Kaguya-sama: What is Love? | The Jungian Persona & love according to various Philosophers
The term persona is really a very appropriate expression for this, for originally it meant the mask once worn by actors to indicate the role they played. – Carl Jung, CW7, Para 245
Kaguya-sama is a knee-slapping romantic comedy Anime following two big-brained, lovestruck protagonists as they pursue their goal of attaining bliss through romantic conquest by trying to outsmart one another to force out a heart-eyed, Shoujo Manga confession from the other in an all-out-war of wits that exploits and weaponizes even the smallest of gestures in a convoluted and over-the-top fashion that would definitely give manipulative edgelords like Lelouch Lamperouge and Light Yagami a run for their money.
Comedy is subjective and I happen to find Kaguya-sama to be comedy gold mainly because the author of this show knows what’s up when it comes to Millennial and Gen Z Humour. My mans is just so in touch with popular media, internet shenanigans, meme culture, social statistics and human behavior and we are letting him cook with writing sketches dealing with zoomers being left on read, getting hooked on sussy psychology games, and finding what ‘First Time’ meant via magazine surveys and personality quizes. This series goes the extra mile to set up a joke and it works like a charm because homeboy doesn’t miss a beat when it comes to comedic timing.
But we’re not here to talk about the comedy.
We’re here to talk about some real love, which is somewhat of a complicated topic because…
What is this show about?
The main theme of this show is such that whoever confesses first loses. Talking about the idea that humans play the ideal version of themselves, keep their displeasure to themselves and deceive others in order to be loved. Wearing a mask to hide one’s insecurities and weaknesses so their potential partner could see them in the best light.
Which leads us to the main questions this video will try to answer:
1. Does every person really need to wear such a mask and do is it really necessary to hide our flaws and intentions in order to be accepted and loved?
2. Which I hope you wouldn’t find very cheesy: What do we really mean by TRUE LOVE?
First we need to understand that Kaguya-sama plays a lot with the idea of the Persona.
The Jungian Persona
According to the Psychologist, Carl Jung,
“The Persona is a mask or a disguise, through which we present ourselves to the outside world. … A compromise between individual and society as to what a man [or woman] should appear to be.”
Warning: SPOILERS
The main protagonists of the show, Miyuki Shirogane and Kaguya Shinomiya, served as the President and VP of the Student Council of Shuuchin Academy, an outrageously elite school reserved for the uber-rich. A setup so typical among many romantic-comedy animes.
Kaguya, the genius Nikkei 225 princess of high society and Shirogane, the poor scholar from the House of Commoners served as the Jasmine and Alladin of this show. Though the difference between their social and financial statuses was as night and day, these two teenagers shared a few common traits: They both have too much pride and a lot of emotional baggage.
Also, can someone please give these two a big glass of water? Cos sheeesh they do be actin’ kinda thirsty in one too many scenes of the series.
Their pride comes as a by-product of carrying the heavy weight of their obligations tied to their positions within society’s food chain and the school’s social hierarchy.
They are under pressure to not display any weakness, embodying perfection while maintaining an air of authority in fulfilling their duties.
And that presents a lof of conflict because our seemingly perfect protagonists are not without their own flaws.
Flaws and the Reliance on the Persona
Kaguya, although well-mannered and well-adjusted, radiates dangerous levels of Yandere-energy and displays a strong tendency to be envious, naive, selfish, petty and arrogant, while Shirogane could find himself to be extremely dense, negative, insecure, indecisive, and anxious.
And in order to hide all these flaws, they both needed to wear their own masks (persona).
“The persona we wear is not our true self, The persona is like a suit of clothes which one puts on in order to appear respectable and well-dressed.”
Whether we notice it or not, we tend to wear different types of masks to suit different groups of people we interact with on the daily. Think about how differently we act around our close friends compared to how we behave towards strangers on the bus or towards other people in power with whom we don’t feel comfortable interacting.
Jung’s theory implies that every single human on this planet uses a persona. And it’s effects could be negative or positive depending on how we use it. It is natural for us humans to want to fit in and adapt to different social circles, and many times, the mask we wear helps make that possible.
Imagine a world in which people reveal everything about themselves even if they don’t have to (#nofilter). A world where people act solely based on their momentary feelings and emotions. No tolerance, no controlling of whims and annoyances buried deep within, no playing nice, no self-control. That could be an entire Episode of Black Mirror, right?
There are people who believe that it would almost be impossible to function in society without the mask and the persona.
The Psychiatrist, Carl Jung
Kaguya-sama and The Persona
The main characters in Kaguya-sama also use personas as they hopelessly try to make each other confess. Kaguya covers her momentary thoughts of malice and jealousy with her sweet smile, playing the innocent and elegant young lady role while manipulating her surroundings to pressure the pres into confessing to her. And Shirogane, in order not to look desperate, hides his great interest in Kaguya by using the deceptive powers of his cool and unfazed persona as they both participate in a Game of Frames: framing and re-framing their stances and positions in gamefied scenarios and social interactions just to appear more dominant in the equation, for the sake of hiding their weaknesses, and appearing desired and sought-after instead of looking needy.
