Light Yagami
Light Yagami Character Analysis
Protagonist or Antagonist?
Light Yagami may one of the most dynamic "heroes" to grace the anime world, as Death Note turns the ubiquitous fight
between good and evil on its face with a complex scenario of conflicting values and ideals. His character gives us
a refreshing break from the existence of absolute moral truth. While light is clearly saving lives and creating
his own form of justice by cleaning up the underworld, it is only "his" justice and not a democratic one, making him
no more than the "Mass Murderer", which Near denotes him in the last episode. Howerver, it is feasible to argue that
Light's opponents are acting in the interest of killing innocent people by preventing Light from executing those
who might escape from the lenient legal system. Even though their position follows society's justice more diligently,
isn't it possible that Light's system of justice is morally superior to the one enforced socially? His system
enforces a "presumption of guilt" policy in society whose legal system prefers "presumption of innocence".
However, even if we do accept Light Yagami's actions as virtuous, his motives may not be completely sincere.
He did not express a clear desire to do improve society prior to finding the Death Note, indicating that his actions
may have been out of boredom, not moral choice. He later becomes infatuated with his own ability to change the world,
not the net effect his actions have on others, as made clear in the final epsiode when he claims he is the only
person who could have accomplished his legacy.
In the end, the view I find most consistent, is the one inwhich the story includes characters
who are wonderfully human, with their own internal struggle over their own compliance to inconsistent social morals,
and their quest for identity within this framework.
A Light Yagami Mosaic
Using death note images.
I am justice!
Light Yagami Character Analysis
Protagonist or Antagonist?Light Yagami may one of the most dynamic "heroes" to grace the anime world, as Death Note turns the ubiquitous fight between good and evil on its face with a complex scenario of conflicting values and ideals. His character gives us a refreshing break from the existence of absolute moral truth. While light is clearly saving lives and creating his own form of justice by cleaning up the underworld, it is only "his" justice and not a democratic one, making him no more than the "Mass Murderer", which Near denotes him in the last episode. Howerver, it is feasible to argue that Light's opponents are acting in the interest of killing innocent people by preventing Light from executing those who might escape from the lenient legal system. Even though their position follows society's justice more diligently, isn't it possible that Light's system of justice is morally superior to the one enforced socially? His system enforces a "presumption of guilt" policy in society whose legal system prefers "presumption of innocence".
However, even if we do accept Light Yagami's actions as virtuous, his motives may not be completely sincere. He did not express a clear desire to do improve society prior to finding the Death Note, indicating that his actions may have been out of boredom, not moral choice. He later becomes infatuated with his own ability to change the world, not the net effect his actions have on others, as made clear in the final epsiode when he claims he is the only person who could have accomplished his legacy.
In the end, the view I find most consistent, is the one inwhich the story includes characters who are wonderfully human, with their own internal struggle over their own compliance to inconsistent social morals, and their quest for identity within this framework.
A Light Yagami Mosaic
Using death note images.
