Reading Log Week 12

Book: Battle Royale
Author: Koushun Takami
Pages read: 103 - 150

Shuya's, Shogo's, and Mitsuko's morals are so very different. Shuya will fight for anyone he loves, and still can't believe anyone would kill each other. He doesn't want to kill, and is determined not to and to lose as little lives as possible. This is shown when it says, "'Shuya. You're pale. Are you okay?' Noriko asked, but Shuya couldn't respond. A shiver ran through his body, and he began to tremble....'I'm scared...I just killed someone.'" (Takami 142) This shows that Shuya was scared out of his wits, and couldn't believe that classmates would actually murder one another. I believe this is because of his natural personality, and how he had been with each and every classmate from when they were toddlers up to that moment, and he couldn't believe they were killing each other. On the other hand, Shogo believes that people should do what their instinct tells them to do, and if that means kill, then so be it. However, he still has certain ethics in the sense that he will not kill unless he has to, and he would much rather make friends than be suspicious and deadly around everyone. This is shown when he says, "I didn't have any choice. Are you saying I should have let him kill me?" (Takami 145) In this, it displays that he mostly relies on primal instincts and natural survival tactics, and looks at everything from a perspective with no emotion. I believe this is because his ethics are embedded in his personality, and he has had past experiences that make his mindset one where survival is key, and all other things come as an afterthought. As for Mitsuko, she only wants to win. It isn't even a matter of survival, she doesn't care if others die in her hands, as long as she survives and is victorious. This is shown when it says, "Mitsuko quickly turned off her flashlight and stood up. She wiped away the annoying tears (which she could produce any time. It was in fact one of her special talents)." (Takami 118) It displays here that Mitsuko really had no feelings or emotions that blocked her from winning and being the only survivor. She was completely willing to play this game, because her ethics are that of a bully. I think this is because she knows how to take advantage of people, because of her pretty face as well as her bold personality. This simply became more extreme as the "game" began.


Book: Battle Royale
Author: Koushun Takami
Pages read: 150 - 204

It seems that the story has been foreshadowing that Shinji and Shuya will meet up at some point in this story, and that will cause something extreme and large to happen, such as their escape. This foreshadowing may be seen when it says, "Yutaka nodded again. Then he looked down. 'I wonder where Shuya is. We'd be so strong if Shuya and you were together.' ...it was true, Shinji also thought, Shuya Nanahara would be a great partner.'" (Takami 204) This shows that both Shinji and Yutaka thought that being with Shuya was a good idea, because Shinji and Shuya would be a nearly unstoppable pair, and they just might have a chance of escape. I believe that this is foreshadowing their meeting up, because otherwise they wouldn't be mentioning this imaginary reunion so frequently and often. Therefore, I can safely conclude that at some point, most likely soon, Shinji and Shuya will unite and something substantial to the plot will happen because of it.