2019-01-25, 19:21 | Link #1 | ||||
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Join Date: Apr 2006
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Tate no Yuusha/Shield Hero - Character Discussion - Raphtalia
The purpose of this thread is to provide a place to discuss all things Raphtalia related.
To keep the discussion enjoyable for all Shield Hero fans, please follow the guidelines below and stay on-topic! Note: Please don't use this for the specifics (i.e. episode, chapter, game, etc. discussion) there are other threads for that stuff.Thread Guidelines
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2019-01-30, 10:25 | Link #2 |
Born to ship
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Texas
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Reading the novels currently, and from all versions I love Raphtalia. Some time ago I stumbled on a song called "Warrior" by a woman named Beth Crowley, and honestly it feels like a perfect fit for Raphtalia. Looking in apprehensive fascination at a "broken angel" and struggling with her relationship with him, struggling to deal with her memory as well as her identity, learning to fight while helping him win, and slowly realizing that beneath the surface is the heart of a true warrior.
I just hope this thread doesn't get filled with pages of arguments about slavery and brainwashing. Yes, it's an alternative interpretation, but it's clear that this is not what was presented and it feels like going on about it would be less about the actual character and more a complaint about supposed "messages" being sent by the story as a whole. As for the character herself, yes she's a slave but at the same time she seems to feel free in a sense. The slavery has only been used to stop her from running and hiding, to force her to stand up and face her trauma and the fears born from it. And through it she's developed a true bond with Naofumi, an understanding of just how broken he is and how much he needs someone like her, someone he can feel certain won't betray or doubt him under any circumstances. |
2019-02-02, 11:21 | Link #3 | |
Waiting for more taiyuki!
Join Date: Jan 2004
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He's using the slave status as a guarantee for no betrayals and light force to do what he wants. So she has basically traded her complete freedom for modified freedom plus room, food , clothes, etc. Kind of like what happens when you're a kid.
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2019-02-02, 15:23 | Link #4 | |
Born to ship
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Texas
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2019-02-02, 16:45 | Link #5 | |
Ass connoisseur
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Florida
Age: 37
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But enough of that, kind of going OT already. I've only glimpsed over parts of the WN, and read the manga up to where episode 4 of the anime leaves off. So far, I have to say that Raphtalia is an amazing character that has a lot of things going for her. Cute, charismatic, loyal, tragic(not a trait but I do love tragic characters), intelligent, strong...with a dash of sass...and more. She's extremely loyal/devoted to Naofumi but at the same time she isn't a pushover. She knows when Naofumi's sadistic tendencies are getting out of hand and she tries to steer him into taking a more rational approach. She is his sense of reason(and moral compass?), and she works wonderfully as such. tl;dr Raphtalia is a great gal
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Last edited by Demi.; 2019-02-02 at 19:43. |
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2019-02-02, 23:25 | Link #6 | |
Waiting for more taiyuki!
Join Date: Jan 2004
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She seems to de-emphasize on her slave status as he treats her well which goes well with Stockholm Syndrome. She also doesn't seem to object him purchasing another slave in the preview. Or... you could say she is showing unconditional love towards Naofumi. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unconditional_love
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Last edited by orion; 2019-02-02 at 23:38. |
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2019-02-03, 00:29 | Link #7 | |
Ass connoisseur
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Florida
Age: 37
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She may have unconditional love for Naofumi but he had to earn it first. Her attachment came naturally after repeated exposure to his good deeds and how he treats her closer to a companion(her safety takes priority over his own) than a slave. Not to mention her parents(flashback) considered the shield hero to be the true hero of the demi-human race. Episode 4 was a testament to her unconditional love because she is no longer a child in need of a caretaker. Despite that, she chooses to defend, comfort, and assure Naofumi that she will not leave his side. Raphtalia doesn't think of herself as his captor, but rather that he is her savior. He did save her from the worst possible conditions; nurse her back to health; mitigate her panic attacks; comforts rather than berates her when she wets the bed; buys things she wants without being asked; prioritizes her safety in battle...He even gave her a goal to strive towards. Compound all of that and you have a very loyal Raphtalia to a very misunderstood Naofumi. I just hope as the series progresses this will become less and less of a talking point. Raphtalia has so much more to her character than this.
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Last edited by Demi.; 2019-02-03 at 02:41. |
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2019-02-03, 08:46 | Link #8 | |
dn ʎɐʍ sıɥʇ
Graphic Designer
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Northern Ireland
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At this point I imagine he'd probably release her from the seal if she asked him to.
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2019-02-03, 12:36 | Link #9 |
Haven't You Heard?
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: South-east Asia
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Naofumi is willing to take Raphtalia because he is on desperate need of party member who not betray him.
He don't give a damn about demi-human discrimination until he saw treatment to other demi-human children after purchasing dagger and armor for her, which he followed by going to bar to gave her food. What she said to Motoyasu is to tell Naofumi did nothing wrong to her as, under said contract, in reality he is telling her how to live enough now she can stand firm, as his sword, and she's proud of it. If what Naofumi looking for is never a someone able to be trusted, he won't resorted to slave, let alone frustration when Raphtalia seal is erased.
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2019-02-03, 20:03 | Link #10 |
Kamen Rider Muppeteer
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Unknown
Age: 40
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What is a slave really? Isn't it someone who is forced to do involuntary labor for no pay?
That's not really what's happening with Raphtalia is it? Does the seal really make you a slave? Or do people just think she's a slave because that's what people call her? |
2019-02-03, 20:54 | Link #11 |
Ass connoisseur
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Florida
Age: 37
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The seal can be abused to make her do things she doesn't want to do. But the relationship she has with Naofumi isn't that of a typical slave. Aside from one exception, Naofumi gives her freedom. He lets her rest when she is tired, he feeds her when she's hungry, he protects her to the best of his abilities...so on and so forth. I think the issue some people have is that she is technically Naofumis 'property' but that's arguably what a child is to their parents. She can't live a completely normal life because Naofumi needed a fighter, but he treats her well enough to where she thinks of him as a father in lieu of her deceased parents. The thought of losing him made her overcome her fears and kill the dog monster that not even the slave seal was able to force her to do. Since once Naofumi realized she was too scared, he gave her a chance to run away while he bought time in order for her to escape.
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2019-02-04, 13:59 | Link #13 |
Haven't You Heard?
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: South-east Asia
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There's no law of universe dictate 'master' have to be terrible person should he resorted to slavery.
So do the 'slaves'. Being slaves is not equal to be forbidden from anything worthy to be considered human being as slave by application is simply "he/she is someone's property". Its up to their masters how they ended up became. In histories, there are masters who treat their slave kind enough; gave them room, food, opportunity to work with proper income, sometimes release them from said contract when they considered said slave(s) already served more than enough. Its not impossible for slave to be moved by their master treatment they swore loyalty to always work under said master like Raphtalia did. Its simply that modern communities have words like housekeeper, babysitter, workers, labor, employee, etc. that slave effectively goes to negative connotation, otherwise, those employees won't wrote "stop this enslavement" when doing strike toward company that do unfair treatment. LOL.
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