Griffith
General Info

Gender | Male |
---|---|
Job Title | Leader of the Band of the Hawk (formerly), God Hand |
Birth Place | Midland |
Knows about | Eclipse, Band of the Hawk |
Nationality | Midlander |
Alternate Name | Femto |
Character Name | Griffith |
Member of Organization | God Hand, Band of the Hawk (formerly) |
Introduction
Griffith is a complex character with big ambitions. But these dreams of hers are not free. His relentless pursuit of power ultimately leads to his downfall and the despair of those around him. Despite his seemingly cold and calculating personality, Griffith also shows a softer side to his closest friends, which shows the depth of his character.
What sets Griffith apart from others is his willingness to sacrifice everything for his dreams. He is the epitome of tragic heroes: an inspiring but fatally flawed character. As the story unfolds, we see his transformation from charming leader to enigmatic adversary, giving us a complex portrait of the human capacity to fight, dream, love, betray and suffer. This dynamic development of Griffith's character makes us question the nature of ambition and the price that must be paid for it.
Biography
The epitome of ethereal beauty, Griffith exudes an almost divine aura that captivates everyone. His tactical brilliance, combined with his charming charisma, led to many victories, raising the Hawk's banner to great influence and importance. Griffith's relationship with his subordinates, especially the main character Guts, is complex and develops over the course of the series, interweaving themes of camaraderie, rivalry, and inherent longing.
But Griffith's path to his dream was full of obstacles and enemies. His quest led him to a cataclysmic event known as the Eclipse, where he embraced and transcended his inner beast into Femto, a demonic member of the Hand of God. This transformation resulted in a massacre that marked the end of the Hawkeye streak and a dark turning point in the series' history. Griffith, as Femto, projects a dark presence in the series, a reflection of the darkness inherent in humanity. His quest for power and subsequent downfall lead to thoughts about ambition, human nature, and the fine line between dreams and obsessions. As such, Griffith's character is a fascinating study of the complex nuances of human desire, cementing his importance in the Berserk universe.
Creation and Development
Miura created Griffith as a complex character; his ethereal beauty is designed to distract from his inner monstrous nature, giving him an almost angelic facade. The illustrations portray him accurately as an archetypal idol: charming, handsome and charismatic, which is a disguise for a sinister, crooked, ambitious personality.
In development, the author allowed Griffith's character arc to evolve from a charismatic leader to a being possessed by demonic desires. Griffith starts out as the leader of the Hawk group, respected and adored by many, including the main character, Guts. His ambitious dream of ruling his own kingdom seems honorable at first.
But as Miura takes the reader on Griffith's dark journey, we see her transform into a member of Femto, the Hand of God. This transformation becomes the focus of her character's growth, revealing the depths of persecution, darkness, and corruption. It's a role that transforms Griffith from a polarizing figure into a true adversary. His development is intensified when he turns on his comrades and sacrifices them to transform into his demon form. This drastic change underscores the principle that ambition, if left unchecked, can lead to dehumanization and moral depravity. This development of Griffith's character cements him as a fitting symbol of the destructive power of unchecked ambition, making him one of the most memorable characters in the dark fiction genre.
Character Profile
His striking features, deep blue eyes, and long silver locks often make people hesitate, but it's his charisma, tactical genius, and swordplay skills that really set him apart. His incredible ability to lead and inspire his troops earned him the respect and eternal loyalty of the Hawks. But Griffith's ambitions were far more than simple survival in a war-torn world, he dreamed of a kingdom of his own. But Griffith's relentless pursuit of his dream led him down a dark path that required unimaginable sacrifices that not only made him one of God's hands, but earned him an undying hatred for Guts, his former best friend. He is now not just any human, but Femto, the fifth member of God's Hand, with supernatural abilities and a terrifying presence.
Despite his dark transformation, Griffith's strategic brilliance and charisma remain, making him a formidable contender in the BESERK series. His reprehensible actions and unrelenting pursuit of his dreams, combined with his immense complexity, make Griffith a character to be admired and feared.
Story Arc
The turning point came when Griffith overheard Guts' decision to leave the group, resulting in a duel in which the latter emerged victorious, leaving Griffith devastated after his death. His desperate act of sleeping with Charlotte, the king's daughter, led to long tortures and the destruction of his dream kingdom.
A year later, Griffith is rescued by the Hawk's group, but his body is corrupted and his dream is out of reach. This desperation led to the dreaded Eclipse, where Griffith sacrificed his companions to the Divine Hand, becoming a Femto, thus fulfilling his destiny predicted by Behelit. This was a major turning point in his arc where he went from being a beloved leader to being the main antagonist.
After the eclipse in the Millennium Falcon arc, Griffith is reincarnated through the Demon Baby, demonstrating a messianic character and forming a new Hawk Band of Apostles. The fascinating part of this installment is the delicate line Griffith walks between his heroic and demonic persona, as he slowly regains the dream he once lost not as a human but as an almost invincible divine hand.
This constant evolution of Griffith's character from beloved hero to enemy to anti-hero adds complexity and depth to him, making him one of the essences of the BERSERK saga.
Cultural Impact
This complex character, often lumped in between hero and villain, has sparked debate among fans and critics. Through Griffith, author Kentaro Miura has given us a villain who exists not only for evil, but also as a reflection of human aspirations that questions the cost of dreams and success. In addition, Griffith's charismatic leadership and charisma inspired the development of the character in various forms of media portrayal. His thoughtful coldness and single-minded approach to making dreams come true influenced the creation of contrasting, complex and beautifully flawed anime characters. Outside of the world of BERSERK, Griffith's legacy continues to shape the wider landscape of speculative fiction.