A Study of Identity as Depicted in N.G.E.

The Beast that Screamed "I" at the Heart of the World

One of the most interesting themes contained in the rather dense story of Neon Genesis Evangelion is that of separation and identity. Every being has a morphogenic "A.T. Field," which is defined as the sacred boundary of a person's soul and the world surrounding.

The point at which this begins to be explored, beyond incidental battles and character development, is when Kaworu overpowers the soul residing in Eva Unit 02 and dominates it to his purpose, to help create Third Impact and end the existence of Man forever. When he finds that the A.T. Field projected by Rei has been sufficient to mask the identity of the angel who is imprisoned under Terminal Dogma, and the strength of the soul and consciousness of Rei and Shinji, respectively, and especially the protection conferred by Shinji's mother's soul, he decides to leave the fate of Man and angels in Shinji's hands.

The idea that I want to explore might well be called "choice of identity." There are at least a few compelling reasons to desire the dissolution of individual ideation (note: I do not endorse this, I am speaking from the viewpoint of Gendo Ikari, who has knowingly committed the unpardonable sin on many occasions, and is totally unrepentant. If you are imagining life as Gendo Ikari, you will see that justice will not turn out well for him, and that he'd better find some way to avoid it if at all possible.

A second explanatory note is necessary to describe the dualistic nature of the God / Man relationship seen in this production. The god of N.G. Evangelion is not omnipotent, or if he is, he no longer cares about the fate of the world, and plans only to act in the capacity of judge, once he brings the world to an end.

His lack of involvement is brought into focus by NERV's emblem, a fig leaf peeling away from the word NERV, surrounded by the phrase "God's in his heaven, all's well with the world." The leaf shows, depending on personal interpretation, either a lessening sense of shame before an unconcerned deity, or a revelation of the truth long concealed by arbitrary and unjust restriction. Both only work at all in the sort of theology described in the paragraph above.

Back to the debate: to desire identity or not?

The reasons in favor of personal identity:

1.It's pretty much our default. We've been doing this for a long time, and it works pretty well.

2.There are pleasures related to specific being-ness.

Statements against identity:

1.Fear of condemnation and hatred.

2.Uncertainty regarding the course of your life.

3.Desire to know all others perfectly.

and, in Gendo Ikari's case

4. A chance to defeat the messengers of God, prevent the final judgment, and spend all eternity in the presence of his loving wife (probably heaven-bound otherwise) and avoid hell (his erstwhile destination.)

Final note! This is not a theological discourse! I am presenting a work of fiction for discussion between me and Asher, hopefully, and maybe one or two other enterprising readers with the patience to read this far.

Part Two will address Shinji's decision to allow instrumentality (the merging of all souls) or prevent it (scream "I" at the heart of the world.)