Hunt for hidden meaning

Pierrot Le Fou · Post by **Pierrot Le Fou** » Fri Jun 20, 2003 1:35 pm

I was recently discussing Hellsing over @ MPHQ when we stumbled accross
a strange link between Alucard, Vash, and Dante [DMC]. Not only are
they all ambidexterous gunmen, but they also carry one chrome and
one matte gun [i've never seen trigun so i'm guessing on that one]. Is
there a japanese myth or folktale that these characters embody?

Brsrk · Post by **Brsrk** » Fri Jun 20, 2003 2:01 pm

I never did notice that O_O

x23905670298376897602938658923640982494576^24358620976423957608923465

Mr Pilkington · Post by **Mr Pilkington** » Fri Jun 20, 2003 3:10 pm

Well, Vash didn't carry the other one but for seconds. For the most part it was in the possession of Knives, though that is a good thought.

Arctyc · Post by **Arctyc** » Fri Jun 20, 2003 3:45 pm

Well, for the most part, the second gun that Vash was in possession of for the entirety of the series was matte, albeit quite unstandard equipment.

BishounenStalker · Post by **BishounenStalker** » Fri Jun 20, 2003 9:26 pm

I doubt there'd be any folktales specifically regarding guns since it's illegal for citizens to own firearms in Japan. But my best guess on the issue is that it's a duality symbol.

Chrome and matte represent opposing forces, and thus represent the opposing forces within each character. In Trigun's case, it could represent Vash and Knives as opposing forces. And it's even more interesting since Knives had the chrome gun (chrome, being shiny, would be more inclined to represent "good" forces).

In Hellsing, chrome and matte can credit that Alucard isn't a good person, but he fights evil. The fighting evil part is represented by the chrome, while his own darkside is represented by the matte.

In DMC it's sort of the same issue. Although Dante isn't quite as questionable as Alucard. Yet Dante still has his own dark side even though he's supposedly the good guy. Hence the chrome and matte. Chrome represents what he does, matte symbolizes what he is.

There may not be a gun legend, but there is the Japanese legend of the swords Masamune and Murasame. Masamune was supposedly the holy sword, that when dipped in a river leaves would cling to it unharmed. Masamune was supposed to be the cursed sword, that when dipped in a river, leaves would be drawn to it and cruelly sliced.

It IS an interesting thought, though.

B3 · Post by B3 » Fri Jun 20, 2003 10:47 pm

Heheh... I can see someone beat me to posting the similarity thing between these three characters. Besides the whole matte and chrome guns, all three where red trench coats and two of them where yellow circle glasses. They all also have the immortality thing going on and whatnot... in fact, these characters seem alittle to common for comfort if you ask me... 8)

pyro_256 · Post by **pyro_256** » Fri Jun 20, 2003 11:11 pm

BishounenStalker wrote:And it's even more interesting since Knives had the chrome gun (chrome, being shiny, would be more inclined to represent "good" forces).

didn't vash have the shiny gun? and knives the black one?

Roke · Post by **Roke** » Fri Jun 20, 2003 11:29 pm

FOR FUCK'S SAKE, STOP LOOKING FOR HIDDEN MEANING IN THIS STUFF.

BishounenStalker · Post by **BishounenStalker** » Sat Jun 21, 2003 12:15 am

pyro_256 wrote:
BishounenStalker wrote:And it's even more interesting since Knives had the chrome gun (chrome, being shiny, would be more inclined to represent "good" forces).
didn't vash have the shiny gun? and knives the black one?

I dunno. It's been a while since I've seen Trigun. Either way, it works.

kthulhu · Post by **kthulhu** » Sat Jun 21, 2003 12:19 am

Roke wrote:FOR FUCK'S SAKE, STOP LOOKING FOR HIDDEN MEANING IN THIS STUFF.

Perhaps there is none. But one can certainly look for the hidden inspiration.