Simms - The Choice to Rebel

Ah My Goddess

The issue of free will is shown in how Belldandy and Keiichi really don’t want to be involved in Celestine’s plan of a utopia, but they keep finding themselves involved without really having a choice in the matter. Belldandy felt a certain obligation to Celestine because he was her mentor and that also gave him the opportunity to involve her in his plans and erase her memories of the person she loved. The virus that she was infected with also forced her into a situation where the higher up gods would have to perform a dangerous vaccination. I really think that Keiichi was a puppet to Celestine’s plans also. Keiichi is possessed by Celestine because the god knows that Belldandy wouldn’t harm him.  Under this possession, Keiichi was also made to release the virus that executed Celestine’s plans. To a degree, Celestine probably felt that his choice to destroy the world and start a new one was the only thing that could be done to eliminate suffering. The Gate of Judgment is also an example of how gods don’t really have the choice to be with the humans that they love, they are forced to go through the task of the Gate.

Celestine’s rebellion was very interesting because it wasn’t really a plot that was directed for his personal gain. He looked at the Gate of Judgment as it hurt so many people and he witnessed the suffering that the humans from lower worlds were going through and felt as if the other gods had no desire to aid them. He truly believed that if he started the Earth anew, it would lead to the end to all the suffering that took place on it. Celestine was also motivated by the idea of a world where Belldandy would not have to witness the atrocities that took place. He had good intentions, but I feel as if his plans could possibly lead to the suffering that he was trying to avoid. Furthermore, I felt that Celestine was behaving in the same manipulative manner that he accused the other gods of displaying. He was using those around him (Belldandy, Keiichi) to put them in the position where they did not have a choice, and his actions caused them suffering. However, from Celestine’s perspective, I believe that he felt that the end justifies the means.