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* {{Determinator}}: [[DeconstructedTrope No matter how many people have to die and no matter what sacrifices he has to make, he ''will'' achieve his dream]].
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* {{Determinator}}: [[DeconstructedTrope No matter how many people have to die and no matter what sacrifices he has to make, he ''will'' he]] ''[[AmbitionIsEvil will]]'' [[DeconstructedTrope achieve his dream]].
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* CosmicPlaything: [[spoiler: Shortly after his transformation, [[GodOfEvil The Idea of Evil]] summons him to its presence just to tell him about how, on top of being the [[Biggerbad one behind all wickedness on Earth]], it took a personal interest in Griffith and orchestrated his rise and fall to mold him into his greatest servant. Though by that point he is beyond being affected by it or caring anymore.]]
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** Well not [[DoubleSubverted entirely]]; he eventually notices he feels a compulsion of protectiveness towards Casca, [[spoiler: attributed to the fact he used the Corrupted Infant's body as his new vessel]]. He is less than pleased when he figures it out.
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* {{Deuteragonist}}: While one half of the story is Guts' quest for vengeance/to restore Caska's sanity, the other half is Griffith's quest to become the god-king of the lands.
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* {{Deuteragonist}}: While one half of the story is Guts' quest for vengeance/to restore Caska's Casca's sanity, the other half is Griffith's quest to become the god-king of the lands.
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Changed line(s) 36,40 (click to see context) from:
* {{Badass}}: Just as Badass as Guts in his own way. Hell, he fought him and BEAT him easily in their first encounter.
** BadassCape: As Femto he has bat-like CapeWings.
** BadassNormal: Pre-Eclipse he was an ordinary human, but a highly-skilled swordsman.
*** EmpoweredBadassNormal: Afterwards, things are different.
** CulturedBadass
** BadassCape: As Femto he has bat-like CapeWings.
** BadassNormal: Pre-Eclipse he was an ordinary human, but a highly-skilled swordsman.
*** EmpoweredBadassNormal: Afterwards, things are different.
** CulturedBadass
to:
* {{Badass}}: Just as Badass as Guts in his own way. Hell, he He fought him and BEAT him easily in their first encounter.
** * BadassCape: As Femto he has bat-like CapeWings.
** * BadassNormal: Pre-Eclipse he was an ordinary human, but a highly-skilled swordsman.
*** ** EmpoweredBadassNormal: Afterwards, things are different.
** CulturedBadassdifferent.
** CulturedBadass
* CulturedBadass
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* TheHeavy: Griffith is not the only BigBad in ''Berserk'', nor is he [[BiggerBad the biggest one]], but he has the most direct involvement with the plot and is the source for Guts' motivation.
to:
* TheHeavy: Griffith is not the only BigBad in ''Berserk'', nor is he [[BiggerBad the biggest one]], but he has the most direct involvement with the plot and is the source for Guts' motivation.
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* {{Narcissist}}: Griffith is always all about Griffith, and he sees Guts, Casca, and the rest of the Hawks as little more than extensions of his own will. After the Eclipse, as Femto, he plunges itno fullblown sociopathy.
to:
* {{Narcissist}}: Griffith is always all about Griffith, and he sees Guts, Casca, and the rest of the Hawks as little more than extensions of his own will. After the Eclipse, as Femto, he plunges itno into fullblown sociopathy.
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* ItsAllAboutMe: Oh Griffith, you selfish bastard. Although he did seem to care at least a bit about his group of mercenaries, particularly Casca and Guts, achieving his dream is ultimately more important to him.
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* ItsAllAboutMe: Oh Oh, Griffith, you selfish bastard. Although he did seem to care at least a bit about his group of mercenaries, particularly Casca and Guts, achieving his dream is ultimately more important to him.
