what was right and what was wrong. He looked up to Shishio and yet Shishio used him and did not mind even when he died. Fate has been cruel to him. His life would have been much better if he was found by someone who cared for him.
Very true! Kenshin had friends to ease his pain! And he had no one.
I think that Soujiro’s story is second saddest. Because it is tragic what happened to him, but Kenshin, he killed his first love. It was bad enough he lost her, but he was the one who killed her. It may be true Soujiro never found love, but at the same rate, Soujiro really wasn’t that old. I mean, it can take people a whole life time to find their love. And also, Kenshin was saddened that he killed, he just never let it show. But he told Tomoe he wished he didn’t have to kill, which is why he kills, so he won’t have to. And when you think about it, Soujiro was sort of fighting for a new era, he just wasn’t sure it was the right one. But never forget, Kenshin killed his first man when he was around 13, and was willing to kill at the age of 8 or so.
I think that this whole saddest story thing really comes down to one thing. It’s a personal opinion, I see where you are coming from by saying Soujiro’s story could be the saddest, but no one is alike, and people look at things differently. If I was in a position sort of like that, I’d sort of rather be Soujiro, because Kenshin had reasons to kill other than being utterly confused and if you ask me, insane and mislead. Soujiro’s mind was young, and therefore it would be easier to come to an understanding with what he did over Kenshin. For Kenshin killed, and killed many people, and he had reasons, he knew why, he killed out of anger sometimes, and hate.
For me, it would be easier to look back and think, I didn’t really know what was going on, I was confused, misled, and also I was truly not sure of who I really was, rather than looking back and thinking, I killed out of anger and hate, pure rage, I knew what I was doing was wrong, but I did it anyway. If I was Kenshin, I’d feel like I was a horrible person. While if I was Soujiro, I wouldn’t feel as bad, because I was extremely young, and my mind was easily impressionable. I dunno, that’s how I feel.
Poor boy. I really sympathize with him… even if he’s just a bit bipolar, who can really blame him? He was never loved, and thus became apathetic because of it. He always bears everything with a grin. Someone needs a hug. 🙂
Hmmm… aren’t we forgetting the story of the other Juppon Gatana? ANJI!! what about his little story? Being forced to watch the people you care about more than anything die in front of your eyes… When Kenshin lost Tomoe even he was spared watching her die because he was blinded and deafened at the time remember? I say Anji’s was the saddest. Although Soujiro did also have a very sad one.
Soujiro does have a very sad life, but so does Kenshin. On the other hand, Kenshin has friends, who he chose not to talk about his past to… which can also increase his pain. Soujiro has Shishio and all of the members of the Juppongatana to talk to, but Shishio is probably the only one he can trust. Seta and Kenshin have an equally sad life, and they are both under different conditions which makes it hard to compare.
I’m not sure if this is allowed but this is a reply to some who disagree. Soujiro could not trust Shishio. Shishio lied to him and used him. The rest of the juppon gatanna (from the ep.) did not care about him too.
What can I say, Soujiro was totally abused by his new father’s family. He always carried at least 3 pounds of rise every day! It’s hard to believe that a child of five years old can do all of that! He never even experienced love and friendship. I mean, how could anyone live like that? No wonder he never show any emotions or feelings for anyone. For god sake he always laugh at the sign of death. But on the other hand, Kenshin did feel love, even though he was an orphan, he experienced love and friendship. But Soujiro never did experience that. And after all the fighting and killing his father’s family, he got insane and confused. That, I have to say it’s totally, terribly sad.
I would say that I disagree and agree with what you said. I disagree because even if Soujiro is young, he should still know the difference between right and wrong and I’m not blaming him. He never had any love, and he didn’t try to find any either. But Kenshin on the other hand, let other people into his life. If Soujiro tried to let some good people into his life, it would have a least made his life a lot better. And I’m not blaming him if he can’t find one, it’s hard to find a loving and trustworthy person nowadays… Kenshin on the other hand has a sad story, even if he killed people at a young age, he know what he was doing but at the same time, the thing that he have done really hurt him. The memory of what happen to him in the past was hard for him to let go of… so this is my opinion.
I don’t know if I am allowed to do this, but I must disagree with Inu-Kaoru on her comment about Sojirou not knowing right from wrong, or letting people into his life for two reasons.
#1, If his life was spent in neglect, then he wouldn’t know right from wrong. You cannot know what is not taught to you.
#2, To him, everyone has been cruel and mean.
Why *would* he allow someone in his life, if humans have only proven to be cruel and mean to him? I remember a story once (here I go, backing up my stupid view point with an even stupider story) about this baby who was abused. He cried and cried, and when someone touched him, he’d cry harder. The baby had the thought that if someone touches you, they will hurt you. If Soujirou has been hurt by people all his life, then just the sight of people would make him ache, so why would he let people into his life? End of point.