Summary
- Griffith's transformation into Femto solidified his godlike status, as he mistreated mortals and reigned over the demonic race.
- Griffith's actions and use of biblical language throughout Berserk reinforce his divine air and messiah-like status.
- While Griffith may be seen as a savior to demons, his willingness to torture his friends and obtain power raises concerns about his true intentions for humanity.
Griffith has been commonly referred to as a godlike savior in Berserk, and recent chapters only further the villain's god-complex. While Griffith always held himself in high-regard, his eventual transformation into Femto cemented his status as a godlike figure, both as a wrathful deity who exercised his power to mistreat mortals as he wished, and as a leader who reigned over the demonic race as the fifth member of the God Hand.
Griffith changed dramatically in Berserk, espousing the morals that a savior of humanity would. His endeavors eventually compelled mankind to refer to him as the Hawk of Light.
He even reached the status as both a savior of humanity and demonkind when he later proclaimed his intentions of creating a world where man and demons could live together in harmony and peace. Furthering Griffith's divine air is the conspicuous employment of Biblical language throughout Berserk, like the Apostles and sacrifice.
The Last Person Anyone Would Suspect - Berserk's Guts Just Suffered a Crushing Betrayal
In Berserk chapter #375, Guts' recent reunion with an old friend from his days in the Band of the Hawk takes a dark turn when he's seemingly betrayed.
Berserk's Religious Themes Are Much More Obvious in the Manga
Although some parallels to Christianity can be made in these cases, none of them have ever been that concrete untill chapter 68 of the Berserk manga. In the chapter, the mortally injured Apostle Wyald realizes that if he dies, he would be inside that vortex forever and pleads to a still-human Griffith to use the Egg of the King to summon the God Hand, which is implied will save him from such a fate.
As readers know, Griffith using the Egg of the King to summon the God Hand set the stage for the Eclipse. Another way to interpret Wyald's words is Wyald pleading with Griffith to make the sacrifice so he won't be forced to exist inside this vortex. Although not much is known about the vortex, the thought of being stuck inside it is horrific to Wyald as he desperately seeks for an alternative. It's not unreasonable to conclude the vortex is a kind of Hell for demons in Berserk.
This dynamic shares a shocking similarity to how many sects of Christianity perceive Jesus' crucifixion as him dying for humanity's sins. Without his sacrifice, no one would have been able to attain eternal life in heaven. Similarly, Apostles in Berserk are no longer damned to the vortex because Griffith sacrificed his humanity. Regardless of Griffith's intentions for humanity, Wyald's one comment implies that post-eclipse Griffith is a messiah for demon-kind.
Is Griffith Humanity's Savior or Their Doom in Berserk?
Given the series' constant allusions to Griffith's status as divine, it's only natural for fans to wonder whether Griffith's quest is ultimately noble. Even if Griffith's goal of creating a paradise for man and demon alike were genuine, the horrors done to achieve that goal set a terrifying precedent. If the Hawk of Light is willing to subject his closest friends to torture in order to obtain power, he may be willing to do worse to maintain it. Griffith might well have earned the status of messiah to demons, but humanity has more than enough reason to be wary.
Griffith's Goal is to Bring Heaven to Earth in Berserk
In a great twist of irony, Griffith's actions after retaking his human form are chillingly aligned with what some Christians interpret as Jesus' endgame, which is bringing heaven on Earth, as opposed to the rapture. The fact that Griffith has followers called Apostles in Berserk only strengthens this very controversial parallel.
Berserk is available in English from Dark Horse Comics.
