Would Birk's "Delicate temperment" have been disgusting to Mattis?

Mar 9, 2015 8:00 PM

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Feb 2015

I just read a tweet that was answering the question of why would Mattis and the other robbers abuse and laugh at Birk like they did, and the writer made a good point about premodernity. Basically he points out that in the time that this story takes place children Birk's and Ronja's age were considered "small body adults" and that Birk's "delicate temperment" would have appeared to be disgusting and undesirable. Of course, the reality is that Birk is a more than capable male, regardless of his "delicate nature". It also explains his statement of "having to take the verbal abuse", meaning he probably has to listen to it all the time from his own clan, especially after getting captured.

This is the body of the tweet. Sorry it's in Japanese.

その直前のマッティスの、和解を申し出ながらも大人げない物言いは、児童福祉という現代社会の産物がなかった時代、子供は体の小さい大人にすぎなかったという事実を思い起こさせる。ビルクのような繊細な気質の子には、そりゃマッティス一族と話すのも嫌になるだろう。#山賊の娘ローニャ

Mar 10, 2015 3:01 AM

AnnaSartin

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Dec 2014

1334

An interesting theory. Mattis might have seen Birk not only as a weakling that he was able to assert dominance over, but also as the "weak link" of the Borka robbers (helping him to justify his disdain not only for the gentle child, but his entire clan). The boy's father is considerably more levelheaded than Mattis, and Mattis could very well see that as a weakness, too.

Mar 10, 2015 5:40 AM

NEONdust

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Feb 2015

My best attempt to translate the tweet reads:

What Mattis was saying when he was trying to reconcile with Birk might seem childish, but back then age wasn't looked at like it is today in modern society. Children were seen as small adults. A child with a sensitive spirit, like Birk, would be seen as effeminate and disgusting.

Note how Lovis says about the men, that they always cause trouble. Then, remember when Lovis was taking Birk back for the exchange? She was looking at him, but initially I didn't understand why she was fascinated with him. To my anachronistic eye he's just a young boy like you might see any day, but Lovis might see something else. It's true, actually, the way he's presented, he's different from the rest of the Borka clan, carries himself differently. He sat quietly while waiting in the castle. And more than that, there was already some sort of trouble brewing in the Borka clan where he reacted the way he did, venting his anger at both his parents.

I wonder if an OVA for this show would include some backstory for Birk?

Mar 11, 2015 2:50 AM

AnnaSartin

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Dec 2014

1334

NEONdust said:
I wonder if an OVA for this show would include some backstory for Birk?

I don't think we'll get one. Since this is based on (and closely following) a 34 year old children's novel the prospect of new content after this series concludes is unlikely.

Mar 11, 2015 4:10 PM

Mirorin

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Jul 2011

4435

Oh I personally thought Mattis was laughing because he had won one over the Borkas. But yes, I guess subconsciously I already took in the fact that Birk is not consider a kid in the same sense he would be in modern times. Adult with a small body (no mercy) and the weak link of the Borkas sounds right. Plus he's a boy, so rough treatment isn't out of the ordinary.

I always thought Birk was more mature than a usual child. But now that I think about it it makes sense that they wouldn't like his personality/type of person. He's quiet, calm, rather smart and not very rowdy. The gender roles are likely more rigid in the setting so maybe they did think that. But because Ronja never found it strange despite the fact the all the men in her clan are pretty rowdy (the scrawny guys are less so though), I don't think that's really conclusive... I did think he was pretty cheeky though, especially in comparison to Ronja. He's definitely has a different nature than the other robbers though.

I thought Birk's reason for leaving was his disagreement with the parents over his friendship with Ronja (since that's why he stormed off after the exchange), but it does make sense if it was also about him getting captured. However, he's young and obviously not able to beat the Mattis clan in a fight, so I never really thought of the latter since the Borka's clan seems more level headed and reasonable to me as well. I mean, both clans let their kids run around in the forest all day, but in the end they are still children and there are some things that they are expected to not be able to do.

MirorinMar 11, 2015 4:27 PM

Mar 12, 2015 4:46 PM

Micronique

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Feb 2013

This thread alone proves how great this series is.

Mar 12, 2015 11:16 PM

NEONdust

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Feb 2015

Micronique said:
This thread alone proves how great this series is.

Well, I don't know if my thoughts prove anything, but I agree it's a great series. :)

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Would Birk's "Delicate temperment" have been disgusting to Mattis?

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