Iāve got some older posts about this, since others have asked before. Itās such a hotly debated topic that the discourse has become really bad, so I appreciate that you arenāt attacking me for not automatically riding the trans train. š
Sheās never emphatically stated Grelleās gender. In fact, she still typically uses male pronouns for the character and calls Grelle an āokamaā, which is an umbrella term for a few different things in Western thought. An okama can be a:
gay, effeminate man who sometimes cross-dresses (like a Drag Queen),
gender- fluid male, or
trans-woman
In the Character Guide, Grelle gives an āinterviewā and provides very over-the-top repliesā¦ much like a celebrity might do in some teen magazine. In that, Grelle mentions thinking about gender reassignment surgery, having kids (not sure how, but ok, itās just wishful thinking, anyway), getting a house with a picket fence, and getting a husband (Will, I should think is the target for that)ā¦ oh, and getting a dog. The original Japanese version just says āokamaā in the description by one of the character sketches. The French translation is a licensed translation and says (translated into English) āeffeminate homosexual transvestiteāā¦ which is basically like saying āDrag Queenā. The only English translation available is a fan translation, so when it says ātrans womanā, I have to consider the bias of whichever fan did the translating.
In the āCiel in Wonderlandā OVA, Grelle seems particularly confused about the gender issue and doesnāt seem to be able to decide between the two. āCheshire Catā Grelle basically decides not to decide, since each gender has its own advantages.
In the manga, Grelle admits that being male/a man rules out the ability to bear childrenā¦ but never mentions this againā¦ not in the main series, anyway. Grelle self-refers as a āladyā, āactressā, etc. for most of the manga but seems to have the ability to slip out of that role whenever itās more convenient to be a āmanā. The extra chapter, the āAkuma 6ā, shows what Grelle imagines a higher-ranking rosette šµ would do, and the image is of either a female version of Grelleā¦ or at least a hormone therapy-using (and possibly post-op) Grelle. Grelleās got quite a rack in that image. āThe Butler, Requestedā also shows Grelle as a āmermaidā with shells to cover the tits (even though they are not ādevelopedā in that image).
I used to use male pronouns for the character, and people wouldnāt leave me in peace over it. Now, I generally avoid using any pronouns for Grelleā¦ or stating a specific gender.
Honestly, though? I think Grelle probably is trans; the various bits of info regarding gender sure do lean that way. I just donāt state a canon gender for Grelle, since Yana-san hasnāt specified it in a way that translates clearly. She might not realize just how much itās debated in the Western fandom, since āokamaā is enough for Japanese readers. Therefore, she might never explain it using terms that Western fans will completely understand.
Thatās why itās typically Western fans that get into arguments over Grelleās gender. The Japanese just say āGrelleās an okamaā and usually leave it at thatā¦ and shrug š¤·š»āāļø at us when we are still so confused.
So, yeeeaaahhhā¦ many say Grelle is a trans woman, many others say a gay man. Iām one of the ones somewhere in the middle going āprobably trans, Iām just not gonna call it. āOkamaā might be the only term we get out of the author who created the character. Yāall can think whatever you like.ā
((The original art can be found here – åē éćć by å£ę – Please go show the artist some love! – Do not remove the artist-source information!))
These panels have always fascinated me. Usually in comics we donāt get close ups on peoples faces unless thereās some sort of deeper reaction weāre supposed to be seeing. Look at Ronaldās face, itās a hard expression to place exactly, but itās much different than any of the other faces heās pulled during this arc. I donāt want to be That Guy, but does anyone else think Sebastian coughing up blood could be reminding Ron of something from his human life, possibly even his death?
Thatās actually a very interesting observation, especially when you consider the next thing Ronald says is about picking on the weak.
Iāve always thought that Ronald almost looks like he pities someone (Sebastian? Ciel?), which doesnāt make much sense. Maybe it does remind him of someone or something.
Do you remember that Kuroshitsuji Cinematic Card Collection mobile game? xD Well it ended earlier this year but I came across this illustration and I just want to share :p
ok can someone tell me how to find these aaaaAAAAAAAA
This is a ficlet based on this post I made some time back for a possible fanfiction idea.
The room was silent aside from the womanās labored breathing. No one was there to see her; to hold her hand in those final hours as her life slowly slipped from her grasp. The realization brought tears to her dull, blue eyes as she brought her arthritic hands together to pray, but she she didnāt pray for a miracle. As the tears traveled through the deep wrinkles of her face, she only prayed her death would come soon to release her of the pain that was both physical and emotional. She was tired, and she was ready for it all to end. Perhaps, she could even see one of her loved ones on the other side.
