A inversão do bem e do mal : o imaginário do cavaleiro medieval presente na figura do herói e do vilão no mangá Berserk (1990 1997)

Abstract

Manga currently enjoy notable popularity in the West. Their stories, beyond captivating readers, incorporate historical, philosophical, and social elements through the lens of Japanese culture. In this timely context, the present article analyzes the work Berserk (1989) by Kentaro Miura (1966–2021), which narrates the tragic journey of Guts, a swordsman seeking revenge after being betrayed by his former band leader, the antagonist Griffith. Set in a fictional Middle Ages, the story reveals that both main characters embody aspects of the medieval knightly imaginary, though this is explored in an inverted manner, with the villain initially easily mistaken for a hero. Due to this particularity, the analysis—focused on the first four volumes (1990–1997)—draws on the concept of the imaginary proposed by Jacques Le Goff and the approach to historical representation developed by Roger Chartier. These theoretical frameworks make it possible to understand how the author, through his work, offers a reinterpretation of the knightly figure from an Eastern and contemporary perspective.