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Debate No. 7
Perversity and sexual ambiguity
Following the Debate on Sex and the reactions it
caused, as well as some very fruitful conversations with intelligent people:
To all those who contributed (and you know who you are!), I give my most
sincere thanks.
Personally, I think any work
or piece of writing born from Berubara is worth noting because it does
provide an alternate point of view into the story. Basically, it
disturbs the concept of the story and challenges our understanding of the
story. What if they were right? Did I not see this aspect?
Did I actually get something wrong?
Of course nobody can be wrong!
We are all untitled to our own perceptions! But it is always beneficial
to know what the others saw.
So, this is what I perceived.
As I stated before, the aspect which interested me most at first and really
got me in the story is the fact that the atmosphere can be seen as "perverted",
it has sexual innuendoes, and is very heavy. In that respect, I think
it does represent that century well. I think that the fact that the
characters are more "withdrawn" in the Anime deeply contributes to this
atmosphere, and this is this aspect (very realistic), which drew many fans
towards the wonderful character of Oscar.
Amongst some marvellously romantic
scenes, there are enough disturbing scenes to keep the atmosphere heavy,
and the "guessing game" the authors make us play, by not disclosing all
the feelings or intentions of many characters, is also a major part.
This is the part which pleased me most: you actually have to THINK!!!
I do think that the Anime presents
that aspect a lot more than the Manga, but I was reminded of the works
of Ryoko Ikeda (Oniisama E, Orpheus no Mado). Personally, I was not
too familiar with the Mangas, so I had to do some research... and it is
very true that these strive in a much tougher and "tragic" light.
Now, the characters and the
way they are portrayed (or only half portrayed) is a total success in Berusaiyu
no Bara: it is crawling with despicable individuals, and the marvel
is the fact that they are extremely realistic. This proves the talent
of Ryoko Ikeda since, at any rate, it is difficult to mix real and fictitious
characters in an historical fiction!
Starting with Mme duBarry, the
vain and power crazy lover of Louis XV. She is a difficult adversary
for Marie-Antoinette and Oscar, a murderer without scruples. Yet,
she is dependent on the reign of the King, and this will be her downfall.
Then who could forget the abject
Duke deGuemenee, a cruel man who doesn't mind killing a defenceless child
in the back. A powerful individual, together with the horrible Duke
of Orleans.
Mme de Polignac, even though
she looks like a sweet person, shows her darker side when she not only
refuses to face the fact that she killed Rosalie's "mother", pushes her
young daughter to suicide by arranging her marriage to an old, perverted
Noble, and she pursues Rosalie to conclude this affair, now that Charlotte
is gone!
Jeanne Valois is another matter.
Her intelligence and pride (you have to admit) and her quick thinking make
her a very complete and interesting character. Motivated by power
and money (a revenge against her deprived childhood: excuse number
One), she know how and who to implicate in her very cleverly conceived
deceptions. Murderer, thief, she still, by her relationship with
Rosalie and her "weaker" side, prevent us from libelling her a totally
"bad" character. Immoral, certainly, bad, I cannot say...
Obviously, these characters
are presented in a bad light and this is a deliberate choice from Ikeda.
At any rate you can always temper the vision she had from those characters
by reading a few historical books.
Do they scare us less because
their acts are visible, and we don't have to make a decision: they are
obviously bad? (which is what proves to be more difficult with Jeanne).
This, added to the drawings
of the courtesans, only motivated by their own interests, offering their
help to any group without distinction providing they are the most powerful
at that particular time, and all this hypocrisy...
You can notice, after what I
have said, that I did not include Girodelle in this list. This is
because there are no tangible proof to make him part of that perversion.
The only thing against him is that he is not a hero! He is an ordinary
character who never steps out of his social class, but that does not make
him a pervert! His presence -since we never know what he is thinking-
may contribute to the "ambience", but this is unwillingly.
After all, he is mostly nasty
towards Andre, and, knowing his feelings for Oscar (although, yes, I have
to admit, they are not obvious), it is only fair that he should not waste
an occasion to chastise the poor Andre whom feelings he has noticed (and
this is a proof of intelligence, since he may be the only one who can see
clearly the feelings of others in this mess!).
He does say "My Oscar", while
raising his glass, at the ball which should introduce Oscar as a woman
to marry, and behaves in a very gentlemanly fashion. I do think he
is sincere. He may just be too cold to be convincing!
Another part which contributes
to this heavy atmosphere is the sexual ambiguity of the main characters
and their relationships (after all, the basis of the story is Oscar!).
I do think that the "gender game" is much more present in the Manga than
in the Anime (which, for obvious reasons downplays this aspect, let's not
forget that some scenes were cut out or censored in some countries!).
I was thinking about the fact
that Oscar has to deal with the interest of other women at Court, ignoring
the fact that she is also a woman, but this is not exactly shocking and
is easily explained. However, one troubling fact remains: the
relationship between Rosalie and Oscar.
Although Rosalie knows full
well her true gender, there are still some "disturbing" elements or scenes
to demonstrate this ambiguity: The scene where Rosalie dances with
Oscar's costume in her bedroom, or when Oscar holds her in her arms after
Rosalie fell in the fountain after her sword fighting training, and many
more...
Whether this is a symbol of
the affection and admiration that Rosalie holds for Oscar, or that she
did have some real feelings of love for Oscar, it then becomes difficult
to explain how Rosalie then decides to marry Bernard, being the exact physical
double of Andre, who offered her a lot of affection as well (relationship
which gave birth to quite a few fanfics...).
All those aspects just add to
the doubts, ambiguity and heaviness of the atmosphere. In this respect,
it is a success. I do not think that Berusaiyu no Bara would have
been so complete without it. After all, this is what keeps us talking!
I am certain I would not be so interested in a more simplistic story.
Berusaiyu no Bara; Lady Oscar: All Rights Reserved Ikeda Productions 1972-1973, Tokyo Movie Shinsha Co. 1979-1980.
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