She must have dozed without realizing it because she suddenly realized that there were two figures now standing in the room although she hadnāt seen her door open. They were too far away at first to make out any features, but soon one of the them stepped forward. She smiled brightly when she recognized his familiar face and reached towards him. While there was something different about him, especially about the eyes, she would have known her young nephew anywhere.
āRonnie,ā she whispered in a voice that sounded like little more than a tired creak, āMy dear boy, youāve come to see me.ā
Ronald said nothing as he looked down at her coolly. He turned and said something to his companion, but she couldnāt understand his words. As she pondered about this, a sudden realization bloomed in her mind like a red rose in a barren desert.
āI remember now,ā she added, āYou died. They said it was by your own hand, but I knew that it couldnāt be true. I knew it had to be an accident, and now I know that I was right. It had to be an accident because youāre an angel now. Youāve come to take me to Heaven.ā Again, she reached for him; her hands shaking but eager.
Without a word towards her, she watched as Ronald raised something above his head which twinkled in the available light, but there was no time for her to feel fear before he plunged it into her chest. She felt the sharp pangs of death as her final breath escaped her mouth. At last, it was her time to die.
ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦..
Ronald watched the records as they spilled out of the old woman to twist and turn about the room. āThere are a lot of records,ā he said as he sighed loudly.
From the far side of the room, William stepped forward and adjusted his glasses. āThe longer a human lives, the more records there are to review. It is simply a fact, but we cannot shirk our duties simply because there are more records.ā
āI know,ā Ronald said.
William continued to watch, but his two toned eyes were focused on Ronald instead of the records. This was the young reaperās first official assignment after graduating, and he was doing an acceptable job so far. He had gone about the collection with the proper level of attachment, although William couldnāt help but wonder one thing.
Had Ronald guessed that the old woman had known him in life?
Ronald might have as the woman had addressed him by name, but so far he hadnāt asked about it, and that was good. Once they were reborn as reapers, they had cast aside all of who they had been as humans besides their names and their faces. Everything else of who they had been was gone and forever beyond their grasp. Sometimes the dying would seem to recognize them, but the recognition could never be returned. Even now, as Ronald reviewed the records, he had no idea that the blonde boy in the womanās memories was him, and that was good.
Finally, the records came to an end, and Ronald produced his notebook. āNothing of note,ā he said, as he stamped completed, āCan we return to the office now? I want to file my paperwork so I donāt have to do overtime.ā
āYou canāt always avoid overtime,ā William said, ābut it is best to return right away. Nothing can be gained by lingering.ā
Ronald barely seemed to be listening as he looked as his scythe, which was the model he had been given upon graduation. āI really need to customize this thing,ā he said, āThis style is just too outdated and old for me.ā He continued to talk to himself as he walked away.
āHonestly,ā William said to himself, but he paused to glance back at the old womanās body. Even if Ronald couldnāt remember, it had seemed to give the woman a bit of peace at the end. Perhaps their punishment could do a bit of good for someone else. Perhaps they could provide just a bit of comfort.
Yo, the pretty gal over there! Iāve been watching you for quite a while now, and you seem quite popular.
Iāll secretly let you in on something. Ah, but since itās a secret, just quickly lend your ears, and then forget about it completely, okay?
āYou have only 7 days left.ā
No matter how hard you fight, you canāt change your fate anymore.
No matter how much you ask me, I cannot change whatās on my list.
Iāll just wait quietly, and then judge your soul.
From the way you look right nowā¦ are you in a state of shock?
There must be a lot of unfinished business that you still want to finish, right?
Please use your limited time wisely.
I reap the worthless souls as if they are newly-sprung weeds.
No matter how hard you fight, you canāt change your fate anymore.
It seems like youāve given up. Thatās okay. Feel at ease.
I will execute my duty magnificently, without giving the demons a chance to steal you from me.
ā¦ā¦.
This is another song that sound cheerful and happy, until you start discecting lyrics. On the surface, it just sounds like Ronald talking to some pretty girl. This isnāt that unusual since this has been seen in the manga.
In fact, it almost seems flippant the way that Ronald can flirt with a girl that heās fairly certain is about to die. However, thatās not really the case in this song. Even the title is āItās Not a Pick-Up Line.ā
Yo, the pretty gal over there! Iāve been watching you for quite a while now, and you seem quite popular.
Iāll secretly let you in on something. Ah, but since itās a secret, just quickly lend your ears, and then forget about it completely, okay?
āYou have only 7 days left.ā
These first few lines sound precisely like a pick-up line. He starts out with complimenting her, and then tells her something secret. The woman probably thought it was more fliring, but then he tells her that she only has seven days days left to live.
Whatās more peculiar is that he thinks that she can just forget it almost immediately. Thatās not the sort of thing you can just shove out of your mind. Despite being a Shinigami, it seems like Ronald doesnāt have a very good grasp on death.
