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 really think Soujirou had the saddest past. I mean having his new family, being mentally and physically abused at the young age of eight. That must have been really hard to deal with every day and being hated because he was an ophan, but having to kill them to survive, that must have been rough on Souijrou and smiling afterwards even though he regretted it. Also knowing that everyday that he killed his own family he probably had nightmares!! I would!!
I do think Soujirou’s past is really sad. Having no family in all the world and not being treated right, it is threatening to me when I first heard about his past. He needed himself to survive. His new father didn’t care much until Kenshin reminded him to be the nice boy he used to be and not to kill anymore, apart from his master who told him to.
I agree with you. Soujiro did have a tougher time than Kenshin did, because he had no shoulder to lean on whatsoever. In times, Kenshin had gone to Sano or Kaoru when he had a problem and showed his emotions to them, while Soujiro did not. It’s very true that he had it roughest out of everyone. Though I may be wrong, but in the anime, Soujiro left Shishio to find out his reason just as Kenshin had said for him to do. I found it a bit confusing but I roughly was able to translate it in my mind, so I may be wrong. He did this because, I think, of Kenshin. So if you want to get literal on this, he sort of had a friend in Yumi because she went to him after his battle with Kenshin to make sure he was alright, and Kenshin was kind of one of the few to bear good advice to and lead him away from Shishio. But that’s just what I think. But I do agree he had it much more difficult than Kenshin.
I think I’m changing my opinion. I disagree. I think that Soujiro did have it hard, but I think Kenshin had it harder. This is because he was loved, by his family and Tomoe, but they left him. They died. When you lose someone you love, it’s hard. Really hard. And then he left off to the war and went crazed, killing people. I’ve never killed someone, but I have hurt someone before and the regret is so strong after you have realized what you have done. True, Soujiro killed as well, but he grew up learning to kill, not to protect. So he didn’t watch his “loved ones” die. He never was loved, yes that’s bad, but I bet you eventually he would have met someone he loved. It was hard for me to come to this conclusion, but I did. After re-reading the article I realized he never knew how it felt to actually lose someone he loved with all of his heart. Kenshin did, and he lost it. Especially when he killed Tomoe with his own hands. It’s just pure pain. It really hurts. And Soujiro never felt that pain.
Sorry, I disagree! Rarely am I affected by the story behind a villain but occasionally happens. With Soujiro, this was not the case. I did not like Soujiro. I did not feel like his past explained his crude character. His job to be a villain in this series was accomplished. If only it could have been taken further. For example in Fushigi Yuugi, one reason I loved that show was because there were many times when the line between hero and villain could not be drawn. I felt drawn to every character. In this series, only a handful of villains had an effect on me other than utter disgust. Anji and Shishio Makoto made me stop and think. They had a deep effect on me. Soujiro was one that brought out utter disgust. I did not feel sorry for him.
Yes, I completely agree that Soujirou’s story was undoubtedly sad, and he was not rescued in the same way the Kenshin was. However, I think you have overlooked the fact that in the very end, things do not work out so bad for Soujirou after all. After the death of Makoto Shishio, Soujirou has no-one to turn to… or does he? In the end, we see Soujirou setting out on a journey away from his past and away from Kyoto, and he announces that he has taken to wandering. It seems that, no matter how badly Soujirou felt that he could not be saved, it was never too late for him after all.
When Kenshin defeated Soujirou, he was able to uncover the emotions he had been repressing. Soujirou had all along been denying Kenshin’s beliefs of not killing and protecting the innocent, because Shishio had taught him differently. Soujirou defended his own beliefs by calling Kenshin a liar, arguing that Kenshin could not possibly be helping because he wasn’t there to save him. When Kenshin broke through to Soujirou’s emotions, Soujirou actually began to question his beliefs. Only this allowed him to see that he had been following the wrong path, and was thus able to choose the right one. Yes, Soujirou’s past was extremely sad, but we cannot forget the happy ending that he gains and so rightfully deserves. Soujirou’s face as he sets off into the mountains is one of hope, of true happiness rather than the false one he has been hiding behind. He chooses to follow in Kenshin’s footsteps and become a Rurouni – a wanderer. It seems that ultimately, Kenshin was able to save Soujirou after all.
Again, I have to disagree. I believe Anji and Soujiro are very close to each other, and Kenshin comes in third. I believe Anji has one of the most tragic pasts because he had to see all those he loved die just because he wasn’t strong enough to save them. On the other hand, Soujiro had grown up in a household where he was regarded as lower than a slave. After he ran into Shishio, he had to kill his whole family, and all the emotions inside of him were bottled up for the next ten years. When they were finally let out, they caused him to have to essentially “learn” emotions.
Hmm…. now that I think about it, it seems that Anji’s story was the most cruel. He had full knowledge of what was happening his whole life, and his emotions still had to be let out in a painful way. Oh yeah, Kenshin comes in third because he was orphaned early, but he still had a caring family, and then when he was sold into slavery, he watched everybody, including the women who cared for him, killed in cold blood. But then he got Hiko as his guardian, and he at least had a childhood. During the revolution, even though he killed his wife on accident, he was still loved. Also, by the end of the manga, the torment and pain of his past were resolved. Anji, however, was never truly able to resolve his past.
I think everyone here has a good opinion. But I agree that each character is so unique that its difficult to compare.
I think that Sojiro had a sad past, but though it’s hard to see, I think Yumi cared about him at least enough to agree with is decision to leave Shishio. At least.
I think Anji had a sad story, but I believe he should have acted better; he was almost a grown man after all. His decision to “get revenge” was not thought out and irresponsible; he should have known that more killing and more pain would not help anything.
Kenshin’s story was a heartbreaking one to me- (teehee, I think I cried over it once.) He killed his first love, and many other people. And though he knew it was wrong, what would have been a better thing to do; sit around and GET killed? At least he fought for what he believed in. And I am NOT excusing his actions. I know killing is wrong. But there has to be wars and stuff, or else the human race would overpopulate out of control!
Thanks for this conversation; it really made me think!
I believe that Kenshin’s is the saddest. Don’t get me wrong, though. I think Soujiro’s story is sad too, but Kenshin has to feel the weight of all the people he’s killed. Also that people from his past come and try to kill him (Jin’e, Enishi, etc.) He also killed people who were close to him. He’s also constantly worrying about his loved ones and how he’s going to protect them.
I so totally agree that Soujiro has the saddest story in RK. Then his story is followed by Kenshin. Kenshin had a really sad life, yet he did all his killings in the name of a new era. Soujiro had it tough from a child, and was abused way too much. And then his little mind was turned even more twisted when Shishio appeared.
I think Kenshin’s story was the saddest. Well you see, from the very beginning of his life it was all tragic. His parents died at his young age and so did his foster parents… don’t you think? And after that, when he became a rurouni for his atonement, all the characters related on the Edo era that has a relation or a connection with him was trying to kill him because they are after his title of being the “Battousai” and the worst is that he was accused by Enishi that he was the one who killed his sister Tomoe, which is half true and half false I guess. Half true because it is true that he killed Tomoe with his own hands, and half false because he was not in his totality or should I say, Kenshin was not in himself on that moment because of the reason that Tomoe betrayed him.
Well so much for that… at the end of the OVA, the most and very tragic part was when Kenshin died because of his disease. With his last strength he was able to get back home with Kaoru. Well u see…k! Kenshin was not very showy about his feelings about Kaoru right? Well I guess that’s it… well this is just a comment anyways, I hope I’ve done my side… Rurouni Kenshin ROCKS!