There’s a sturdy discussion going down within the otakusphere regarding the principle character of the contemporary sequence The Lumber of Elaina. We learn about a issues about our touring mage. Largely, that she’s not this kind of nice particular person. No longer basically cross, mind you. Ideally suited self-absorbed and missing key approach to her valid compass.
Within the third episode, Elaina unwittingly unleashes a zombie apocalypse on a village. She diagnoses the scenario, but in its put of reporting it to authorities or doing something about it, she correct leaves for her next destination. In that very same episode, she comes upon a family where a younger Eastern girl is being saved as a slave and the implication is she is being abused sexually and emotionally by her master. Elaina is extra pissed off that the master lewdly seemed her over in its put of the abuse of the uncomfortable girl. For many who read the manga, the girl commits suicide shortly after Elaina leaves.
Is she guilty for this? Within the both case, she just isn’t very the principle motive within the help of problems, but she furthermore absolves herself of any human responsibility. Technically correct? Lope. Defensible? Hmmm…
There’s furthermore the episode of the tragic witch Mirarose where Elaina does lend a hand her. Presumably it be because of the Mirarose is a severely extra highly effective witch. Elaina’s lend a hand ensures Mirarose’s success– which is correct additional tragedy. All over again, Elaina is blameless on this affair, well, assorted than breaking into Mirarose’s fortress hunting for safe haven from the snow. It is furthermore hard to verify what Elaina can contain finished looking back that would contain helped steer clear of a tragedy.
It has been postulated that Elaina just isn’t very basically cross, correct a Witch Supremacist. In every occasion Elaina helped someone, it become once one other witch, be it the rookie Saya, the tragic Mirarose, or her mentor Fran. It become once spelled out in episode particular person that witches stand on the head of society, with mages below, then traditional humans on the bottom. Elaina enjoys this caste map, and is blind to the suffering of those below her. Her privilege makes her insufferable, because the supreme distinction between her and conventional folks is the spend of magic. Rob that away, and she’s correct one other teenage girl touring the world.
I’m non-public of neutral on the ask of whether Elaina is a correct or bad particular person, simply because of the there would possibly be a more in-depth scenario with the sequence: it’s not of course written thoroughly. Unlike Kino’s Travels, the sequence this one is impressed by, the social commentary is somewhat traditional. It typically correct falls to human failings in its put of societal. The reports are all surface, with out a depth to them. Kino seemed in actual fact neutral in observing. Elaina is an active participant within the reports, typically events the catalyst.
As a ways as Elaina herself, one wonders if she can develop as a particular person in her travels. One motive to inch back and forth is to mutter yourself to assorted folks and tips in turning correct into a extra well-rounded particular person. As of yet, Elaina appears incapable of that. She’s serene the same narcissist she become once before the entirety of the demonstrate. Any compassion confirmed is transactional, and any interaction with others is a huge burden to her. She’s not of course an admirable particular person.
I’m observing principally for the beautiful areas she visits, not her adventures. I construct not hate her, but I’m not of course impressed by her both. I’m hoping she faces some adversity and takes it as a location off to develop up, but I’m not preserving my breath.
There appears to be lots of lore we’re missing about her world. Is the legendary witch Nike of course her mom? What occurs when her journeys non-public? If the demonstrate continues with Elaina being the map she is, I’m not particular I will care.