The women of Berserk

[Rulakir]

What do you think of the female cast of Berserk? Although there weren't a lot of women in the anime, each had very different characteristics: there's the sweet and innocent Charolette and her evil, bitchy-ass mother, the Queen. Who could forget about the likeable tomboy Caska? Maybe there's more.... Anyway, what did you like/not like about them? Do you think they were a good representation of women in the past?

[Nairohe]

I'm surprised how the women were handled in such a realistic fashion in Berserk. Usually anime women were:

A) Promoting feminism. ie Sailormoon, Rayearth, Evangelion. Women from these anime actually had freedom were almost equal or greater than their male counter parts.

B) Ignored. They were either background characters just to satisfy fanservice.

You don't see much of that around Berserk. The women were presented in such a realistic fashion. The women of royalty for example. Charlotte was sweet and innocent because that's how the women of royalty were raised. They were expected to be naive and to hold tea cups like so and so, speak softly, admire and be prized by men. They were trophies. The queen, she looked down on those who were not royalty. Caska on the other hand wasn't like most female characters in anime. She was weak yet strong all at the same time. She was Griffith's second hand, she knows how to fight but she also needs saving. She's not completely helpless or extremely strong like most female characters of her kind.

Utena was good at fencing but you didn't really know how she was able to fence as well as 'defeat' many dualists who were obviously far more skillful than she was. Sailormoon, I don't understand how she ever wins in every single fight. She's obviously strong but she 'always needs saving' at some point of any battle in order to win.

Caska took care of herself, rightly so, wanted to be male because of the consequences of being born a woman. I can somewhat relate to her. There's a lot of things she knew she couldn't do as a woman... Being regarded as one of the most important and respected members of the hawk is alone one of her achievements but her strength or weakness was never exaggerated.

[Kamui Magami]

well, my "review" of the female characters in Berserk was a bit "here and there". the only ones i hold up that are actually strong willed in a sence are Rita and Caska. Charolette was more like the "innocent helpless" character. You know, the ones ya love to hate but not too much due to temporary hatred. the Queen of Midland was well.......i think the answer speaks for itself. she was mean and arrogant. heck, she didn't even like Griffith. and to be honest.....at first i thought the son of the noble that Gattsu assassinated was a female. but that was my mistake
:heh:. i can't really say anything about these characters, because i think they all are in their respective places. Caska is not only strong in will, but is extremely skilled with a sword aswell as obtaining the respect aswell as fear of her fellow Hawks. Rita, although only in one section of Berserk, was young, energetic, brave, and had a sense of dignity. Charolette was the classic "innocent one" that knows no violence and is kind and compassionate. the Queen was more of a villainess(sp.) but she symbolized power and how it can corrupt.

that pretty much sums up my thoughts on the female charaxters of Berserk:) all in all. i think they all are cool :)

[Morbius]

The female member of the God Hand was a pretty nasty representation of women in the past though... Although I think she was just fanservice with her exposed breasts and all...

But I think women were pretty much represented as they would have probably been in the past. The young maidens of the aristocracy were basically reduced to a life of marrying someone important while the women of the common folk were either abused and reduced to a life of prostitution or forced to supprt a family while their husbands were off getting killed in battle.

The three women that played a role in the series (Caska, Charlotte and the queen) were the lucky ones. They were either born into a life of comfort or, in Caska's case, saved by a kind man.

[tekblade]

i think they were represented quite well. caska for example being able to do whatever she wanted so she became a soldier to fight cause she wanted to. no stereo typin that she cant fight cause she was a woman. charlotte as and the evil queen were protrayed nicely. the women commoners were protrayed nicely. overall it wasnt too shaby :D

[Kamui Magami]

<---agrees :nod: