PTSD for Usagi?

[Tim]

First off, let me say that I'm a die-hard Usagi fan and I have been since the comic first came out (I think I was about seven years old at the time). Or at least since I became cognizant that there was an Usagi Yojimbo comic.

Now, in all my years reading Usagi, Mr. Sakai has always managed to suspend my disbelief. But a few days ago, I got thinking...after all the people Usagi has killed, how does he still manage to maintain his happy-go-lucky attitude towards life? I mean, he fought in a war. Does he ever have flashbacks? Nightmares?

The people I know who have been to war usually do have bad dreams that haunt them for years. Sure, times are different, but I'd think that war would have a similar effect.

He's dueled and killed some of his closest friends (Gunichi, that captain from Dragon Bellow Conspiracy). He's killed countless numbers of other miscellaneous people (I think the Dark Horse estimate was something like 3,000). He's fought demons ghosts. He's lost love at least a couple of times. He's spent most of his life wandering. All this and he's only 28.

Granted, I know that sometimes a darker side of Usagi is seen. Usually right before a fight. But I just kind of thought that perhaps after all he's been through, Usagi might be a little more weary...perhaps more like Sensei Katsuichi.

Anybody else ever wonder this? Any thoughts?

[David]

I think that it is necessary to understand the historical context.

Morals about killing/dying were not the same as ours, and the religious beliefs did facilitate a different view of the world and life.

Honor was more important than life. Samurai would commit suicide or die in combat without giving a second thought for their lord.

Of course I don't assume that it was the case of all of them, but I think that in the case of someone with as great belief in bushido and honor as Usagi that would mind a lot. After all, those who died would reincarnate.

[takematsu]

I concur. The trauma in PTSD comes from the shock of something unexpected, and in Japan at that time, it wasn't uncommon for people of Usagi's class to cut people open like wet grocery bags.

Alternatively, you could declare them ALL to be suffering PTSD, and the mechanism of its expression is outbursts of violence-- they just happen to be in a culture that makes concessions to that sort of thing.

(edit: Katsuichi's weariness is probably more akin to a guy that's been working on the Ford assembly line for decades; there's no one who can mate a transmission to an engine better, but he's sick of the sight of 'em. If he were really done with the whole scene, he'd never take on a student. There were those who dropped out of Samurai society entirely, taking up monk's robes, because they did have trouble reconciling Buddha's injunctions against doing harm with the Samurai lifestyle. Sanshobo's reasons were different, but he's a handy example. You'll note, though, that there's very few people with real experience in Usagi's world that actually enjoy pulling their sword who aren't rather crazy)