Okay, let me take you down a dark, twisting path—one full of cursed objects, heartache, and way too many bad decisions. In Berserk, that object is the Behelit, a sinister little egg-shaped trinket that’s got the power to change the fate of everyone it touches—whether they want it to or not.
The Behelit isn’t just some random magic doodad. Oh no. It’s a symbol of fate, sacrifice, and the ugly side of human ambition. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering how an innocent piece of jewelry could drive entire armies into madness, well, you’ve come to the right place. Buckle up, because we’re about to unravel the dark history behind this twisted artifact.
What is a Behelit in Berserk?
The Behelit is, well, an enigma. It’s an egg-like object with a human face—distorted and almost grotesque. Imagine something you’d find in an old horror movie, but make it 10 times more unsettling. Yeah, that’s the Behelit for you.
These things aren’t just for show. When someone desperate enough holds onto a Behelit—you know, like at the height of despair—it transforms. The face contorts, the skies darken, and suddenly, you’ve got yourself an otherworldly portal opening to offer you something truly hella tempting—power. Power in exchange for… well, everything you’ve ever cared about.
How Behelits Work
You’re probably thinking, “Okay, cool. But what exactly happens when someone uses the Behelit?” Well, it’s not like you get a free lunch. If anything, you’re about to lose more than you’ll ever gain. The Behelit works as a gateway to summon the God Hand, a group of demon overlords. When a person activates the Behelit by sacrificing someone (or something) they love, they get all sorts of demonic power. Pretty horrifying, huh?
Fun fact: A lot of people joke about getting rich or powerful if they made a deal with a demon. But in Berserk, the cost is so much steeper than a bad credit score.
The Sinister Origin of the Behelit
Ah, the Behelit—how it came to be is a mystery. But, y’all, let’s dive into the theories. The Behelit may have origins tied to the Idea of Evil, a godlike entity that messes with the flow of destiny. It’s all very, “Did I just unlock a hidden level of the universe?” kind of vibe. The Behelit might be created, given, or guided by cosmic forces that like to toy with fate.
Here’s where it gets fun—and by “fun,” I mean terrifying: The Behelit isn’t some random object you pick up at the mall. It’s a calculated piece of destiny, kind of like someone’s awful life insurance policy—once you activate it, you’re in deep.
The Role of the Idea of Evil
Ever heard of the Idea of Evil? Yeah, it sounds like a villain from a bad ’80s action movie. But this entity is supposedly the brain behind everything in the Berserk world. The Behelit? Well, it’s one of its favorite tools. You make a sacrifice, you get power, and the Behelit does its thing to keep the cosmic balance—meaning you get a new power, but you’re probably going to lose a lot along the way.
I mean, come on. Who wouldn’t want that?
Griffith and the Egg of the King
Now, if you’ve been reading Berserk (or have heard about it via internet osmosis), you know that the Behelit really makes its mark when it comes to Griffith.
Griffith’s Fall and Rise
You know the drill: Griffith had big dreams. Like, big dreams. And when his body got crushed—both literally and metaphorically—the only way he could get back was to use his crimson Behelit, the Egg of the King. It’s all sorts of messed up, but this little egg wasn’t just for decoration. It was the key to him becoming Femto, a member of the God Hand. Talk about a hella upgrade.
Anyway, Griffith’s journey makes it clear: the Behelit doesn’t give a single damn about morality. It just cares about power, and Griffith was ready to pay whatever price to get it.
Symbolism of the Behelit in Berserk
So what’s really going on with the Behelit? Is it just a creepy piece of jewelry, or is there something deeper here? Spoiler alert: It’s way deeper. The Behelit embodies everything Berserk is about—fate, ambition, and, most of all, the cost of getting what you want.
Psychological and Philosophical Themes
- Fate vs. Free Will: The Behelit is essentially the universe saying, “Nah, you’re not in control.” So much for free will, huh?
- Sacrifice and Transformation: You get what you want, but there’s always something lost in the process. A whole lot of something.
- Human Desire and Corruption: The more you want, the more the Behelit will make you pay. There’s no good ending here, folks.
It’s like a messed-up version of Beauty and the Beast, except the Beast is your soul.
The Behelit and Guts’ Struggle
Ah, Guts. My dude never stood a chance. After the Eclipse, Guts becomes marked by the Behelit. Yeah, that same crimson egg that Griffith used. The Behelit doesn’t just change your life—it changes everything around you. And for Guts, it means a whole lot of demons chasing him around, trying to tear him apart.
The Brand of Sacrifice
Guts gets the brand—basically, a glowing neon sign on his back that says, “Hey, I’m on the God Hand’s hit list.” Not great, right? But hey, it’s not like he had a choice.
It’s like this: imagine being chased by a relentless storm of demons. That’s Guts, thanks to the Behelit. But instead of running away, he fights. And boy, does he fight.
Real-World Inspirations Behind the Behelit
Miura didn’t just pluck the Behelit out of thin air. No, there’s some serious real-world inspiration in here.
Artistic and Cultural Influences
- Gnostic Symbols: The Behelit takes its shape from ancient religious symbols, often tied to power, evil, and temptation.
- Christian Sacrifice: Berserk might be all about demons and monsters, but the themes of sacrifice and resurrection are steeped in Christian allegory.
- Surrealism: That distorted face? It’s like a Salvador Dalí painting—unsettling, but you can’t look away.
And let me tell you, that’s not an accident. Miura knew exactly what he was doing.
The Tragedy of Apostles and the Behelit’s Curse
So, here’s the kicker: when you use a Behelit, you become an apostle. And let me tell you—being an apostle is no walk in the park. Apostles are twisted, horrifying creatures who were once human. But now? They’re something else—something monstrous.
Common Themes Among Apostles
- Loss of humanity
- A never-ending hunger for more power
- A permanent feeling of loneliness, even when surrounded by hordes of followers
It’s like being a leader, but with no followers who actually care about you. Yikes.
Bullet Point Overview: Behelit’s Role and Power
Let’s break it down real quick—this is what you get when you mess with a Behelit:
- Summons the God Hand in exchange for sacrifice
- Grants immense power, but it’s hella expensive
- Transforms you into an apostle (or God Hand member)
- Represents fate, sacrifice, and the ugliness of human desire
- Drives the plot of Berserk forward, causing chaos and heartbreak
Variants and Appearances in the Series
Okay, so the Behelit isn’t just some one-off magical object. Oh no. There are a bunch of different Behelits, and they all have interesting effects.
Rosine’s Behelit
Rosine’s Behelit? It’s a reminder that the Behelit doesn’t care who you are—it’ll mess you up no matter your age. Rosine uses it to escape a tragic life, but Berserk shows us that getting power never comes without a dark twist.
The Egg-Shaped Apostle
Now here’s a fun (read: horrifying) fact. There’s a Behelit that’s actually a living, breathing egg. And yeah, it ends up giving rise to Griffith’s transformation. Super unsettling.
The Behelit in the Berserk Fandom
The Behelit has taken on a life of its own in the fandom. Fans wear it, tattoo it, heck, even turn it into jewelry. It’s no longer just a symbol in a manga; it’s an icon.
Why the Behelit Resonates
What makes the Behelit so compelling? Well, it taps into something really human. The idea that we all have a breaking point—a moment when we’d sell everything just to get what we want.
The Role of the Skull Knight and Behelits
The Skull Knight knows what the Behelit is capable of. And he’s not impressed. Throughout the series, he tries to warn Guts that fate is a nasty thing. And that pesky Behelit is its constant reminder.
