Date:         Wed, 20 Nov 1996 19:26:53 -0500
Reply-To:     Hayao Miyazaki Discussion Group <NAUSICAA@BROWNVM.BROWN.EDU>
Sender:       Hayao Miyazaki Discussion Group <NAUSICAA@BROWNVM.BROWN.EDU>
From:         tina <beerst@RIVER.IT.GVSU.EDU>
Subject:      Re: NAUSICAA, (another idea...)
In-Reply-To:  <9611162216.AA08002@enterprise.udayton.edu>
 
        Hello all, I'm new to this group and I just have to say that all
the discussion on Nausica has been really fascinating. I hope you enjoy
the oar I have to put in.
 
On Sat, 16 Nov 1996, David L. Bowman wrote:
>      In "Dune" Paul Atreides is believed to be the Kwisatz Haderach,
> a term which literally means the Shortening of the Way.  In a sense
> that is what Nausicaa is, she is the shortening of the way between
> the age of the Fukai, and the next age of humanity.  (And as in Dune,
        I must admit that I'm a little ignorant when it comes to the story
of Nausica (having only read a little of the manga and seeing the poor
version of the movie) so bear with me.
        In Dune Paul wasn't the only one who encountered what you might
say is "the way".  There were others but for some reason, I can't recall
what, they couldn't I guess adhere to "the way" and so died.  Maybe in
Nausica's world there were others who had also seen "the way" but couldn't
cope with it.  Maybe one of them was this Prince that in the other
discussions was being compared to Nausica.  He was, as I recall, a leader
who cared a lot for his people and tried so hard on their behalf.  Later
on, after years of doing his best he burnt out and, I think, no longer
cared.
        In keeping with the idea of Nausica being a cautionary tale, "the
way" could be the realization of the truth of Man's hand in the
destruction of his own world.  How his actions in the past and present
contribute to the chaos around him.  In addition to that, it could be a
vision or idea that is reached on how the situation could be possibly
changed.  A vision/idea that requires many to change their mindsets on
what is the proper way of living.
        Because such a realization is often hard to take it would explain
why Paul and Nausica are one of few who could accept it.  The fact that
others who had glimpsed "the way" and couldn't accept what it presented
died shows this, in Dune's case.  In Nausica those who couldn't accept
didn't die physically as in Dune, but in a sense died
spiritually/emotionally in that they became apathetic.  The "death" of
those who glimpsed but couldn't deal is symbolic of the fact that humanity
isn't very embracing of change, especially change that is aimed at the
very way one lives their lives.  A change, in this case, that must be
taken for the betterment of all living life.
        In Dune and in Nausica it this aspect of humanity that is being
attacked and questioned.  In both, this theme is shown through a person's
frustrating search for the truth/change and an external threat which
is the symbolic representation of what could be humanity's hesisitation to
confront its own role in things. In Dune there seems to be a kind of
resolution to things where in Nausica I don't think there really is one. I
would like to get further into that, but I'll save that for later.
        Sorry this is so long, but I hope you enjoy it. I probably still
need to neaten up some aspects of this, so please comment. Thanks.
 
 
                                                        Tina Beers
 
        "To act is easy; to think is hard."-Goethe