#Dungeon meshi really good at portraying situations that are coercive and take away ppls choices

[alphaketoglutaricacid]

As much as i think toshiros complicity is based in his cowardice I do kinda get why he didnt talk to tade about what he thought abt how she views her retainership. Like even if he had that conversation like what could she do other than nod and smile—the power differential between them is huge. I feel something that plays into his conflict aversion is that if he did get upset or hit someone its not like they could hit back without serious consequences. But also he’s been raised in an environment where his comfort has always been prioritized above other ppls wellbeing and he def chooses the easier route A Lot. Like the fact that instead of genuinely engaging w whats going on w izutsumi and tade he ignored all his retainers, let maizuru handle it, and went on some two year spring break dungeon crawling whatever like words cannot describe what an abdication of responsibility this was. That instead of working w his party he went off on his own w his retainers bc he just didnt want them to know he was a noble that much (granted he also didnt think laios was cut out to lead which tough but fair) like cmon man…. But i do think his fight w laios was good for him even tho it was a shitty bitch fight when they rlly shouldve been helping their party revive ppl bc he could have a conflict on equal footing w someone. His whole life hes viewed himself as someone w no power (and the ways this is false esp on the island) but i think in the dungeon he realized he genuinely has a responsibility to his retainers n his actions led to them following him into something really dangerous when they had no dog in this. But also it seems as an attempt to reciprocate, he does seem to have become very observant of other people beyond what is normal bc he doesnt speak much. Culture plays into his clash w laios but i think the fact he’s grown up being so closely observed and in turn closely observes others plays into it too. But its fun how hes always toeing the line between being a spoiled brat, being too passive bc of his own lack of agency, n also that hes genuinely intelligent and has thought a really long time about power.

I think it also gets at why marcilles plan to equalize the races by making their lifespans the same was doomed to fail and also highlights how she can only view other ppls oppression thru her own suffering—that theres always going to be differentials in power that are difficult, but you have to interact meaningfully w them rather than running from them. A simple world w easy solutions like that would be bloodless and false, no?

#dungeon meshi spoilers #Toshiro nakamoto man that you are… #fascinating fascinating character in such an interesting social position where there is no easy answer out #Unenviable situation tbh i would probs run away from it too that shits horrifying and thorny #Dungeon meshi really good at portraying situations that are coercive and take away ppls choices #like sure as a retainer u get food safety get paid and u have some freedoms but it doesnt make tade or izutsumis situations not coercive #Like the fact they wouldve been treated worse makes it worse the fact other ppl think they should be grateful instead of engaging #in the reality of their situation means makes it worse #there seems to be some kind of mutual agreement in benichis situations bc human servants dont seem to be able to have their service be #purchased without their consent in feudal japan but i doubt tade had a say in this and izutsumi def did not and was bought on a lark #but at some point its like well… whatever social construct their reffing is clearly outside my frame of reference #But well known culturally in japan so throws up hands…. some things i just wont understand