Some people believe that morality is a human or social construct. It's not something that's inherently just for humans. Take for example Meruem/Ant king. He has his own moral compass and beliefs that are, for me, not that much different from humans', at least with regards to conquering creatures that he perceives as beneath him. Remember: he says that what he was doing wasn't any different from what we do. Do we ask pigs how they feel before we slaughter them (and subsequently, eat them)? This really struck me, and I admit I saw this point being made a few chapters before Meruem says it. Maybe it's just me, but I really don't see the Ants any different from humans in this regard.
On that note: what does it take to call something human? Is it really about genetics/appearances/something you were born with? Is it about something abstract that can be identified in any creature, just more so with biological human beings? i.e. Would you consider Meruem to be 'human' in an abstract sense, even if he wasn't born as a human being? Or was he a beast that became more humane as his character developed? He went from a human-eating monster to someone who grows and becomes capable of love and respect (Komugi, Royal Guards, Netero).
On that note: how do you define and differentiate a 'beast' from a 'human' in the HxH world? Is there really a fine line between them? Some humans exhibit beastlike tendencies; some beasts exhibit humanlike tendencies. These tendencies, then, are/could be inherent in anyone. What does it take for a beast to exhibit humanlike tendencies, and vice versa?
Interesting to note in the Ant arc: The more Meruem developed as a character, the more he becomes humane. The more Gon regressed, the more he becomes beast-like. I guess you could say that, as a reader, it's just easier to relate to Meruem as the arc progressed. Thus, he becomes more 'human'. And yet Gon, who is a human being, has this weird mentality and moral compass that I cannot quite grasp as a reader. I'd talk about this in length, but this post would get too long and I'm sure some of you have already discussed this in other threads (I just made one a few months ago in mangafox actually, so I don't really want to discuss this again). But yeah, I think some of you can understand why I think Gon is so... weird, at least for a child shounen protagonist. It's like he has
Blue and Orange Morality or something.
Oh wait. He does according to TvTropes.
But going back, I find it interesting how progression and regression of character (at least in the Ant arc) can make Meruem and Gon exhibit these tendencies. Pitou too actually, now that I think about it. It's also interesting to note that during the Ant arc, we see Meruem and the Guards as more humanlike the more we see things from their perspective. It's more about understanding, really.
I have this feeling that this all ties to power. More powerful creatures may have the tendency to seek more power and to size others up to see if they are beneath them. It all depends on what kind of power they crave. Gon is a wild child who grew up with nature. I can see him subscribing to the thought of 'Survival of the Fittest.' He craves power and wants to be strong; this has been hinted at throughout the manga. This crave for power makes him come across as a bit beast-like. Perhaps he is, in that sense.
Meruem and the other Ants
had power, and thus saw other creatures (like human beings) as beneath them. I've already talked about this in the previous paragraphs.
The Zodiacs and the Shadow Beasts based their combat abilities to whatever animals they are aligned with. They changed their images (well, most of them at least) to fit the animal they are assigned to. Did they have to do this? I don't think so. But they did it. Why (aside from pleasing Netero)? I guess it could also be their affinity to that animal. It's kind of psychological, actually. I mean, changing their looks reinforces that they're not
just humans. And regarding the Shadow Beasts (or at least Worm): they are supposed to be fearsome. What's more scary than someone human who... doesn't look like one? And what often comes with fear? Power. If you can make someone fear you, you can actually have power over that someone. Paralyze that person with fear, and he's dead in the next second.
I'm just saying. Worm is
scary.
Changing one's looks to resemble that of both a human and an animal can bring out a lot of psychological shit if you think about it (like if Togashi ever played with characters falling under the
Uncanny Valley - now that'd be interesting, if done right in manga format. Though I think that'd be hard to do, but I digress.) I don't think a lot of them changed their looks just for this reason (I mean, they could have changed their looks for shits and giggles for all we know). I just thought this was something interesting.
One thing is clear in the manga though: just about anyone can have humanlike or beastlike tendencies. Can't judge a book by its cover, as they say. Also, Kite says that a good hunter is liked by animals. Makes me wonder why.
Oh, and Pariston sooooo fits the Rat persona.
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