Berserk Volume 16: Reality is Always Better Than Fantasy

Jill’s father starts the volume, using Farnese’s crew as a way to be a solider again. While supposed to be looking for his daughter, it’s clear he’s already forgotten the mission. I really appreciate the way Miura shows why a Rosine would chose human-eating elf’s over her life at home. It seems absurd when first stated, but those who feel under-appreciated and ignored will chose even the worst things in order to feel safe and significant and the father’s attitude is an exemplary example of why.

We see bloody murder practically everywhere, and this only helps increase Farnese’s determination to hunt down our struggler. While she is making her over the top pledges, we see Guts giving it his all to take down Rosine. I will spare you the horror if you hate bugs and say many transformations happen but Guts is finally able to take down Rosine, but it’s not easy. The fight goes on so long, we see Jill go on her journey as she breaks down, smiling creepily after seeing some of the most grotesque things to met the eye. One of the coolest panels in Berserk even occurs. I’ll let you see for yourself. It’s hard to find a panel that leaves you as speechless.

Towards the end of the fight, we see why Rosine is so dedicated to her fantasy. Her reality is miserable. Long ago, where parents finally found her, her father beat her senselessly while her mother un-helpfully tried to stop him. In other words, reality is so unforgiving, as Rosine saw it, that was all it can be. Evil. And if she can create a fantasy world, with it’s own evil, that provides solace regardless, she will do it.

Now that Rosine is on the ground defenseless, we see Jill sit beside her but this is put on rest as Guts arrives to finish the job. Jill tries to sit on top of her, sacrificing herself, and it seems Guts will go through her to put this to rest, but he is stopped by Jill’s father. But not out of love did he save his daughter, but rather out of authority and power. We see Guts trail off as he realizes he can’t defend himself in this state, and then we see Rosine attempt to flee as well, but to failure. She is too weak, and death is prepared for her, as she slips into memories, thinking of dinner at her childhood home as she falls. Rosine is a great character as she is a naive one. Whereas Griffith was old enough to see the error of his wars and follow through on it, Rosine is a naive product of her time.

Next, we see Jill run to Guts. She can’t take reality, moreover, she can’t what her world really is. If she was in Rosine’s shoes long ago, she would be no different. But as Guts makes clear, that isn’t what she wants. Guts is a call to the darkness, not away from. And in that way, he forces her to accept what she has been given by the world and make the best of it. She can’t run from her problems, as she’s running into more in plain sight. And as Guts says so poetically.

Accepting this, Jill takes what she is given, yet doesn’t let the world keep her down. She will struggle through it all, but never will she run away from her problems. Jill has become Guts and not Guts. Unlike Guts, she is not lost in the past, she is moving towards a better future. But like Guts, her past will still affect her.

The next chapter hones in on Griffith’s hold on Guts. He is a impossible figure, Guts is just reaching to surpass. Guts is now Griffith after the torture. He is broken and fragile to his surroundings. And this makes him very easy for Farnese to take down, which leads to a pretty funny moment as after taking all those soldiers down, Farnese barely using her sword took down Guts.

Farnese is one of my favorite characters to examine as she probably grows more than anyone in Berserk. Here, she is someone haunted by herself, and uses religion as a scapegoat to excuse herself and cope with herself. And her royal friend Serpico works as a foil. He is relaxed, yet hides his intention. If Farnese was ever in real danger, he would’ve planned a strategy to eliminate that. The moment Guts went at Farnese and she barley took him down, I bet Serpico already deduced Guts would collapse at her blade and yet he would play it as him being surprised. Even with Golden Age Griffith do I think Serpico could dominate.

Speaking of dominate, Farnese is sure she has Guts in that position. As she sees it, she is the victor and will treat the wicked like a dog. When her tactics of harm do nothing to Guts iron-clad will, she treats it as a problem of herself. Her own will. Guts represents a fundamental lie she can’t accept. Someone who can work out of her principles. And that ends the volume on a high note. While I appreciated the Lost Children arc, Conviction offers so much more,