Bsd Characters - Blog Posts
Analysis of the new official art of Fyodor for Volume 26
It’s truly magnificent.
I am going to go heavy on the flowers because its meaning is very relevant for the following but don’t worry, there are also many interesting things we’ll analyse. Too many things to say. I am gonna try to stay focused and do something neat. Let’s talk first about the floral background, and the skulls which is honestly the first thing I that intrigued me.
The flowers we can see on the foreground and background are lilies.
• The lilies are a symbol of purity and innocence, representing Fyodor’s ideal vision of a “pure” world free of sinners.
They are additionally associated with the concept of new beginnings and fresh starts, renewal, which could refer to the creation of a new world free of sin. A new start for a pure humanity that Fyodor wishes to establish.
In numerology, lilies are often associated to 7 and 9 :
• The number 7 is linked to spirituality, which aligns with the symbolism of lilies as a representation of purity, enlightenment, and divine connection. And it makes sense with Fyodor’s strong religious beliefs and that he seeks to bring people to a sinless life while fulfilling the will of god.
• The number 9 is associated with completion, humanitarianism, and transformation, which complements the lily’s symbolic role in representing renewal (such as resurrection in Christianity) and which also reminds of the nature of Fyodor’s ability to be brought back to life (like a new man) through the sacrifice of his killer.
Basically « humanitarianism » is the belief in promoting the welfare of others and taking action to alleviate human suffering. But we’ll look at it on a spiritual view. Basically, in religion, humans suffer in sin : That, therefore, Fyodor is going to take it upon himself to « save » people.
We’ve also, throughout the manga, seen that Fyodor is a « people person » this fact along with this new official art also resonates with a saying of the REAL Fyodor Dostoyevsky : « Every man is not only responsible for everything he does but for everything everyone else does » but anyway I am digressing.
Lilies also signify a higher consciousness, acting as a bridge between the earthly and divine realms. Like Fyodor who acts like the right hand of god by bringing the godly virtue upon humans.
One single thing that is very important that I haven’t said yet, is that the Lily is also associated to death since death itself could be associated to renewal. We could see lilies in churchyards, it is also offered to the family of someone deceased for memorial purposes.
So
HEAR ME OUT : We can also notice ONE SINGLE lily next to Fyodor’s hand on the foreground which could symbolise here Fyodor’s imminent or future death that awaits him OR we can understand that, since said flower is next to his hand, that it’s death and renewal that he’s giving/offering to the world.
• The skulls: These morbid elements ground the viewer in the reality of his actions’ consequences: a massacre and massive destruction to achieve his goal. The combination of lilies and skulls reflects the duality of his intentions, which he perceives as noble but are profoundly destructive.
Conclusion about the association of Lilies and skulls : What we could keep in mind is that the lilies strengthen the idea of purity or “moral justification” that he attributes to himself in his quest, while the skulls remind us of the violence and sacrifices he is willing to make for his ideology.
The Cape and the Fur : Fyodor’s cape is often highlighted when he is represented in key moments of the manga, either by its proportion in the image or often by its movements. Even today, this is the case in this official art.
Fyodor’s black cape is lined with fur, emphasizes his role as an authoritarian and almost divine figure. The fur evokes a high status, a certain royalty, while black often symbolizes mystery (indeed, we know little to nothing about Fyodor) or even evil in collective imagery.
Fyodor’s expression and gaze : His calm, almost mocking expression highlights his disdain for his opponents and his sense of superiority. His half-closed eyes add an intriguing aura, as if he is silently judging those who look at him, aligning with his role as an antagonist.
Posture and Aura: His elegance and calmness highlight his role as a methodical and imperturbable antagonist, convinced of the righteousness of his actions. Indeed he has faced numerous people that opposed his ideas throughout his quest. The last one so far was Fukuzawa and at that, Fyodor stays imperturbable, confident in his beliefs.
The Ushanka in His Hands : More than a simple cultural symbol, it could reflect his connection to his roots or the idea of Russia, especially with the fact that he’s bringing it to his chest. Lols it made me think about the fact that he told Atsushi that he was going to go back « home », which, we could guess, would be « somewhere » in Russia as something he couldn’t wait to do. Like at the end of one’s day when you can just go back home after you finished work/ school etc.. this kind of relief and anticipation.
I don’t know if it has its place here but I am just sharing my thought, make of it as you wish.
The general symbolism.
The image seems to reflect the paradox of the character. Fyodor views his plan as a quest for purity and perfection (lilies), yet he sows death (skulls) along the way. The ushanka and other Russian visual elements reinforce his identity and his conviction that he is acting for a higher ideal, even though his approach is cold and ruthless.
Voilà !
Thanks you for sticking around till the end. Do not hesitate to give me your thoughts on it (comments or dms).
It is my first time making an analysis, I was very much excited to make one and today was the day.
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