Changed line(s) 146 (click to see context) from:
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: [[spoiler: When Griffith is being transformed into Femto, he has a moment of this...only to realize that he can no longer feel remorse. In the anime his inner voice suddenly becomes colder after the "last tear you ever shed" moment making it sound like Femto is [[BreakingSpeech breaking down]] Griffith.]] No more going back from here.
to:
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: [[spoiler: When Griffith is being transformed into Femto, he has a moment of this...only to realize that he can no longer feel remorse. In the anime anime, his inner voice suddenly becomes colder after the "last tear you ever shed" moment making it sound like Femto is [[BreakingSpeech breaking down]] Griffith.]] No more going back from here.
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* {{Determinator}}: No matter how many people have to die and no matter what sacrifices he has to make, he ''will'' achieve his dream.
to:
* {{Determinator}}: [[DeconstructedTrope No matter how many people have to die and no matter what sacrifices he has to make, he ''will'' achieve his dream.dream]].
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Fixing grammatical error.
Changed line(s) 76 (click to see context) from:
* DidNotGetTheGirl: A hallucination immediately before the Eclipse reveals that he was actually in love with Casca, as his vision of an ideal future was of himself as a noble, her as his wife, and a son named after his best friend. Seeing that Casca has hooked up with Guts caused him to break, and is the reason why he raped her.
to:
* DidNotGetTheGirl: A hallucination immediately before the Eclipse reveals that he was actually in love with Casca, as his vision of an ideal future was of himself as a noble, her as his wife, and a son named after his best friend. Seeing that Casca has hooked up with Guts caused him to break, and it is the reason why he raped her.
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* {{Bishonen}}
Changed line(s) 74 (click to see context) from:
* {{Deuteragonist}}
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* {{Deuteragonist}}{{Deuteragonist}}: While one half of the story is Guts' quest for vengeance/to restore Caska's sanity, the other half is Griffith's quest to become the god-king of the lands.
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* DudeLooksLikeALady
to:
* DudeLooksLikeALadyDudeLooksLikeALady: His effeminate appearance his caused many to describe him as beautiful.
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* FaceHeelTurn
* FaceOfAnAngelMindOfADemon
* FaceOfAnAngelMindOfADemon
to:
* FaceHeelTurn
FaceHeelTurn: He was Guts' closest friend before jealousy led to him betraying his comrades for power.
*FaceOfAnAngelMindOfADemonFaceOfAnAngelMindOfADemon: As beautiful as he is, he is a heartless abomination on the inside.
*
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* FallenHero
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* FallenHeroFallenHero: He was the hero of Midland before his pride cost him everything. He's currently regarded as a hero, but the actions that led him to this place are those of a villain.
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* HumanoidAbomination: Since being reincarnated into a corporeal body, Griffith looks [[HellishPupils mostly]] human, but he is most assuredly not.
to:
* HumanoidAbomination: Since being reincarnated into a corporeal body, Griffith looks [[HellishPupils mostly]] human, but he is most assuredly not. Even his beauty is described as inhuman.
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** LightIsNotGood: He oozes this after his reincarnation in the mortal world as Griffith again.
to:
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* LongHairedPrettyBoy
to:
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* PhysicalGod: Following his incarnation into a physical body, Griffith has established himself in the minds of people as a divine being and has the power to back it up.
to:
* PhysicalGod: Following his incarnation into a physical body, Griffith was officially deified by the Pope himself and has established himself in the minds of people as a divine being and being. It helps that he [[HumanoidAbomination has the power to back it up.up]].
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* DidNotGetTheGirl: A hallucination immediately before the Eclipse reveals that he was actually in love with Casca, as his vision of an ideal future was of himself as a noble, her as his wife, and a son named after his best friend. Seeing that Casca has hooked up with Guts caused him to break, and is the reason why he raped her.
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Changed line(s) 138 (click to see context) from:
* ManInTheIronMask: Turned into this during his year of being put to the torture.
to:
* ManInTheIronMask: Turned into this during his year of being put to the torture.tortured.