And the situations within the show can really get out of pocket. On the first episode alone, Kaguya pretended to receive a love letter and bluffed about going on a date with a random dude just to pressure Shirogane to move prematurely in fear of competition. There was a scene wherein the characters slipped free event tickets into one of their friend’s mail just to create an opportunity for them to be asked out on a date. And this is just the first episode. Later on things would get even more convoluted.
A series of misunderstandings, overreactions, and complications escalate the scenes that just makes the show a lot more entertaining to watch.
And those entertaining scenes are made possible by the characters’ attempt to frame certain situations with the guise of their persona.
The first and second seasons of this anime were pretty much carried by its comedy; however, the third season and the movie elevated the show to a whole new level.
My Few Criticisms
I’ll admit that there was a time when I actually put the show on hold during its first season because when the novelty of Kaguya-sama’s shenanigans slightly wore off, I, along with some other critics, found the show to be somewhat repetitive; with the same pattern of planning, scheming, simping, and failing in their plans to make the other confess. Again and again. Rinse and repeat.
What fixed this problem for me is the fact that the latter parts of the show and the manga, to my surprise and delight, actually showed us some meaningful backstory and depth, giving justice to its major characters. Eventually, the show explained why our best boy, Ishigami, acted very awkwardly and meekly at the start, giving him his own arcs to develop his interesting and highly-relatable character. It also made us understand why Iino was such a stickler for the rules and showed us that there’s a lot more to her as a friend and as a character. The series also revealed a different side to Fujiwara, showing how she became so unapologetically expressive and confident. And it thoroughly explored the reason why Romeo & Juliet (Kaguya and Pres) badly needed to hide their true selves behind their own masks.
Despite finding this duo very hilarious and funny, there is one crucial thing that bothered me so much about our main protagonists at first:
Why make up all these lies and deception? Why can’t you guys make your lives easier by being more direct and honest?
Meaningful Backstory
The third season of the anime and the advanced chapters in the manga explained everything beautifully to me, giving me satisfying answers to my questions. For Kaguya, it was shown in detail how Spartan her upbringing in the Shinomiya household truly was. And in order to survive the extremely strict and emotionally abusive household she grew up in, she was forced to develop a persona that doesn’t show emotion and weakness, protecting herself and the people around her from getting hurt by keeping everyone at arm’s length, shielding herself from fake people who are nice to her upfront but stab her in the back whenever they get the opportunity. That was all she ever knew. However, meeting Shirogane and her Student Council friends made her understand that despite all her unfortunate experiences in the past, there are people out there who are truly selfless and noble; people who will to the extra mile at the expense of themselves, helping others in need out of the purest of intentions.
For Shirogane, the latter parts of the story finally explained that apart from trying to be worthy of his position, his friends, his father and sister, and Kaguya, another major reason why he was burning the midnight oil, working and studying so hard was to cope with the trauma he experienced in his younger years with his own mother. There was a time during kindergarten when Miyuki’s mom made him study really hard in order to get into a school with a good reputation, putting all her high expectations on her kid. And despite trying his hardest, Miyuki failed every single one of those entrance exams. As a child, he felt how his mother slowly lost interest in him, neglecting him emotionally, making him feel as if he would never be good enough unless he got top results. Even more than a decade later after his mother left their family for her lover, Miyuki still couldn’t stop himself from working so hard because deep within, he hoped that one day if his mom decides to come back to them, she could finally see him getting good grades and being on top of his classes. He was somewhat hoping he could earn the love and affection he was deprived of when he was a child.
Prior to this revelation, there were times in the first season when I found myself raising my hands like this, watching our boy fumble with his schemes, saying to my screen, “Bro, just confess. Just own up to it. Sheesh.”
The rest the story also addressed this complaint of mine by showcasing Shirogane’s inner perspective from time to time. The reason why he couldn’t confess to Kaguya first was that if he did that, they would never be able to stand next to each other as equals.
Shirogane’s got problems
His inferiority complex, his mommy issues and the memories of being belittled by society because of his low financial and social standing weighed him down, making him think of himself as unworthy of the high and mighty Kaguya, with Shirogane himself, depicted as a lowly human being extending his hand to the starry sky, reaching up for the moon. He thought that if he could make Kaguya confess to him first, he would finally get the validation that he craved for.
Both of these complex characters thought that they’re not worthy of being loved because of their past, flaws, and weaknesses. That’s why they tried to hide these imperfect sections of themselves. And their over-reliance on the defence mechanism known as the Persona led to some of the major conflicts they faced in the show. By using their social mask excessively, both of them suffered from episodes of mental and emotional exhaustion. It also hindered self-expression and caused them to lose some of their authenticity at the beginning which made it all the more harder to confess.
