>>3512677Shinji begins Instrumentality, but eventually sees it for what it is. Death, nothingness. The only way he can find happiness is by daring to live and searching for it. Kaworu and Rei, in his heart, symbolize the words I love you, and the hope of real human understanding. The Christ in his heart symbolizes the hope of love. But he rejects this as nothing but a self serving lie, a fantasy, which is natural given what he has experienced. He doesn't know where happiness is, believing it can never be found in such faith, but endeavors to search anyways. Then, Asuka on the beach. One More Final, 'I Need You'. At first, he is still in a dark mood, still unbelieving in the possibility of true love, in the impossibility of a real, lasting, lifelong love. He starts choking her. She has hurt him and she deserves to die. Then, shockingly, Asuka shows him forgiveness and affection by stroking his cheek. Despite everything he has done to her, THIS? He cries. He has seen the unconditional love of Kaworu (Jesus Christ) in the other. He has seen the true God (who is Love) in neighbor. He realizes he was wrong, sees where happiness is to be found-- between neighbors, in Love (God). Shinji has achieved Faith.
His character makes perfect sense to me. He is the center of the New Century Gospel (Shin Seiki Evangelion), or the Gospel of New Beginnings (Neon Genesis Evangelion). He is the fully human messiah who represents Possibility, the will to live, hope, love, and believe, despite the horrors of the modern world.
(2/2)
