Human

From EvaWiki
Revision as of 01:04, 13 May 2009 by Reichu (talk | contribs) (Gratuitously non-NPOV. But, hey, it's SOMEthing...... Feel free to be merciless.)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

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.

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 addresses Armisael as "the person we call an Angel".
  • Rei says that Kaworu is as human as she is (so both of them 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 also "human", raising the question of what the exact distinction, if any, is.

The answer may lie in the common origin of all these entities: that is, the First Ancestral Race. While not Angels, it would probably not be a stretch to consider them the original form of humanity. Nothing conclusive is known, although it is possible that the Seeds of Life were created as human gods made in the FAR's image to preserve humanity, both physically and metaphysically, each 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 humans at the core. 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.