The thing is, although it's a common assumption that she can't die, there's no evidence to prove that outside the Million Swords, which can't really be taken as totally non-metaphorical. We don't know, and aren't supposed to know, exactly what Anthy is or what she can endure.

However, I think she knew it probably wouldn't work, but she was desperate to save Utena from what's coming, and willing to try anything within the limited set of actions she allows herself. Even if it didn't work, it would've been enough to convince Utena that it had worked. If she jumps off the ledge and vanishes from Utena's life, it might've been enough to convince her to leave the school, thus saving her from the fate of the last duel.

We had a fantastic thread about this a while ago.  This question has spawned some of the most diverse reactions of any I've seen on IRG.  Hypotheses from the linked thread include:

- Anthy has had enough pain and was sincerely trying to die.

- Anthy wants to kill herself rather than choose between betraying Utena or Akio.

- Anthy is desperate, and (whether she would die from the jump or not) this is a cry for help to get Utena to acknowledge her pain.

- Anthy is trying to die, or quit the game, in order to protect Utena.

- Anthy's jump would result in an injury or other "mistrial," like a temporary death, that would break this round of the cycle, protecting Utena.

- The suicide attempt is as metaphorical as the swords are, and Anthy's body is basically a projection.  If Anthy had jumped, the next day we would have seen her sitting at her desk like nothing had happened.

- By breaking her promise to drink tea in ten years, Anthy is trying to warn Utena that she can't be trusted.

- By impressing the severity of the situation onto Utena, Anthy is trying to get her to quit the game.

- By impressing the severity of the situation onto Utena, Anthy is trying to get her not to quit the game.

- Anthy is testing Utena to see if she will act like a prince.

- Anthy's fall would have been like her fall in the final episode: no death, but some kind of consequence.

- This is part of Akio's plan: he is working with Anthy to manipulate Utena.

- This is part of Akio's plan: he is manipulating Anthy into manipulating Utena.

- This is a cry for help and a calculated move: the emotion Anthy expresses is real, but she expresses it in order to manipulate Utena.

- Anthy would liquidly reform like the Terminator.

So there's all of that.

Aelanie wrote:

No, I'm not. I think you're confusing your interpretation for mine, which is not yours.

Perhaps it isn't. That doesn't alter my larger point, which you failed to address: why would you assume that the Million Swords have no ability to harm or kill someone, when they're never depicted as anything other than a million non-metaphorical pointy swords? They can be symbolic of anything, what matters is the properties they demonstrate within the narrative itself. If they appear to be lethal, but Anthy isn't harmed by them, it's completely reasonable to assume that it's some trait of Anthy's that protects her.

Assuming they did is just that, an assumption, one made without evidence. Assuming they "kill" her is another of the same.

Akio thought she died. He was there. Even if she was reborn outside Ohtori in some form, she still died within the confines of its world. One of the most potent themes in SKU is that miracles, and revolutions, need a sacrifice—you have to give up something in the hope of getting something back. Think of the phoenix symbolism that pervades Ohtori Academy, think of Touga's eggshell speech, think of Mikage's pyromania, think of Anthy suffering eternally to protect Dios. Miracles are built on the sacrifices of others—and more often than not, that sacrifice is blood.

I don't, and I find such views both tedious and at odds with the creative intentions of the character as I see them.

Good for you, but surely you can understand that not everyone will agree. The darker aspects of Anthy's character have been thoroughly discussed in this community on numerous occasions. Keep in mind that, despite what she feels for Utena—which is love, of the strongest kind—she still stabs her in the back and then leaves her dying on the floor. Perhaps her emotions were genuine to a certain degree. She still didn't tell Utena that Akio was EoTW, or come out and say "I'm being stabbed with a million swords right now," or even "It might not be a good idea to go to the dueling arena." She is being deceptive in that scene, even though it's probably the most candor she displays in the entire series.

Last edited by Atropos (08-05-2014 05:16:55 PM)