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really fascinated by how ghost handles issues of classism/social mobility since it’s something pretty much every major character deals with
i'll be adding to this bit by bit so i don't clog up the tl
[spoilers for the whole game below]
i'll be adding to this bit by bit so i don't clog up the tl
[spoilers for the whole game below]
jin + ryuzo
ryuzo holds a grudge against jin for 3 years because he was robbed of his chance to become samurai. this is made even worse by jin being unable to understand why it is that ryuzo is bitter towards him as he’s blinded by his own privilege (oblivious to the duel’s
ryuzo holds a grudge against jin for 3 years because he was robbed of his chance to become samurai. this is made even worse by jin being unable to understand why it is that ryuzo is bitter towards him as he’s blinded by his own privilege (oblivious to the duel’s
spectators wishing to meet him purely because he’s the jito’s nephew, extending the offer of making him samurai out of pity for his circumstance rather than respect for his skill, and to offer it with such ease like it’s nothing to him when it means the whole world to ryuzo)
ryuzo finally voicing his feelings to jin helps alleviate some of the weight (“i wish you’d told me this earlier” “maybe i should have”) but it doesn’t bring him complete closure since jin hasn’t yet learnt from his mistake in causing the rift between them
the rift widens when ryuzo tells him his men are being held captive and jin’s immediate response is lamenting on how he can’t utilise them in rescuing shimura while ryuzo’s only priority is their safety. two summers ago, ryuzo was a “lowly ronin” and he’s no different in jin’s
eyes now. the straw hats are everything to him, his family and most importantly a second chance at making his mark on the world. but they’re no more than pawns to jin. it’s no real surprise that he’s willing to betray jin since he’s always put more stock in doing what it takes to
survive than their friendship
when jin is incredulous that ryuzo has become the straw hats leader, ryuzo responds that someone has to look out for them and his expression seems to be challenging jin. the only thing the samurai have done for the ronin is sending them to their death at komoda and he refuses to
be used as fodder by them again (“he’ll send us to die. just like he did at komoda beach”) that's something jin mirrors through his initial dismissal of the straw hats being held captive at fort yatate. whether it's jin or shimura, ronin are bound to be tossed aside by samurai
interestingly, despite his insistence on cementing himself as the straw hats leader (“i need this”) he often defers to jin’s judgement, likely as a way of showing he was never ready for what being a samurai entailed because he only cared for status. he brands hiro and shinzo
cowards for running away yet defects to the mongols himself. he can’t even own up to it, pleading with jin to abuse his status in order to convince everyone he was a spy all along. he never had any honour or sense of responsibility, he only cared for improving his lot in life
(“the weak in spirit desire wealth, power, and status” “weak or not, tomoe and ryuzo knew they were born with less than they deserved”)
and, funnily enough, his reliance on jin’s plans to feed his men while reinforcing that he needs to take the credit for it (“my men will handle that part” + “remember who’s in charge”) exactly mirrors what yasumasa hates samurai for (“samurai are spoiled hypocrites who steal
glory from real warriors”) a lot of the issues with samurai are flaws ryuzo has himself and he meets a grisly end because he never grows beyond them, even when jin tries to save him from himself. but because jin is the only one who eventually distances himself from class/status,
he is also the only one to walk away alive
