Interesting analysis! I don't think that Anthy is completely naive or ignorant of the way that the world around her, and the people in it, work; she wouldn't be able to manipulate them quite as skillfully if that were the case.  I think that she has the potential to access that knowledge/wisdom and become the sage that you described, but is trapped (has trapped herself) in a holding pattern that keeps her from doing so.

I found her to be mostly on the same level of maturity as Akio.

Yes! For most of the series, this is indeed the case.  The defining difference is that Anthy can change, chooses to change, while Akio plays the same game over and over and over again.

Hmm...

Anthyanthyanthy...
It's one thing to experience the world. I actually think she has experienced a lot more things than anyone else in Ohtori (save Akio).

It's another thing as to how one goes about using that information they've learned from their lessons in life, and how they go about dealing with future issues in life.

I can't say Anthy is exactly mature (otherwise she wouldn't be so passive aggressive, like the way she treated Miki, Utena, Kanae, and Nanami, especially during that toast episode. That was blatantly an attack directed at Utena.) But I can't say she's naive and childish either. Unlike Utena, Anthy is anything but romantic. When Utena asked Anthy if Wakaba and Tatsuya will finally get together, Anthy replied, "Who knows? Romance is something that happens or don't." A big thing about the Utena series is the stark difference between the fairytale vs. the reality (childhood vs. adulthood). Anthy's response shows that she's aware that life isn't all sweets and roses. Women don't always get carried onto the white horse by their prince in the end.
She's seen how the world works. Even though she has much growing up to do as is everyone else, in my opinion, she's a step ahead in that aspect, as well.

Cynicism, I feel, is what Nanami is doing moreso than Anthy. After witnessing that incidence with Akio and Anthy, she became rather distrusting about everything that goes on around her, even her own brother at one point (except Utena, whom she knew has no idea what's going on). Anthy, I don't know if she's cynical. I think she found the duelists' ideals to be somewhat childish and impossible to achieve in reality, and that's why she's mocking/testing them. But, I'm not sure if that's categorized under cynicism. (EDIT: actually, now that I think about it... maybe it is. And, that it was Utena's leap of faith (lol pun) that helped her regain faith) Because otherwise, she wouldn't have had those nights with Utena where they had these little heart-to-heart chat. She wouldn't come between Utena and Saionji when he was about to cut the rose from Utena's chest. She may not completely trust Utena, but at least I feel she is trying to, at least.

Last edited by Hiraku (01-05-2011 03:43:46 AM)

mm... give me some more time to digest.

I... don't know if she's "looking down" on the duelists? She doesn't think they are qualified because she is aware of how their ideals can be their undoing. How their ideals had essentially created a coffin for themselves, and block them from obtaining the power of revolution. Having seen reality, she has become more pessimistic (sometimes you'd hear people saying that they're just being "Realistic"). I don't think she's denying herself the chance to be rescued because she hates herself for recognizing the possibility for a miracle. (if you remembered, if there's anything she hated herself for, it was contributing to the destruction of that possibility, by robbing Utena of her innocence namely). She wanted to commit suicide because she knows Utena has come the closest in achieving something wonderful, and now it's gonna be ruined because her brother wanted it to happen.

Rather, she is afraid of reaching out for that leap of faith on her own because she has seen the cruel side of reality. I actually think she's a victim of domestic abuse. She can't leave because she's afraid of the risk she's gonna take. The kind of things she'll leave behind. Her ties to Akio as a family might have done the trick. When Akio asked her, "Why do you hesitate? Because you betrayed your friend?" He showed her his tears, and then told her he loves her. This led Anthy to believe that in spite of all the shit he put her through, deep down, the love between them that gave her the determination to protect Dios at all costs is what's gonna be worth it in the end. So, family ties proved stronger than her friendship with Utena.

This is so far off tangent, but this is why I don't think Anthy is "childish", per se. She evaluates the situation laid out before her during the duels. Like in Episode 12 and 25. And I think she did see things for what they are for the most part. When Utena proved stronger than she believed, she didn't deny that Utena will win. She was distracted, robbing Touga of the Rose Bride's power in the process, and she also intervened to protect Utena from Saionji. She stabbed Utena in the end, though, because when it comes to her friend and her family, both of whom were dear to her, she chose the man who told her "I love you"

Of course, in the end, friendship won out because the one who showed up at Anthy's doorstep was Utena, not the brother who told her he loved her. Utena, who never uttered "love" to Anthy, proved stronger than Akio's "love". Anthy saw this plain in sight, and that probably gave her the resolution to leave it all behind. I think in this respect, she's a fairly objective judge of things.

Last edited by Hiraku (01-05-2011 01:47:55 PM)

Anthy at some point gave up and stopped trying to rescue herself. Instead of this she wanted to be rescued by someone else. If something went wrong she could blame someone else instead of herself. She didn't loose control over her life, she gave it away. She was killing all her hopes simply to calm her anxiety and remain passive. Silence and passiveness are easy. Doing something is risky - we may fail.

She stays with Akio just because she has completely forgotten what she wants and who she is - she has gotten used to be a puppet and now she's frightened of decisions and freedom. She's a puppet master simply because Akio wants her to be one. I guess in the end of SKU she is still depending on each other's expectations. The only choice she has made is whose expectations she will fulfill.

Adults are responsible for themselves so yes, I find Anthy infantile.