Theory and Analysis:Rei and the Moon
Throughout the entire series Rei Ayanami is associated with the recurring visual motif of the Moon. In fact, the Moon is rarely shown in Neon Genesis Evangelion without Rei in the foreground. Exceptions would be the shots of the Spear of Longinus heading towards the Moon, and the "Moon's eye view" of Second Impact as seen during Episode 21.
Appearances
| The appearances | Screenshot |
|---|---|
| *In the opening credits, there is a shot of Rei standing before a prominent Moon. | |
| There is a similar shot in Episode 06 where Rei stands silhouetted against the Moon before the mission starts. | |
| *In Episode 10, Rei is swimming in the Nerv gym's pool: the "camera" views her from below, passing in front of a ceiling light, visually similar to passing in front of the Moon. | |
| *The white giant in Terminal Dogma, who we later learn is, in fact, Lilith, wears a mask with crater-like markings. This serves to associate her with the Moon, and thus with Rei. | |
| *During episode 25 Rei sits inside a Moon-like spotlight, while Asuka sits in a Sun-like spotlight, see Asuka and the Sun below for more information. | |
| Another "spotlight" image | |
| *The closing animation features Rei and the Moon together. |
- Rei awakens in the moonlight and gazes up to the Moon before breaking Gendo's glasses and leaving her apartment for the Dummy Plug Plant.
|
- Rei as Lilith appears before the Moon throughout End of Evangelion.
- During First Impact 4 billion years ago the Black Moon transporting Lilith collided with Earth, and the Earth's Moon formed from the resulting debris. Thus Lilith's arrival created the Moon to begin with.
| The Moon has a patent connection to the menstrual cycle in women as it waxes and wanes across 28 days. The theme of menstrual blood runs throughout the series, from Lilith's sea of LCL to Armisael's menstrual bleeding while conversing with Rei. |
In astrology the Moon rules over the sign of Cancer (breasts), is dignified in the sign of Taurus (throat) and is debilitated in the opposing sign of Scorpio (sexual organs).[1] The terms Black Moon and White Moon are again from astrology. White Moon describes the lunar perigee while Black Moon describes the lunar apogee, when the Moon is closest or furthest from the Earth respectively. Furthermore the Moon has two nodes: Caput Draconis and Cauda Draconis, the dragon's head and tail, these are the two points along the ecliptic that the Moon intersects as it moves north or south of it.
In many systems of planetary attribution to the human body the Moon is associated with one of the eyes (see the myths surrounding Odin, Horus, Tsukuyomi, etc) and the Sun with the other. The Sun and the Moon are seen as counterparts to each other. Usually, the left eye is associated with the Moon. In Rei's Monologue during episode 14 this relation between the eye and Moon is reinforced by a cut of Rei's left eye, followed immediately by a cut to the moon. The same shot of Rei's left eye is used during the opening credits.
In the Jewish Qabala the Shechina (that aspect of God that dwells with the people and appeared to Moses in the burning bush) is said to have 28 camps that relate directly to the 28 days of the lunar month[2][3][4] which also parallel the 28 periods of time spoken of in Ecclesiastes, these are further given 14 positive qualities and 14 negative qualities from the 7 transpositions of Wisdom, Wealth, etc.[5]
The words "lunatic" and "loony" stem from the Latin word Luna, meaning Moon. These words developed because the Moon was thought to cause periods of mental instability. Further, the words month (moonth) and Monday (Moon day) come from the word Moon, this is also reflected in other languages, e.g. French: Luna (Moon), Lundi (Monday).
Asuka and the Sun
The visual motif pairing Rei and the Moon is strong and frequently occurs throughout the series, and due to Rei's connection to Lilith it is thematically important. To a lesser extent there is a visual motif pairing Asuka with the Sun.
- The first shot introducing Asuka has her silhouetted against the Sun.
- In episode 25 Asuka is sitting in a Sun-like spotlight, contrasting with the Moon-like spotlight that Rei is sitting in.
- In Eva-02's dying moments in The End of Evangelion, Asuka reaches upwards towards the Sun.
Beyond representing Asuka's solar and dominant nature, and being a further illustration of the contrast between Asuka and Rei, it's significance to the actual story is less clear.
