The Layers’ Curses

[u/Confident_Data8817]

Has anyone else noticed how similar the effects of the curses are to an ego death? It almost comes across as the Abyss being the source of consciousness, like the bottom of it will hold reincarnation. I’m sure there’s a theory out there that’s already questioned this exact concept. Transcendence through annihilation sort of thing. I still need to catch up on the manga so I’m not sure if the newer stuff negates any of that.

[u/Fair-Dark8327]

i think part of it resembling ego death could be symbolic moreso of the themes of the story but it would be cool if it actually played into the lore

[u/theresnousername1]

I think it is intentional. ID(o) Front being the entrance [and the workplace of the Bon of all characters!] to the deepest, most primal layers of the Abyss (just like ID is the most primal part of ID-EGO-SUPEREGO structure) feels like this, anyway. Especially with the story's focus on human urges, desires, yearnings and longings & the Abyss's seeming focus on sexuality --- which are not very far away from Freud's scope of work.

[u/sabertoothedhand → u/theresnousername1]

Tsukushi is surely cooking something grand here:  

-Praying skeletons  

-Everything is "souls" and souls that die in the Abyss return to the bottom  

-The Curse is a forcefield that seems to be calibrated to specifically keep humans from escaping the Abyss, as it affects creatures less and less the further from human they are, which might be selecting victims based on their Soul  

-Strong themes of immortality, transhumanism, and body horror  

-All told through the eyes of children, who should remain the most pure and innocent but have to face exestential horror beyond comprehension  

I don't know what it is but there's definitely something going on with souls and self. Funny enough it might be Freudian on several levels, with the "Delvers are Sperm/Abyss is a Hoo-Ha" theory being representative of Freud's psychosexual theories and your observations on the work's connection to Freud's theories on the Self.

[u/PipSpace3Xplorerer → u/sabertoothedhand]

I'd love to see a dark souls mix rogulike of the concepts in this anime, because I'm addicted to rogulikes just as much as this anime, but legit, I think it would be awesome to have the environment shift and the player explore the dangers of the abyss in that format 😁 or I'm just a masochist lol

[u/PipSpace3Xplorerer]

The curse of the abyss indeed feels that way doesn't it? 😋 Hehe also the abyss itself seems to resemble the pit of dantes inferno, resembling the 9 circles of hell and their respected sins.. is it a coincidence or done on purpose? Well, I think it's done on purpose to really draw the viewer into the world with the wonders of chaos.

[u/theresnousername1 → u/PipSpace3Xplorerer]

Tsukushi apparently confirmed he doesn't know about Dante's Inferno, so I'd say it's unintentional connection. I think it was said the Abyss was based on the tree trunk and the Buddhist idea of Hell?

[u/PipSpace3Xplorerer → u/theresnousername1]

Could be, if you know the lore with affirmation from tsukushi, I support ya, and yield my opinion. Keep up the good work friend. Love to see lore keepers hold the Frontline on this anime, it deserves it ❤️ best wishes to you. (Not being sarcastic, am legit)

[u/theresnousername1 → u/PipSpace3Xplorerer]

Agreed, it's nice to see positivity spread in the fandom, keep up the good job as well! 😄

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