Human: Difference between revisions
(Gratuitously non-NPOV. But, hey, it's SOMEthing...... Feel free to be merciless.) |
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'''Human''', as used in the ''Evangelion'' universe, most often refers to [[Lilin]] (Mankind). However, the many "untraditional" uses of "human", "person", etc., indicate that a more expansive concept of humanity exists, although it is never precisely defined. | '''Human''' (人: ''hito'', 人間: ''ningen'', 人類: ''jinrui'')<ref>These three Japanese terms vary in nuance, although they can all be translated to the English word "human" (depending on context). They are also the three words used to refer to "human", "person", "humanity", "mankind", etc., in ''Evangelion''. For example, "artificial human [''ningen'']" (the Evas) and "humans [''jinrui''] that cast aside human [''hito''] form" (Adam's children).</ref>, as used in the ''Evangelion'' universe, most often refers to [[Lilin]] (Mankind). However, the many "untraditional" uses of "human", "person", etc., indicate that a more expansive concept of humanity exists, although it is never precisely defined. | ||
Over the course of the show: | Over the course of the show: | ||
* [[Adam]] is referred to as the "first human". | * [[Adam]] is referred to as the "first human". | ||
* [[Lilith]] is said to be a "person" and "human". (Though note that this is after it has fused with both Adam and Rei 3.) | * [[Lilith]] is said to be a "person" and "human". (Though note that this is after it has fused with both Adam and [[Rei Ayanami|Rei 3]].) | ||
* The Evas are called "artificial humans". Ritsuko later simply refers to them as "human" (affirming Shinji's inquiry regarding their status as "people"). | * The [[Evangelions|Evas]] are called "artificial humans". [[Ritsuko Akagi|Ritsuko]] later simply refers to them as "human" (affirming [[Shinji Ikari|Shinji's]] inquiry regarding their status as "people"). | ||
* Adam's children are described as "humans who cast aside human form". | * [[Angels (Adam's Children)|Adam's children]] are described as "humans who cast aside human form". | ||
** Rei addresses Armisael as "the person we call an Angel". | ** Rei addresses [[Armisael]] as "the person we call an [[Angel]]". | ||
* Rei says that Kaworu is as human as she is | * Rei says that [[Kaworu Nagisa|Kaworu]] is as human as she is -- hence they both are human. | ||
* And, of course, the Lilin are humans. | * And, of course, the Lilin are humans. | ||
This effectively means that everything designated an "Angel" within the show, along with some "off the list" Angelic entities (the Evas and Rei), are | This effectively means that everything designated an "Angel" within the show, along with some "off the list" Angelic entities (the Evas and Rei), are "human" as well, raising the question of what the exact distinction between "Angel" and "human" is, if any exists at all. | ||
The answer may lie in the common origin of all these entities: that is, the [[First Ancestral Race]]. | {{NPOVAccuracy}} | ||
The answer may lie in the common origin of all these entities: that is, the [[First Ancestral Race]]. They were a humanoid species, and it would probably not be a stretch to consider them the original form of humanity. Nothing conclusive is known about the FAR's motivations, although it is possible that the [[Seed of Life|Seeds of Life]] were created as human gods made in the FAR's image for the purpose of preserving humankind. This would be on both a physical and metaphysical level, with humanity embodied by each individual Seed in body and soul, and, additionally, each Seed would be intended to propagate a different variation of humankind. | |||
With Adam, that variation was to be a race of gods who could take on any form imaginable, but still be intrinsically human. With Lilith, a human species would arise through (possibly "guided") evolution from microscopic beginnings, acquiring a remarkable resemblance to the "original model" of humanity despite taking a completely different developmental path. | |||
......Of course, this is all speculation. | |||
==Related Articles== | |||
*[[Angels]] | |||
*[[Angels (Adam's Children)]] | |||
*[[Evangelions]] | |||
*[[First Ancestral Race]] | |||
*[[Lilin]] | |||
*[[Seed of Life]] | |||
==References== | |||
{{reflist}} | |||
[[Category:A to Z]] | [[Category:A to Z]] | ||
[[Category:Terminology]] | |||
Revision as of 03:02, 13 May 2009
Human (人: hito, 人間: ningen, 人類: jinrui)[1], as used in the Evangelion universe, most often refers to Lilin (Mankind). However, the many "untraditional" uses of "human", "person", etc., indicate that a more expansive concept of humanity exists, although it is never precisely defined.
Over the course of the show:
- Adam is referred to as the "first human".
- Lilith is said to be a "person" and "human". (Though note that this is after it has fused with both Adam and Rei 3.)
- The Evas are called "artificial humans". Ritsuko later simply refers to them as "human" (affirming Shinji's inquiry regarding their status as "people").
- Adam's children are described as "humans who cast aside human form".
- Rei says that Kaworu is as human as she is -- hence they both are human.
- And, of course, the Lilin are humans.
This effectively means that everything designated an "Angel" within the show, along with some "off the list" Angelic entities (the Evas and Rei), are "human" as well, raising the question of what the exact distinction between "Angel" and "human" is, if any exists at all.
|
"The story presented to the public was just a cover-up." |
The answer may lie in the common origin of all these entities: that is, the First Ancestral Race. They were a humanoid species, and it would probably not be a stretch to consider them the original form of humanity. Nothing conclusive is known about the FAR's motivations, although it is possible that the Seeds of Life were created as human gods made in the FAR's image for the purpose of preserving humankind. This would be on both a physical and metaphysical level, with humanity embodied by each individual Seed in body and soul, and, additionally, each Seed would be intended to propagate a different variation of humankind.
With Adam, that variation was to be a race of gods who could take on any form imaginable, but still be intrinsically human. With Lilith, a human species would arise through (possibly "guided") evolution from microscopic beginnings, acquiring a remarkable resemblance to the "original model" of humanity despite taking a completely different developmental path.
......Of course, this is all speculation.
Related Articles
References
- ↑ These three Japanese terms vary in nuance, although they can all be translated to the English word "human" (depending on context). They are also the three words used to refer to "human", "person", "humanity", "mankind", etc., in Evangelion. For example, "artificial human [ningen]" (the Evas) and "humans [jinrui] that cast aside human [hito] form" (Adam's children).