The author of the series stated that the mask can either make or break a person, depending on how one uses it. Saying that those who put on a façade will oftentimes find that façade becoming part of who they really are. For example, Miyuki put on the persona of being a competent top-achiever and an upstanding human being and he actually ended up becoming one. It was fake it ‘til you make
Both Aka Akasaka and Carl Jung believe that the Persona has its positives and negatives. It’s more of a double-edged sword that has the potential to either harm or help us.
Now that we’ve talked about the Mask, we can now talk about the other major theme of Kaguya-sama, which is all about love.
What exactly is love?
The concept of true love is subjective and varies from person to person. Some believe that love is a symphony of sensations that dances in the heart, an opus of longing and belonging that echoes in the chambers of the soul. A strong feeling of attraction, respect, admiration, and devotion to a special person.
According to Plato-ojiisan, love is a yearning for something eternal or divine that transcends attraction towards knowledge or physical and spiritual beauty. The desire to be reunited with our other half, or soulmate, to become whole once again.
While according to Aristotle-senpai, love is a type of friendship rooted in affection, shared virtue and mutual goodwill, wanting the best for each other.
As for Friedrich Nietzsche-kun, he saw it as a form of power that has the potential to control and manipulate others. However, he also described it as a source of inspiration, creativity and vitality. Something that contributes to the affirmation of life.
And the existentialist philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre-sensei believed that love is not predetermined and should always be a conscious choice made by people. It should not be affected by external factors such as fate, destiny and societal norms. Love should be rooted in authenticity or being true to one’s values. Individuals must accept the responsibility of their actions while respecting the autonomy and freedom of their partner.
Which one of these is the most accurate depiction love?
Aka Akasaka’s take on Love
At the final leg of the series, the author of the Kaguya manga said that there may not be a single ‘right’ way to pursue love, and he also criticized the over-romanticization of love in our modern time, saying that love doesn’t always have to be 100% pure to be considered worth having. He discussed that the core of human nature is rooted in both reason and desire, and that love is a perfect window into this core. Thus, love can also be rooted in calculation and self-interest.
He described the pursuit of love as something bothersome, risky, and absurd, but he also acknowledged it to be a fascinating thing that brings color to one’s life.
Aka Akasaka. Author of the Kaguya-sama manga
Kaguya-sama & Love
The initial parts of Kaguya-sama played around with the idea of hiding one’s own intentions, playing a game of shadows with elements of deception and manipulation. The latter parts of the story, however, finally portrayed LOVE as ACCEPTANCE – an end to the initial series of childish charades. Finally taking the mask off, revealing one’s true self underneath the persona. Laying bare each other’s insecurities and weaknesses, yet deciding to love and accept one another all the same. This show teaches us that we don’t need to hide every single part of ourselves that are not desirable in order to be loved. It also shows us that expressing one’s love is equivalent to being vulnerable – lowering down our own defences to let another soul enter our heart while appreciating the beauty found within a person’s imperfections. And it sings the praises of a person’s struggle and effort to reach for the moon and the stars in pursuit of love and happines.
In a way, it is true that the person who confesses first loses. And if one courageously faces their fears of rejection, defies their uncertainties and anxieties, and risks everything just to be with the person they love, they would indeed stop relying too much on the power of their mask, rendering themselves vulnerable, revealing their true intentions, and if both hearts are true, they would end up finding happiness and acceptance.
Losing the battle of pride in exchange for winning the whole war of love. That is what Kaguya-sama is all about.
Closing Remarks
After finishing the manga, I can say that Kaguya-sama is one of the best romantic comedy series I have watched and read. Without spoiling too much, I can guarantee you that every character in this show was given so much respect and adoration, with most if not all loose ends in their story arcs being tied up in a beautiful and satisfying manner.
There are a lot of wholesome and heartfelt moments embedded in the last quarter of the manga, when the author focused less on the comedic side and more on the romantic aspect of the story. And it just shows how much of a good writer this Aka is, making me appreciative of his other works (Hello, Oshi No Ko).
To conclude, Kaguya-sama is a story that I have been following for a few years now, and it has given me a lof of insight when it comes to friendship, human nature, social dynamics, having fun, and most importantly, love. And though I am sad that it’s already finished, I’m also glad that I got to know all these great characters that will definitely stay with me as I move forward in my life.
I will never forget what this show taught me about romance:
“Love isn’t something you get, it’s something you pursue and fight for.”
What is Love?
Love is WAR!
Ight! See ya next time.
FOR SOME EXTRA READING ON THE TOPIC, CHECK OUT THE FOLLOWING BOOKS BELOW:
Disclaimer: This website uses Amazon affiliate links, meaning: at no additional cost to you, we earn a small commission if you click-through and make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We only feature products that we believe in and use ourselves. Your support means the world to us and allows us to host this website. Thank you!
