ABOUT LIGHT, KIRA AND SOICHIRO YAGAMI
You know, I’ve always liked how Madhouse include the moon symbolism to underline the dichotomy between Kira and Light.
I don’t think there’s a neat frontier between Light and Kira, since one created the other. Not to mention one could even go further and distinguish between beginning!Kira, postL!Kira and, of course, cornered!Kira.
Kira is, I believe, the armor Light committed himself to wear when he decided his justification for killing people would be carrying out Justice. Kira is strong, sharp faced, smooth and ruthless. There is a part of Light (even Yotsuba Light) that believes “working for the greater good” require to be firm to the point of cruelty. It is shown when he entertains the possibility he might be Kira but also by the fact he doesn’t criticize on L’s very…. unorthodox methods. Light’s and Kira’s alignment is lawful, of course.
But Kira’s and Light’s relationship is wicked from the start. Light needs Kira.Light’s reasoning when he has forgotten everything about the DN is often close to Kira (whom he invented so that’s logic you might say BUT it creeps Light out).
Kira doesn’t believe he needs Light. This is very much underlined when Light!Kira tells Rem she can kill memoryloss!Light if Misa isn’t released within a few years by L (x). Kira!Light doesn’t hesitate to potentially sacrifice his other self if need be (perhaps he thought he would be smart enough to make a last minute plan to save himself from Rem, if L had never released Misa. But how, if he’s deprived of his memories ?). Kira is stronger than Light. Light works well in team, doesn’t always speak his mind (during the Aizawagate with L he remains silent even though L is indubitably wrong (x)). Kira is in charge, he’s probably everything Light wanted and strived to be even when he was that rather isolated teen depressed about the world.
I digress. Why do I like these screenshots ? Because you don’t only see a light in Light’s eyes when he forfeits his ownership. It doesn’t only represent the fact Light -when he doesn’t remember being a killer- had the potential to be a good person. It shows a moon, which make us think about the meaning behind Light’s name. When Kira is too strong, Light disappear. It’s a strange paradox, being killed by our own creation, especially a creation that was supposed to be a protection.
But who is Light Yagami ?
Light had the potential to become the man his father was. But he chose to become Kira. never forget, HE chose, like Raskolnikov did. Light wasn’t chosen by fate or anything. Did he really want to become like his father, deep inside ? I believe he was quite conflicted on that matter, as it is underlined by Light!Kira coldness (x) or even rudeness (x) towards Soichiro.
I could write a book about Light and his father, but I’ll be as short as I can. Light loved Soichiro as a father, he cared for him. When he begins to act as Kira, he sweats (x) when he thinks Kira (notice how Light still distance himself from Kira here. Later he’ll take the habit to say “Light” because his inner self has become more Kira than Light. The mask has become the person. The person has become the mask) might have to kill his family. I won’t discuss the fact Light loved his family, it’s established.
However, Soichiro remained a distant figure in Light’s life. And I believe Soichiro’s rigid moral compass and his very complex and conflicted relationship to his father (x) explain a LOT of things about Light/Kira. Let me explain.
Light probably didn’t know or see his father - who is always seen WORKING- much. But he was aware that he was respected and deemed a “good man” by society and his colleagues (x). After all, everyone, even L, seem to praise Soichiro ? Put yourself in Light’s shoes. If you’re the son of such a great man but you don’t totally adhere to his methods…. what does that make you ? Certainly not the prodigal perfect son who intend to follow in his father’s footsteps Light aims to be (why does he desperately need to fit society standards ? maybe death note is also a political and societal critique of Japan. I can’t explore that theory here sorry) !
Light never has the courage to disagree frontally with his father. But :
- Notice Light’s provocative behavior. Just after the family dinner during which Soichiro explains he’s looking for Kira…. Light goes to his room and kills not less than 23 persons (x).
- Notice how he uses the DN under the pretense of carrying out Justice while Soichiro disagrees totally with Kira’s “ideology” (which is partly an excuse because he finds personal relief in killing and partly true. I will write a meta on Light and death penalty later).
- Notice how he sides with L rather than his own father here (x) (Light dares say his mind because it was L’s idea. He’s not facing his father alone. He hesitates then takes L’s side because he agrees with him)
- Notice the resentment when he talks about his father in front of ever loyal Matsuda in the end. And that’s maybe a key moment. Because it shows that Light resented his father for what he believed to be naiveté (which is funny when you consider Light’s ideology). Light - because under Kira’s madness one can see LIGHT speaking. He finally breaks the mask and tells the world that he believes what Soichiro was doing might be fair but useless.
Maybe, maybe the fact his father was not really present (when Sayu is upset because Soichiro isn’t there, Light says “….” and turn his back = 1) it’s his fault Soichiro isn’t there, since he’s the ghost his father is chasing relentlessly 2) Sayu expresses her disapproval of Kira who “ruin” their family life 3) Maybe Light is so used to his father’s absence he’d like to say something but fear to break the mask) and often working, applying methods that Light didn’t find effective, losing the time he could spend with his family chasing crime in the rotten world has fueled Light’s resentment. But that’s a maybe here.
–> And here you see why Light was so provocative when he killed 23 persons after Soichiro’s speech in front of his family at the dinner. Because he wanted to make a point. “You might be right, father, but I am the one carrying out Justice. I’ve rendered you powerless”. Ah, Light’s arrogance vs Light’s inner doubts. Arrogance is often a facade to deal with one’s inner doubts and conflicts (arrogance =/= self confidence in the sense many self confident persons don’t have a competitive spirit because they’ve got nothing to prove while arrogance may drive a person to take risks and attack and be competitive in order to assert themselves. Soichiro is self confident. Light is arrogant.).
Yes, there is a strong power game between Light and Soichiro and Soichiro isn’t even aware of this. Light!Kira purposely use Soichiro’s gift (a mark of love and respect…) to carry out his sinister plan of ruling the world.
–> But Light also desperately want to make his father proud because he DOES admire him too (x). He’s DESPERATE when he realizes his own father might trust L’s over him (x). Also, when Light says in the end he know that “what I did what wrong” it’s obvious he referring to what his father would have thought. He doesn’t explain himself to the Japanese team.
No. Light is talking to his father in this scene. his father who would have never, ever approved of his actions.
Light is conflicted because he’s torn between what he should be -his father’s son, a nice boy with a strong moral compass- (and what he probably WAS….partly) and what HE feels is right and what makes him feel strong, powerful and a better Justice knight than his father.
Light is both the man who craves for his father’s love and approval but also the man who want to prove him wrong and surpass him, resorting to means Soichiro would never use.
Does he feel worthy of his approval ?
TL;DR : Everything is linked to Soichiro when it comes to the dichotomy between Light and Kira. Kira stems from Light’s struggle between applying and believing in what his father taught him VS what Light believes to be useful and Fair (because what serves Justice is fair in Light’s books).
Who is Light Yagami ?
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