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Changed line(s) 141 (click to see context) from:
* MasterSwordsman: His fencing technique is so superior that he was able to defeat Guts with one thrust the first time they fought, and utterly dominate him the second time. Three years later, however, Guts proved that he had surpassed Griffith in skill as well as strength, and two years after [[FromBadToWorse that]] Griffith was unable to even hold a sword.
to:
* MasterSwordsman: His fencing technique is so superior that he was able to defeat Guts with [[SingleStrokeBattle one thrust thrust]] the first time they fought, and utterly dominate [[CurbStompBattle dominate]] him the second time. Three years later, however, That was before Guts proved that he had surpassed Griffith in skill as well as strength, and two years after [[FromBadToWorse that]] Griffith was unable to even hold a sword.him.
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* MasterSwordsman: His fencing technique is so superior that he was able to defeat Guts with one thrust the first time they fought, and utterly dominate him the second time. Three years later, however, Guts proved that he had surpassed Griffith in skill as well as strength, and two years after [[FromBadToWorse that]] Griffith was unable to even hold a sword.
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* WeaponOfChoice: Since at least his first encounter with Guts, Griffith has always wielded an elegant basket-hilted saber. However, in Caska's first memory of him he was using a curved hand-and-a-half sword.
to:
* WeaponOfChoice: Since at least his first encounter with Guts, Griffith has always wielded an elegant An elegant, basket-hilted saber. However, in Caska's first memory of him he was using a curved hand-and-a-half sword.cavalry saber.
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* AgentPeacock:
to:
* AgentPeacock: A beautiful and effeminate man as well as a cunning tactician and highly skilled swordsman.
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* {{Narcissist}}: Griffith is always all about Griffith, and he sees Guts, Casca, and the rest of the Hawks as little more than extensions of his own will. After the Eclipse, as Femto, he plunges itno fullblown sociopathy.
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* TheSociopath: Even before the events of the Eclipse. He is shown to be manipulative to his troops, having Guts doing his dirty work and keeping it secret from the others so he stays perfect in their eyes. Several characters note how his expressions are off, smiling childishly one second and giving the evil eye the next. And when Guts tries to leave, once Griffith is within a couple of easy steps to achieving his dream, he is willing to [[http://www.mrsmanga.com/Berserk/027.036/207 kill]] [[http://www.mrsmanga.com/Berserk/027.036/208 Guts]] rather than not have the man wrapped around his finger.
** More likely subverted (before he became Femto, that is). He *is* shown to be capable of feeling for others - the scenes with the dead boy, and the scene where he self-harms while talking to Casca confirm this. He then figures that the only way he can deal with this is to completely suppress any emotions he feels for others. This conflict is only resolved after he accepts his DealWithTheDevil.
** More likely subverted (before he became Femto, that is). He *is* shown to be capable of feeling for others - the scenes with the dead boy, and the scene where he self-harms while talking to Casca confirm this. He then figures that the only way he can deal with this is to completely suppress any emotions he feels for others. This conflict is only resolved after he accepts his DealWithTheDevil.
to:
* TheSociopath: Even before the events of the Eclipse. He is shown to be manipulative to his troops, having Guts doing his dirty work and keeping it secret from the others so he stays perfect in their eyes. Several characters note how his expressions are off, smiling childishly one second and giving the evil eye the next. And when Guts tries to leave, once Eclipse, Griffith is within was a couple of easy steps to achieving his dream, narcissistic bastard, but after it he is willing to [[http://www.mrsmanga.com/Berserk/027.036/207 kill]] [[http://www.mrsmanga.com/Berserk/027.036/208 Guts]] rather than not have the man wrapped around his finger.
** More likely subverted (before he became Femto, that is). He *is* shown to be capable of feeling for others - the scenes with the dead boy, and the scene where he self-harms while talking to Casca confirm this. He then figures that the only way he can deal with this is tobecomes completely suppress any emotions he feels for others. This conflict is only resolved after he accepts his DealWithTheDevil.void of empathy, and utterly devoted to dog-kicking.
** More likely subverted (before he became Femto, that is). He *is* shown to be capable of feeling for others - the scenes with the dead boy, and the scene where he self-harms while talking to Casca confirm this. He then figures that the only way he can deal with this is to
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* BigBad: Debatable, even though he currently provides the primary motivation for the story.
