How Berserk (1997) Opened My Eyes to the Depths of Philosophy

At first, Berserk seemed like a dark fantasy tale of swords, demons, and survival. But as I journeyed through its grim world, it became clear that this wasn’t just a story about battles—it was a raw, unflinching exploration of the human condition.

Berserk doesn’t just present questions about life, love, and meaning—it forces you to sit with them, no matter how uncomfortable they are. It challenged my perspective on resilience, ambition, and the tug-of-war between fate and free will.

It even made me confront how we define humanity itself.

Resilience in the Face of Suffering

At the core of Berserk is Guts, a character who embodies raw perseverance. Life doesn’t just knock him down—it grinds him into the dirt, again and again. And yet, he gets back up every time. This isn’t blind optimism; it’s survival.

Psychologist Viktor Frankl, in his seminal work Man’s Search for Meaning, argued that even in the most unbearable suffering, we can find purpose. Guts epitomizes this idea. His struggle isn’t just physical—it’s existential. His refusal to surrender to despair, despite being marked by the Brand of Sacrifice, mirrors Frankl’s belief that meaning can be forged in the fires of adversity.

Watching Guts reminded me that resilience isn’t about avoiding pain; it’s about finding strength in spite of it.

Ambition: A Cautionary Tale

Then there’s Griffith, whose rise and fall serve as a stark commentary on ambition. Griffith is the dreamer, the charismatic leader who inspires loyalty and admiration. But his dream comes at a cost—a cost he’s all too willing to pay.

Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche’s Will to Power sheds light on Griffith’s character. Nietzsche proposed that the drive to achieve and assert power is fundamental to human nature. Griffith embodies this drive, but his story reveals the darker side of unbridled ambition: the loss of humanity. His betrayal during the Eclipse—sacrificing everything, including his closest friends—forces us to ask: What are we willing to sacrifice for our dreams? And is it worth it?

Fate vs. Free Will: The Struggle for Freedom

One of Berserk’s most thought-provoking themes is the tension between fate and free will. The concept of “causality” in the series suggests a predetermined order to events, a cosmic inevitability that traps its characters.

But Guts stands as a defiant figure against this idea. His journey is a battle not just against demons but against the notion that his life is not his own. This struggle mirrors existentialist Jean-Paul Sartre’s belief that humans are condemned to be free—free to choose, even in a world filled with suffering and chaos.

Berserk doesn’t give easy answers about whether we’re masters of our destiny or pawns of fate. Instead, it challenges us to consider: even if the game is rigged, does that make the struggle meaningless? For Guts, the answer is a resounding no.

The Weight of Community and Connection

While Berserk often feels like a solitary journey, it also highlights the importance of connection. The Band of the Hawk isn’t just a group of warriors; they’re a family. Their camaraderie shows how relationships can provide purpose and strength, even in the darkest times.

This reflects Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, where belonging and love are foundational to human fulfillment. For Guts, his bonds with the Band of the Hawk—and especially with Casca—ground him in a world that otherwise feels hostile and unrelenting.

The tragedy of betrayal during the Eclipse strikes even harder because it tears apart these connections, leaving Guts to grapple with the question: Can we find meaning alone, or do we need others to truly live?

Why It Matters Today

Berserk’s themes resonate far beyond its fantasy setting. In a world that often feels chaotic and unpredictable, Guts’ determination is a reminder that resilience is a choice. Griffith’s story warns us about the dangers of ambition without empathy. And the tension between fate and free will echoes our own struggles to navigate a world where we control some things but not everything.

Philosopher S?ren Kierkegaard once said, “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” Watching Berserk felt like living out this truth—each episode peeling back another layer of meaning, forcing me to reflect on my own choices and values.

The Rabbit Hole I Never Expected

Berserk pulled me into a philosophical rabbit hole I didn’t know I needed. It taught me that suffering isn’t something to run from, that ambition must be tempered with humanity, and that even in a world full of chaos, our choices matter.

If you’ve ever dismissed philosophy as abstract or irrelevant, I challenge you to give Berserk a try. You might find, like I did, that it’s not just a story about battles—it’s a story about what it means to be human.