Ergo Proxy - 8: Light Beam/Shining Sign

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Light Beam


There are references to moonlight, night, and death throughout the entire episode. It starts with Pino seeing a shining light, and then later seeing it again. We see something wavering in the darkness where she was looking. Its the same wavering paper-tentacle-knife-wing used to kill the soldiers of Charos. The name of Charos likely comes from Charon, or the river Styx ferryman who takes the dead to the underworld. Else, it may be from Karas, meaning "black" in greek. The moon phase symbol )O( can be seen on wall inside the tower of Charos when they talk about the woman's legend. "That stuff about the light." "The stories about a light, radiating from an unseen moon."

When straight-jacket lady sees the monster, or Proxy. She says "Senex, agent of the moonlight" Agent is another word for Proxy, but Senex does not mean moonlight.

Senex is an archetype from Carl Jung's universal psychology (collective unconscious) and is basically a kind wise father figure or wizard.

Instead of Charos, sometimes it is called Halos, which of course can refer to holiness, as well as light. Similarly Romdeau is sometimes spelled Romdo, Mosque Mosk, Senex Senekis. Re-L Real. I believe that is it, but choosing which way is the correct spelling is definitely something I cannot be sure about if I have gotten right or wrong.

Take note - Charos also has a wombsys and a proxy to power it (the "production" room, the very bodies of our parents, a legend of a monster sleeping underground) yet it has no dome. This place also has the senseless mentality of following orders that Romdeau had. While Charos has much more activity and is in no way a paradise - it similarly thinks asking questions is bad form at least and treacherous at worst. "Once you are on the battlefield, it is best to stop asking those questions."

These people are willing to trade momentary understanding for long term victory - don't increase production, don't grieve, don't hold back in war, don't ask questions.

What is the point of protecting the Mosquito? The war? What is the war about if they are choosing to throw away human lives to keep fighting for the war. Shouldn't it be about protecting human life or the future...?

Omecatl means "two reed" and is an Aztec diety associated with night, wind, and north. Patecatl is father of the Centzon Totochitin and god of life and fertility.

Straight-jacket lady apparently has a name that is never mentioned. Mayahuel. This is another Aztec god associated with fertility, this time a god of a plant for an alchoholic beverage. She is the mother of the Centzon Totochtin.

Pino mimics everything. From Vincent's gagging, to the books she reads, to straight-jacket lady's chant. As Pino learns and grows, Vincent learns and grows in his opinion of her as well. He rejected her humanity and still says he can't tell if she has a soul, but ironically begins to think she is more alive than most other people.

The resemblance to "playing card soldiers" from Alice in Wonderland I only work out to be strange soldiers following nonsense laws for a mad queen.

Bit by bit it can be seen.
Bit by bit it can be heard.
Bit by bit it grows stronger.
Here, there, everywhere.
The last beat. The master comes.
Riding across the moonlight that haunts the shadows and the dark places.
He takes his time.
Bit by bit, bit by bit.......

I hear the pulse of the awakening.
Along the moonlight that haunts the darkness.
It will, with certainty, provide the time.
The pulse of the awakening.
The last beat
The master rides across the moonlight.

Senex. Agent of the Moonlight.

The drums of war are beating.
It is the music that brings the birth of a new world.
The master comes.
Riding across the moonlight that haunts the shadows and the dark places.
(It is all so beautiful!)

When the battle's done. He will bring to this world. A gift of death.

[VIEW SPOILERS]

Shining Sign

When Vincent starts to feel sick, supposedly from eating too much, he is actually probably feeling sick from the awakening taking place. (the programmed desire to kill the nearby proxy) My reasoning for this is that echoes of the awakening sound are played ominously. Just as they are later when straight-jacket woman is chanting, mentioning the pulse of the awakening, "the last beat" and "bit by bit it grows stronger".

Vincent is reminded of Ergo Proxy's memories when he hears "pulse of the awakening" from straight-jacket lady.

"Here, there, everywhere" the pulse of the awakening is happening and the project is ending.
The death of Senex specifically does not bring about a new world, but it is supposed to clear the way for the humans to return and inhabit the earth.
The gift of death likely reflects Senex's will to accept her fate and enjoy the death that will come.

It is a nice duality of sun and moon, Kaskis and Senex, Asura and Charos, autoreiv and subhuman.

Asura is a race of gods that herald to Vedic texts. Hindu mythology. They are originally good and nature gods, but the culture shifts and they come to represent the materialistic and wrongness of emotions. "pride, arrogance, conceit, anger, harshness, and ignorance."

Asura in Buddhist religion refers to a fallen race that forever tries to regain its prestige atop a holy mountain. They were cast out while drunk and have no real leader but Vemacitrin is a significant figure. Vemacitrin was bitter and insulting, and in a poetry contest he lost because he was violent and contentious compared to his competitor who urged peace, harmony, and edification.

When Vincent says "No, please don't." to the Asura troops, he may be referring to "don't let me out, I might become a monster."

Straight-jacket lady calls the fight "so beautiful." I'm going to assume she speaks for Senex as a sort of oracle. Anyway, it makes sense that Senex and Kaskis both embraced their end and wanted to kill each other since Kaskis insisted on it and they were in love and agreed to meet their end together.
That and her insane desire to kill and enjoy destroying life. "Personal. And messy. Like it was fun. Our people were torn apart and someone enjoyed it."

Kazkis Hauer I can find to further reference to besides Ergo Proxy.

Vincent is the "angel of death," the people die because of Raul's hatred and the Proxys emerge because they are awakened by Vincent now that the time has arrived and the trigger set.

[/SPOIERS]

////////////Reactions
Death. Night. Decay. Insanity. Peace.
Monotony. War. Mindlessness. Meaning.
Poetry. Existence. Beauty. Hideousness. Fear. Love.

I do not think this episode has too much specific to say. While it contains many themes and references, and yes alludes to the answers in such a way that cannot be understood, I understand this episode mostly as a mood piece. It also is pleasantly linear and action oriented for a change.

I happen to like weird monsters and transformations and surrealism, so Senex is right up my alley. Their weird fighting dance as well as the chanting poem is enough to entertain me pretty thoroughly despite it not really making any sense. No, their powers and fighting style never make sense past a weak sort of argument that they are enjoying the coming of death and reveling in the act of it with their crazy powers.

In truth, the most meaningful part I get out of it is that sense of beauty, mystery, and despair of the lives of the forgotten. The dance with insanity in an effort to understand it. That ultimate surrender for risk of losing sanity yourself. The infinities of time and space that leave us lost and hopeless, and yet are grand and beautiful while you can stand to stare into the void.

Poetry, like I said. Empty and deep at once.

All Episodes: Ergo Proxy Companion Viewing Guide
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Next:Episode 9:Shards of Brilliance/Angel's Share