** BigBadDuumvirate: With the other four members of The God Hand.
** BigBadDuumvirate: With the other four members of The God Hand.
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* BigBad: Debatable, even though he currently provides the primary motivation for the story.
**BigBadDuumvirate: With the other four members of The God Hand.
**
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* TraumaCongaLine: Life was pretty good for Griffith, until Guts decided to leave. Then he [[SexForSolace goes and sleeps with Princess Charlotte]]. Then he gets caught by the king and is tortured for over a year, during which time [[TongueTrauma his tongue is cut out of his mouth]] and the tendons in his hands and feet are cut, rendering him unable to stand or wield a sword. Then he's rescued by Guts, only to realize his dreams are now beyond his grasp. Then to top it all of, he overhears Casca trying to convince Guts to leave ''again''.
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* TheAce: Pre-Eclipse. Then he fails once, and gets broken. ''Brutally'' broken.
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* TheAce: Pre-Eclipse. Then he fails once, and gets broken. ''Brutally'' broken. Then he goes all over this trope post-Eclipse.
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* AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence:
to:
* AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence: He became [[spoiler: a GodOfEvil]].
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* BigGood: In the past.
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* BigGood: In To the past.original Band of the Hawk, he was seen as this. He is still seen as this by Midland. [[DarkMessiah Keyword being SEEN.]]
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** For such a proud being, he didn't seem to mind Rickert angrily slapping him. However, no one knows if he just kept his calm for purposes of decorum, is shocked for this affront (it's just been one chapter !), or genuinely considers him as a friend.
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Nah, Femto\'s not ax-crazy. Sure what he did was unspeakably evil, but he did it all for a well-thought-out purpose.
* TheAce: Pre-Eclipse. Then he fails once, and gets broken. ''Brutally'' broken.
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* AgentPeacock
to:
* AgentPeacockAgentPeacock:
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* AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence: To the worst plane imaginable.
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* AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence: To the worst plane imaginable.
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* AxCrazy: As Femto his first act was to rape Casca into insanity as a means of getting back at Guts.
* {{Badass}}: Just as Badass as Guts in his own way.
* {{Badass}}: Just as Badass as Guts in his own way.
to:
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** Not even mentioning that [[PowerPerversionPotential his very first act as a Godhand]] solidified the fact that he didn't give a shit about his actions.
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** Not even mentioning that [[PowerPerversionPotential [[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil his very first act as a Godhand]] solidified the fact that he didn't give a shit about his actions.
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* PowerPerversionPotential: Taken to the MOST extreme level of {{Squick}} when he's Femto. He garners the extraordinary powers of a demon lord, and is able to [[RealityWarper bend reality at his very will]]. The first thing he does is once he gets this power is to use it in the most depraved way possible.
to:
* PowerPerversionPotential: Taken to the MOST extreme level of {{Squick}} when he's Femto. He garners the extraordinary powers of a demon lord, and is able to [[RealityWarper bend reality at his very will]]. The first thing he does is once he gets this power is to use it in the most depraved way possible.for rape.
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* SatanicArchetype: He is more of an equivalent of Satan.
to:
* SatanicArchetype: He is more of an equivalent of Satan.Especially post-Eclipse.
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Changed line(s) 191 (click to see context) from:
* TakeOurWordForIt: Dear GOD! ''What happened to his face??!!''
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* TakeOurWordForIt: Dear GOD! ''What Whatever happened to his face??!!''face in his year of horrible torture was so horrific that even in [[BodyHorror this series]], the viewer isn't allowed to see it and Guts is disturbed.
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Griffith\'s favorec sword was incorrectly referred to as a rapier, but is actually some kind of saber or backsword.
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* WeaponOfChoice: Rapiers.
to:
* WeaponOfChoice: Rapiers.Since at least his first encounter with Guts, Griffith has always wielded an elegant basket-hilted saber. However, in Caska's first memory of him he was using a curved hand-and-a-half sword.
