WTF JUST HAPPENED

An Analysis of Ed’s Gate: Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

So, we’ve all noticed that the Gates (or the portals) of Truth appear differently depending on the person who’s been summoned before it, right?

Al’s gate is a relief from “The Marrow of Alchemy” , a 15th Century Italian Alchemy text. 

Roy’s gate is inscribed with the Flame Alchemy array, similar to what’s tattooed on Riza’s back. 

According to the wiki, the Gate of Truth is source of all alchemical knowledge, and serves as the entrance into the domain of God, where men are not meant to tread. The engravings reflect each person’s innermost self, and their understanding of “The Truth” i.e., the Universe and all contained within it. (does this mean that Roy’s perception of reality is only viewed through the lens of Riza Hawkeye and/or Flame Alchemy? Maybe. Maybe not. Up to you to determine if that makes them soulmates. MOVING RIGHT ALONG.) 

What I found really interesting about this is that while every gate IS truth, a person’s perception of the universe will change how they view it. Understanding Ed’s gate through this light is fundamental to his character and how he perceives the world around him. And that’s the ride we’re going on today, because Ed’s gate is FASCINATING. 

Ed’s gate is the Tree of Life. Versions of the Tree of Life  can be found in practically every religious tradition from ancient Assyrian religion to modern-day Christianity. Most commonly, the Tree of Life is a symbol of knowledge, connecting heaven to the underworld and connecting ALL forms of knowledge together. 

Ed’s gate isn’t just a bastardization of any Tree of Life. It’s specifically the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, called Eitz Chaim, from the Jewish tradition of Kabbalah. 

Kabbalists believe that that Tree is a representation of how the universe came to be. Branching out from the Tree are words for God (Elohim, El, Eloah, Adonai, and so on). The Tree ALSO represents where human knowledge of the origins of the Universe END. The tree flows from pure nothingness and energy to actual physical universe, in the roots, and then this process is thought to reverse itself. “Thus, the Kabbalist seeks to know himself and the universe as an expression of God and to make the journey of return by means of the stages charted by the spheres, until he has come to the realization he sought.” (source) 

even MORE interesting, The Tree of Life can be interpreted as the very same tree that Eve ate the apple from, became “knowledgeable like God”, and was thus kicked from Eden. 

So, what does this it mean for Edward “I don’t believe in God” Elric that the very essence of his being is tied to knowledge as an expression of the very divinity he refuses to acknowledge? Especially when we think about Al’s gate which is simply about the nature of alchemy, just knowledge for knowledge’s sake, what does it mean that Ed’s perception of Truth is indelibly intertwined with Faith, with God? 

We know that Ed views himself as Icarus and that his attempt to bring his mother back was flying too close to the sun. That he’s bitter over having bitten the apple of Knowledge, and thus been kicked from Eden. The fact that his gate insists on there being a natural stopping point to what can be known by man, and it all flows back to God, seems almost antithetical to Ed’s character. 

However. 

I posit that it’s not. It’s not, at all. All gates are truth. The idea that energy is not limitless, that it starts from one place, intangible, flows to become physical, and then back again, losing none, only being transformed, is EXACTLY what Ed believes: In order to obtain or create something, something of equal value must be given up in exchange. 

Ed’s belief in equivalent exchange is so strong that it bypasses a simple alchemical truth that must be learned to perform transmutations and becomes his very perception of the universe- his truth, or perhaps you could call it his faith. Whether or not this faith is “true” in the way one could evaluate religion is irrelevant; we know equivalence is a law of the universe, and Ed’s belief in it is what matters. 

So, with this in mind, remember what Ed does to retrieve Al? 

He gives up his gate. He literally destroys how he perceives what Truth is. I don’t think this means that Ed no longer believes in equivalence, but that he understands that there are powers that supersede conservation of energy. 

After all, the Tree of Life is not only about energy changing forms, but about God creating the universe out of (in many interpretations) love. And when Ed destroys his Tree, destroys his ability to manipulate matter and participate in this great exchange, even destroys the natural stopping point that protects him from flying too close to the sun, does he not do that out of love, too? 

If Rayemma is the supposed endgame, why are Emma and Norman’s interactions as intimate as they are? Where is the solid proof of Ray or Emma having feelings for each other?

I usually tag my Rayemma stuff as either Rayemma or I answer stuff. For future reference as I’ve answered stuff like this before so rather than reiterate what I’ve already said before, I have screencaps. And loads of them. 😂 Prepare yourself anon.

What I think of the Noremma ‘intimateness’:

As for why I think that Ray is the one of the two who has clear feelings for the other:

Harkening back to my whole TPN is similar to THG in certain ways, with Ray = Peeta, Emma = Katniss and Norman = Gale:

The symbolism Noremma’s use to say that Noremma will be canon, vs the Rayemma parallel.

Notice how the Noremma one isn’t as 'intimate’ as it looked back then, when compared to the Rayemma one from chapter 137. Ray is in the frame with them. Looks more familial in my opinion because of it. Not to mention Emma had just finished bargaining with Norman. Yet in the Rayemma one, it’s just Ray and Emma. They’re literally creating life together around them as well. Now that’s some bigger symbolism if you ask me.

Hopefully this is a satisfactory enough of an answer for you anon. 😅

easily in the Top Ten Moments The Anime Stole From us!!!

anime yuuri: I can't believe I'm engaged to this bratty guy :(

novels yuuri:

Can’t believe I was fooled into thinking Aerith was just another meek healer girl in Final Fantasy spin offs and Kingdom Hearts when she’s actually FERAL

Bakugo Breakdowns

I think an underrated part of how Bakugo seeks out Deku when he’s having a breakdown is that he expressly doesn’t want Dekus help.

He doesn’t want Deku to comfort him, try to fix anything, or make it all better. He has no motive to seek Deku out, someone who compulsively tries to help others.

He goes to Deku with only one goal, to be seen

He wants this, even though for most of the series he’s under the impression that Deku looks down on him, with that in mind he still can’t stop his need to bare his soul to him

He confronts him ‘knowing’ he’s probably giving Deku more ammo, and with very loud intentions of not wanting pity or anything from Deku

Katsuki doesn’t have a lot of emotional intelligence which leaves him not thinking about his reasonings for things he does, he just follows his gut and doesn’t question it. Despite everything his instincts are always to trust Deku

So he goes to the person he trusts most and says “I’m hurting, and I need to feel seen, even just for a moment, just until this weakness passes. Pease just see me, acknowledge that I’m someone still, that I’m not as alone as a I feel, validate my hurt without trying to change it please”

And Deku does, he sees nothing but Kacchan and nothing ever changes that. No matter how grande and powerful, no matter far off and lost from the heros path he has strayed, Deku still sees Kacchan

I like it how STARCO just showed up in an Adrienette Moment. THIS IS FREAKING DEsTiNy You GUYS!!!! XD (no offense to the non-shippers)

Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood vines ✌️

Problem children stick together 😊

karaoke dad cheol (sober version)