Ashitaka is the last prince from the Emishi's clan. He's one of
the few young people from his village and he's a great warrior whose skills and strength
will
only increase with the progression of his curse.
When he
was forced to kill a Tatari Gami (cursed god) in order to protect his
people from it's wrath, he was cursed by it and had to leave his village to
never come back. The wise woman from his clan had said that if he understood the
curse maybe he could survive it so he started a journey toward east, where he
knew the boar god had been turned into a demon, to 'see with eyes unclouded
by hate' what had happened.
This young warrior will
come to a place where the balance between nature and humans has been broke and,
because he came from a land where this equilibrium still worked, he will do
everything he can to restore it. After all, he is very respectful toward the
spiritual world and he still has a pure heart, doesn't believing war and battles
resolve anything.
Ashitaka is a very controlled
person too and has a high sense of honor, accepting
and understanding his expulsion from his clan. This, of course, doesn't mean he
hasn't emotions, he becomes really angry when Eboshi tells him she wants to kill
the very center of the forest (he tells her that he would kill her if it would help him
to achieve his cure!) and we know the love he shares with San is not from
a emotionless person... ^^
Actually, he is a very
courageous, not hesitating to stand between all the different factions of this
strange war. He doesn't fear demons, emperors, armies or women - anything if
that can stop an eventual confrontation.
He is also very
tolerant and comprehensive, like we can see at the final when he, although
loving the young princess, let her go free because understood she wasn't
prepared yet to come back among the humans, promising her he will come to visit
her (how cute!).
At the end, he returns to Iron Town to
help reconstruct it. Because he can't go back to his village again, even cured,
he will probably stay there, near San, the people and the Nature.
Ashitaka's poem:
A legend is a wind that moves unseen
As if passing through a sea of grass.
In rough mountain lodges where life
is harsh
The villagers' voices yet whisper a story
Of the youth Ashitaka from the borderlands,
A story not written in history books.
Ashitaka the gallant, Ashitaka the
brave
Who never once though to turn from his fate
Ashitaka who loved the people. Ashitaka who loved the forest
Ashitaka who saw with eyes clear and bright.
Again and again to their children
The villagers tell this tale.
Again and again they tell them,
Children, live like Ashitaka. |