No matter how hard you fight, you canāt change your fate anymore.
No matter how much you ask me, I cannot change whatās on my list.
Iāll just wait quietly, and then judge your soul.
From the way you look right nowā¦ are you in a state of shock?
There must be a lot of unfinished business that you still want to finish, right?
Here, again, we have Ronald delivering horrible news but not thinking about it having any effect on the woman. Heās telling her itās hopeless. Sheās going to die and thatās all there is to it. Then he seems surprised that she might be in shock and casually tells her that she should take care of unfinished business. Heās even admitting that heās going to be the one judging her, but heās delivering the information as if heās telling someone they should prepare for rain the next day.
Please use your limited time wisely.
I reap the worthless souls as if they are newly-sprung weeds.
No matter how hard you fight, you canāt change your fate anymore.
It seems like youāve given up. Thatās okay. Feel at ease.
Again, heās giving advice, but then talking about reaping āworthlessā souls like weeds. In a sense, heās telling this girl that her soul is worthless. Again, heās telling her things are hopeless, yet seems surprised that sheās given up.
I will execute my duty magnificently, without giving the demons a chance to steal you from me.
Ronaldās assuring the woman that heāll do a good job and protect her soul. Again, itās like he thinks this should make her feel okay despite the fact that sheās been told that she only has a week to live.
Looking through the entire song, it seems Ronald is a decent guy. Heās told the woman about her death a week prior to give her a chance to finish unfinished business. He tries to reassure her by telling her that heāll protect her soul. At the same time, he lacks a lot of empathy. Heās surprised that sheās in shock or that sheās given up. He didnāt even deliver the news in a gentle way. He just compliments her and tells her that sheās going to die.
It seems like Ronald has forgotten a bit about what it meant to be human.
We met William first
when he went to collect Grell and prevented her from being killed by
Sebastian. It has been an iconic scene as for one, we came to know
that something like a dispatch association exists and that there are
reapers who, other than Grell, strictly follow the rules and prevent
interfering with humans/demons at all costs. Chapter 12 has also been
the marker for Will to become a reoccurring character in the second
set along with Grell.
William has no interest in a fight with Sebastian, although Sebastian seems to have noticed Williamās strength.
Characters being early
introduced, usually is a sign of these characters holding a deeper
meaning to the plot, as they are either supporting characters to the
main protagonists or their clear antagonists. Will is neither. While
Grell could be seen as an antagonist as she often starts fights with
Sebastian, William is on neither side of the supporting/antagonist
spectrum. He is neutral and therefore a rather powerful character.
Being not bound to one side enables him to freely take sides and to
fulfill his job without any feelings of mercy and remorse.
While we could argue
that Grell as well is not bound by any party, she is often lead by
her emotions, thus often resulting in her going against her own job.
Will has no such boundaries, he only is affiliated with the dispatch
and the officers working for him.
William being set on UTās trail. Perhaps a hint that he is some sort of inquisitor to terminate deserters? MBD has shown him in this role, when he came to kill Eric.
By creating this
character Yana showed us that she is able to tell a story from many
different point of views, often challenging the readers mindsets on
moral and justice ā with William as a center of rest in between the
cruelty that is Kuroshitsuji. There is something that makes the
reader trust his intentions and gives us a safe space in form of a
character who not necessarily needs to be understood.
For most fans he
therefore seems boring, but, with him missing in the plot, the story
gets often so intense, that the reader is left with an uneasy
feeling. There are other safe haven characters, like Soma and Finny,
who take some of the darkness away, but when it comes to the real
challenging parts of the plot, it is always Will to ease the readers
mind.
We knew something was fishy about the Circus with William being present – nevertheless he was the one to give us unexpected laughs.
A perfect example is
the Circus arc. We are talking here about an arc where the victims,
as so often, are the weakest parts of society: children. And instead
of letting us fall into this pit of horror alone, Yana gives us an
arc, where Will is a very prominent character, his bickering with
Sebastian and his honesty is both refreshing and lightening the mood.
He gives us some laughs during a part of a story which in any other
way would not allow us to catch a break. Neither Grell nor Ronald
would have been able to provide such a service to the readers.
Iconic.
For one because Grell
spikes the readers pulse and on another note because Ronald, despite
his cheering behaviour is more of supporting nature to the lead
reapers. He has been shown as nonchalant and flirty, but there needs
to be further development on his character so that he wonāt end up
being expendable to the story. So far he would not be able to
shoulder a whole arc like Will and Grell did.
William is far more important to the story than it seems.
Because he knows something that we, as readers, donāt.
š„ There is beauty in destructionš„ 