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It\'s not only Casca.
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* UngratefulBastard: [[spoiler: Seriously, dude: After everything Casca did for you, you treat her like THAT?]]
to:
* UngratefulBastard: [[spoiler: Seriously, dude: After everything Guts, Casca and all your comrades did for you, you treat her them like THAT?]]
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Changed line(s) 186 (click to see context) from:
** It could also be a reference to [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Femto the prefix Femto]], which is equal to one quadrillionth.
to:
** It could also be a reference to [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Femto the prefix Femto]], which is equal to one quadrillionth.[[FourIsDeath quadri]]llionth.
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Namespace
Changed line(s) 1,2 (click to see context) from:
!!! Voiced by: Creator/ToshiyukiMorikawa (adult) and MinamiTakayama (child) (Japanese, TV series), Creator/TakahiroSakurai (Japanese, movies), Kevin T. Collins (English, TV series and movies), Creator/VeronicaTaylor (English, child)
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!!! Voiced by: Creator/ToshiyukiMorikawa (adult) and MinamiTakayama Creator/MinamiTakayama (child) (Japanese, TV series), Creator/TakahiroSakurai (Japanese, movies), Kevin T. Collins (English, TV series and movies), Creator/VeronicaTaylor (English, child)
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Changed line(s) 163 (click to see context) from:
* PowerPerversionPotential: Taken to the MOST extreme level of {{squick}} when he's Femto. He garners the extraordinary powers of a demon lord, and is able to [[RealityWarper bend reality at his very will.]] And what is the '''very first thing''' that he goes and does??? God, {{you bastard}}!
to:
* PowerPerversionPotential: Taken to the MOST extreme level of {{squick}} {{Squick}} when he's Femto. He garners the extraordinary powers of a demon lord, and is able to [[RealityWarper bend reality at his very will.]] And what is the '''very will]]. The first thing''' that thing he goes and does??? God, {{you bastard}}!does is once he gets this power is to use it in the most depraved way possible.
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Changed line(s) 34,35 (click to see context) from:
* AttemptedRape: When he sees how close Guts and Casca have become, Griffith tries to rape Casca in a fit of jealousy and despair when she comes to check on his wounds. Being in a crippled state he isn't capable of doing much and rather than being disgusted Casca just feels sorry for him. Doubles as foreshadowing for what happens in the Eclipse.
* AxCrazy: As Femto.
* AxCrazy: As Femto.
to:
* AttemptedRape: When he sees how close Guts and Casca have become, Griffith tries to rape Casca in a fit of jealousy and despair when she comes to check on his wounds. Being in a crippled state he isn't capable of doing much more than flopping ineffectually on top of her, and rather than being disgusted Casca just feels sorry for him. Doubles as foreshadowing for what happens in the Eclipse.
* AxCrazy: AsFemto.Femto his first act was to rape Casca into insanity as a means of getting back at Guts.
* AxCrazy: As
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** BadassCape
** BadassNormal: Pre-Eclipse.
** BadassNormal: Pre-Eclipse.
to:
** BadassCape
BadassCape: As Femto he has bat-like CapeWings.
** BadassNormal:Pre-Eclipse.Pre-Eclipse he was an ordinary human, but a highly-skilled swordsman.
** BadassNormal:
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* HumanoidAbomination: Since being reincarnated into a corporeal body. Griffith looks human ([[HellishPupils mostly]]), but he is most assuredly not.
to:
* HumanoidAbomination: Since being reincarnated into a corporeal body. body, Griffith looks human ([[HellishPupils mostly]]), [[HellishPupils mostly]] human, but he is most assuredly not.
* PhysicalGod: Following his incarnation into a physical body, Griffith has established himself in the minds of people as a divine being and has the power to back it up.
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* PrinceCharmless
to:
* PrinceCharmlessPrinceCharmless: He's a strikingly beautiful man... but is willing to do ''whatever'' it takes to attain his goals.
