So basically I think part of the point of chapter 16 is to show Guts coming to see Griffith more clearly and realistically than most other people see him, probably partly because he’s so cynical, and partly because Griffith wants Guts to see the real him as clearly as possible. He decides to stay because he’s made friends and he feels he has a place in the Band. Griffith then stands up and gives Guts his impressive “I will get my own kingdom” speech, and while Guts is definitely a little dazzled, at the end of the day his reaction is: lol come the fuck on dude.įinally the chapter ends with Guts reminiscing on his life, wondering where he’s going, and making the active choice to stay with the Hawks - not because he’s impressed by Griffith’s dream or because he believes in Griffith and wants to follow him to great things, like Judeau describes. Guts’ assessment that he’s just some guy is essentially accurate. It’s a lighthearted flipside to Casca’s glimpse in the Gennon flashback. This is the first time Guts has ever gotten to act like a kid, probably, and now it’s how he’s starting to see Griffith.Īnd I’ve mentioned this before but imo that’s the reason Griffith is naked here - because Guts is seeing the real him, he’s getting to know the real Griffith.
It’s a really cute illustration of how they humanize each other through their relationship imo. Guts starts off by protesting because they aren’t kids, then he gets into it, wins the fight by dumping a bucket on Griffith’s head, they laugh together, and now, after spending the morning wondering what kind of guy Griffith is, Guts thinks he’s probably just a regular kid after all. Something interesting I noticed this time: Then Guts goes and has a naked waterfight with him.
He starts out asking Judeau, and Judeau gives him his whole monologue about how Griffith is essentially unknowable and it doesn’t matter who he really is. So I just re-read chapter 16 to answer an ask and it struck me how the theme of the chapter was Guts wondering what kind of person Griffith is.