Umineko Reading Techniques (Part 1) - Juxtaposition

Juxtaposition is an act or instance of placing two elements close together or side by side. This is often done in order to compare/contrast the two, to show similarities or differences, etc.

#07threads #Natsuhi07 #Beatrice07

Various forms of juxtaposition occur in literature, where two images that are otherwise not commonly brought together appear side by side or structurally close together, thereby forcing the reader to stop and reconsider the meaning of the text through the contrasting images, -

- motifs, etc. Throughout the arts, juxtaposition of elements is used to elicit a response within the audience's mind, such as creating meaning from the similar or contrast. The first instance we realize this was in the portrayal of Natushi and Beatrice in Episode 5 “End”.

The real interpretation of this scene was realizing that Natsuhi was all alone talking to herself, but the magic interpretation (and the intended one by the game master), was connecting trials and tribulations of both parties involved by the reader.

Even though Natsuhi and Yasu did never have this conversation, through putting the two pieces together, we can understand several varied things about the situation or the predicament of each piece involved, or if we just see each person from the perspective from another.

Through Yasu’s eyes, we can understand her worries for not being able to become a woman for jeorge and help him achieve her dreams, or her inability to even become a woman at all compared to her peers, or to acquire the love of battler and fulfill their promise.

Through Natsuhi’s Eyes, We can understand the feeling of a caged bird whose life was robbed from her without her consent. There are also many conceptual facts and statements that fit into both of their complex situations, which are told across many story beats.

Through collecting and analyzing all these scattered concepts and examples we can truly understand the mystery, the pain and yasu’s wishes. We can understand all umineko characters who were robbed of their freedom at a young age like natsuhi and beato.

We can also understand people who didn't feel like they are actually at home or even have a home all together, the changing perceptions of what constitutes a home and a happy family, and the different responsibilities of family members regarding age and gender.

To truly understand everyone’s connected evolving story, one should treat Umineko characters like a toy box, and every piece as a foil in some way to another piece, and they will be surprised by the vast amount of information Juxtaposition can provide.

and of course the ultimate form of this is putting your own self as a reader against the author, and try to understand what makes the two of you similar or different. through this process you can both reach a similar conclusion about what you both need or want from each other