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* RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil
to:
* RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvilRapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil: The ''very first thing'' he does upon becoming Femto is rape a restrained Casca so brutally that the experience [[RapeLeadsToInsanity drives her completely insane]].
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!!! Voiced by: Creator/ToshiyukiMorikawa (adult) and MinamiTakayama (child) (Japanese, TV series), Creator/TakahiroSakurai (Japanese, movies), Kevin T. Collins (English, TV series and movies), Creator/VeronicaTaylor (English, child)
http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/griffith.jpg
[[caption-width:316:Griffith]]
[[quoteright:150:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Femto.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:150:Femto]]
-> ''"I did not betray my dream. That is all."''
-> ''"The Black Swordsman, you say? His petty existence is beneath our notice."''
A stock [[WhiteHairBlackHeart white-haired pretty boy]] and leader of the mercenaries known as the Band of the Hawk, he is also Guts's closest friend until the Eclipse. Griffith recruits Guts to his band [[DefeatMeansFriendship after defeating him in battle,]] and Guts quickly becomes his right-hand man. There are also many hints that his friendship with Guts [[HoYay might not be completely platonic...]]
Griffith is driven by his dream of obtaining his own kingdom, and stops at nothing to obtain it. He is in a good position to do so, being a cunning strategist, an unusually skilled swordsman, extremely charismatic, and a shrewd politician. It also helps that he possesses the Crimson Behelit, an ArtifactOfDoom that protects him from death several times. Griffith lacks any real scruples in his efforts to get what he wants - kidnapping, assassination, and self-abasement, [[spoiler:even to the point of prostituting himself once so he could finance the Hawks,]] are all considered acceptable, even necessary steps towards his ultimate goal.
Upon nearly achieving his dream, however, [[EtTuBrute he falls apart when Guts chooses to leave the Hawks]], an action born from Griffith's own philosophies of independence and the tireless pursuit of one's dream. Devastated, he seeks temporary solace by sleeping with Princess Charlotte, an act that sets off the inevitable countdown to the Eclipse. Crippled for life after a full year of torture on the King's orders for having deflowered the Princess, Griffith is later freed by his companions. After overhearing Casca convince Guts to leave ''again'', Griffith crosses the DespairEventHorizon and uses the Crimson Behelit to summon the Godhand, albeit unknowingly.
After betraying and sacrificing his whole party to the Godhand and [[spoiler: the Idea of Evil]], Griffith becomes Femto, the fifth member of the Godhand, earning Guts's undying hatred both for throwing him and his comrades to the wolves in order to become a Godhand and for [[spoiler:raping Casca to insanity right in front of him in his first act as Femto]]. Griffith is later reincarnated into a human form after the mock Eclipse at the Tower of Punishment. Having gathered a new Band of the Hawk, one primarily composed of Apostles, he sets off to follow his dream once more. He is currently [[spoiler: claiming ownership of his freshly conquered kingdom, Falconia, after defeating Ganishka in a massive FinalBattle and fusing the physical and astral realms]].
As Femto he appears as a dark, massively muscled figure with taloned feet like a hawk, clawed hands, large bat-like CapeWings, and a hood that is modelled on the hawk-helmet Griffith wore back when he commanded the Band of the Hawk.
----
* AffablyEvil: Pre-Eclipse, there wasn't much he wouldn't stoop to if it would help achieve his goals, but he wouldn't go out of his way to be cruel and had several PetTheDog moments. Post-Eclipse he may be closer to FauxAffablyEvil territory, although this is a point of contention among the fandom.
* AgentPeacock
* AlmightyJanitor: Subverted. Not only were people surprised at the charisma and military knowledge that Griffith carried, but they were most surprised at the fact that he is not even of noble birth, climbing up in rank in the Midland army from a street kid with a ragtag bunch of misfits to a knight general. [[AristocratsAreEvil The upper class saw this as a threat to their own power.]]
* AmbitionIsEvil: In pursuit of his dream of obtaining his own kingdom, