There was no place for pacifism in the Middle Ages.
Summary:
- Some fans feel the anti-violence message in Vinland Saga is too idealistic.
- Pacifism killed Thors in the first season, and there’s no place for it in that history period.
- Manga fans argue that the exploration of the topic gets better.
The message of Vinland Saga is pretty easy to understand. The story itself says that violence is not a solution, and shows how much it can ruin one’s life.
Thorfinn is the best example of that, and his development in the second season has been considered some of the best in the recent history of anime.
However, not everyone likes how the topic of violence gets addressed in Vinland Saga. While it’s definitely a good theme to explore, the anime feels way too idealistic.
Pacifism Killed Thors
Perhaps the biggest example of idealism in Vinland Saga is Thorfinn’s father, Thors. He gave 8 sheep for a dying slave, and while that seems like a noble decision, it’s definitely not rational.
That doesn’t have anything to do with the topic of pacifism, but it just shows that Thors wasn’t a rational man — and his pacifism was what led to his death.
In such a brutal setting as Europe during the Viking Age, Thors isn’t really a believable character. His pacifism should have killed him a long time ago.
The Message of Non-Violence Is Idealistic
The entirety of the first season focuses on the horrors of war and how it influences others. A lot of the time, it portrays the story through Canute, a young man who is initially a prince and later the king of Denmark. Canute is hesitant to engage in any kind of violence at first.
By the second season, the tables have turned. Thorfinn works as a slave on a farm, refusing to engage in violence again, and Canute becomes a ruthless and cunning king after dealing with Askeladd. The second season shows how a past of violence can shape a person, further building toward a message of non-violence.
However, this message, according to many, is idealistic. Even in the modern world, it might not be applicable to every situation, and the past was way more brutal — there was no place for pacifism in the Middle Ages.
The Manga Gets Better in That Regard
Manga readers, however, say that the idealism in the series is more nuanced than it looks from just watching the anime content. The first two seasons are necessary to show the extreme points of view on the topic.
Later in the series, Thorfinn reaches a more balanced view on the theme — but we don’t know if the anime will even get there.