One of things I love about Dazai's past is how it forces you to rethink the idea that "X character is irredeemable", because whilst all characters in BSD are morally grey, Dazai is one of the best examples of it.
Everything every "evil" or "bad" character has done in BSD Dazai has probably also done, and if he hasn't, he's fully capable of doing it, if he wanted to. We especially see that in the Beast timeline, but main timeline Dazai isn't above underhanded tactics, manipulation and criminal activities if it serves him and the people he cares about.
Yet, he's one of the "good guys", we root for him because he's in the Agency and fighting for the light.
You can't say Mori or Fyodor, or Ace, or Fukuchi, or Gide, or Verlaine, or Rimbaud, or any other antagonist is irredeemable without also labeling Dazai as irredeemable.
The Dazai we see in the current manga is still the same person who committed all those awful acts in the past. The only reason he's helping people now because it was a dying friend's request and then he realized he likes doing it.
His "redemption" is a completely selfish one and BSD says that's okay. He does it for himself and he didn't actually pay any penance for the crimes he committed.
To accept that Dazai gets to do this, means accepting that every antagonist, every "evil" character has the right to that opportunity too. Like how Mori gets that opportunity in the Beast timeline. The only thing stopping a character's redemption is their own choices.
SB!Chuuya vs mafia grunts: spot the differences
Choker (for style)
Gloves (we don't have time to unpack all that)
Rolled up sleeves (for size style)
Open collar (delinquent)
No tie (delinquent)
Unworn sunglasses (in pocket)
It has all the elements of a standard mafia grunt uniform. In the novel, he picks up a shirt, all of which are high-end and well-maintained, "at random" just to get it done. This matches his empty apartment in serving the theme of the story, which is "who is Nakahara Chuuya?"
and YET, we can see his personality come through that basic nobody uniform in the way he chooses to style his bland clothes, the accessories he puts on, and the glasses, which are a mean to anonymise the mafia members, that he does not put on, yet carries with him. He will not be absorbed as just one of the many, and despite his uncertainties, he's clearly himself from the very start.
CHARACTER DESIGN!!!!
(note: the light novel description of his clothes and the character design do not completely agree. Asagiri wanted to have Chuuya wear emerald cuff links. Harukawa rolled up his sleeves. Make of that what you will.)
I'm not a hater but so much shit is stupid
And so the three-day party... ˚. ✦.˳·˖✶🎉Begins!!!🎉✶.˳·˖ ✦˚.
smth smth bsd’s recurring theme of your past not defining who you are but facing your past being necessary to move on anyway. the symbolism of atsushi’s abuser being the one to push him forward despite atsushi’s dislike for him—you cannot get rid of him. you cannot stop caring. you will cry when your father dies and you will hate him for it. you will never get rid of the ghost that haunts you but sometimes acknowledging it is the first step to healing. can anyone hear me
it was a little funny how quickly my friend figured out that these were warmups for drawing the au versions of them
Currently hyper boosting them on OPBR, celebratory art☆
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