Jujutsu Kaisen has become a famous anime recently, thanks to its exciting storyline, high-octane action sequences, and memorable characters. While the show is rooted in fantasy, focusing on a group of highly trained personnel battling the growing legion of demons, there are slivers of reality that tug your heart.
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Among these themes are the importance of friendship, trust, betrayal, and the overarching concept of a system designed to protect the vulnerable. Yet, within this framework, one character stands out as a compelling representation of the downfall of a good-hearted individual, shedding light on why structures, organisations, and ideals can falter: Geto.
During his initial years as a sorcerer, the boy unwaveringly clung to his ideals, evaluating the system's goodness by the survival of the weak. He saw his status as an inherent responsibility, an unshakable role in society. While he identified strongly as a shaman, the true measure of his worth lay beyond his control, subject to external factors. This inherent vulnerability was a looming shadow at all times.
Despite his stringent ideals, Geto displayed empathy, notably, advising Riko to make her own choices at the beginning of season 2. Ironically, Gege Akutami, the author of the manga, highlighted his stark division between weak and strong, foreshadowing a change. For instance, Geto's confidence in understanding weaknesses stemmed from limited exposure to harsh realities. He and Gojo, dubbing themselves the "strongest duo", believed in their invincible power as long as they stood together.
Geto's technique was a curse in its own right , he had to ingest curses that tasted horrendous ; a taste only he knew and suffered from – manifestations conjured by non-shamans themselves.
No one , could never truly grasp the extent of Geto's anguish.pic.twitter.com/gXKZHe34jr — Kae ☆ (@SUGURVS) September 9, 2023
But cracks began to form during the Star Plasma mission. While they exemplified their confidence in doing things their way in the beginning, they faced a major setback when Toji arrived. He shattered Geto's arrogance, blurring the lines between the weak and the strong. "Even with your blessings, you lost to a monkey like me,” Toji said after his victory against Geto, weakening the latter's convictions further. The sight of people clapping at Riko's death raised questions about the purpose of his actions, too.
THE GETO SUGURU EDIT pic.twitter.com/P2eaRqJO2C https://t.co/ZDiWzKUO7t — nic⁷ 𖤐 (@yoongojo) September 4, 2023
very good visual symbolism of geto and gojo's respective political beliefs. geto, on the left, is blue, therefore a leftist. gojo, on the right, is red, therefore a conservative. very glad gege chose to keep this in pic.twitter.com/atsbZrOLol — u 🌸 (@TheDivineVessel) September 3, 2023
Following this mission, the "strongest duo" gradually transformed into Satoru being the stronger one as his technique evolved. Geto's curse technique, requiring him to ingest revolting curses, held a torment known only to him. The pain was worsened by creations from non-shamans.
The breaking points came with Haibara's death and the village incident, eroding Geto's faith in the society he once envisioned. His conversation with Yuki solidified his chosen path, leading to a rampage. Geto's descent, though seemingly justified, raised questions about whether he was a casualty of self-interest and a victim of the system. Yet, he remained committed to his principles.
17 year old traumatized geto raising two equally traumatized little girls on his own without any financial support is incredibly heartbreaking — gojo didn’t getover (@gojokay) September 11, 2023
Geto's compassion shifted from the weak to the strong. He aimed to eliminate the weak, believing this would eradicate curses and free shamans from their responsibilities. His tragic spiral left an indelible mark.
how the hell am I expected to be normal after knowing that it's canon that in geto's last moments all he wanted was for things to go back to they were during his and gojo's student years, like he just wanted to start over pic.twitter.com/dMl7MfhFuX — cami🏳️🌈🇧🇿 | wants jjk moots (@yuujievents) September 10, 2023
Geto's poignant question to Gojo about right and wrong echoed in the narrative. His downfall served as a stark lesson for those around him.
Even Gojo and Nanami once emphasised the importance of youth and innocence, hinting at their former colleague's tragic journey.
What's remarkable about Geto's character is his embodiment of moral ambiguity, challenging readers to reassess their values. The lingering question remains: Could he have been saved?
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