Hayao Miyazaki’s Nausicaa
of the Valley of the Wind is a successful manga for several reasons. Among
these reasons is Miyazaki’s portrayal of his female characters.
Similar to
the female protagonist of most in Miyazaki’s films, Nausicaa demonstrates a
masculine type of strength. Her father, Jhil – the headperson in the Valley of
the Wind – is mortally sick. Because of this, Nausicaa is expected to partake
in the war occurring during the beginning of the manga. Miyazaki, however, does
not present her with the qualities normally associated with female
protagonists. Miyazaki completely avoids presenting Nausicaa within any sexual
context. The closest that he ever comes to this occurs during the final volume
where, on only one page, she is shown naked in a bath. In context of the story
though, this scene does not draw particular interest or distract from the
story.
Nausicaa
also demonstrates incredible physical skill. Compared to the physically
pathetic female characters common in American media, Nausicaa clearly
demonstrates that she has the ability to be entirely dependent. A seen that
presents this clearly occurs during the first volume when
Nausicaa faces off against a heavily armored soldier. The soldier swings his
sword, but, in one motion, Nausicaa leaps over the soldier’s attack, pulls out
her dagger, plunges it through an opening in the soldier’s armor around his
neck, and kills him.
Nausicaa
proves to be an excellent protagonist for reasons other than her incredible
strength and independence. She also proves to be benevolent in ways that most
societies applaud. When the final God soldier is awakened and attempting to
destroy whoever happens to be nearby, Nausicaa shows motherly compassion
towards the God soldier, however. She makes the incredible attempt to transform
the God soldier into a weapon that does not kill. Through her compassion, she
does succeed in doing this. Nausicaa’s ability to portray motherly aspects
while never being impaired due to the stigmas that society has paired with
female characters makes her, and the entire manga, successful.
Post written by Jeffrey Seebachan
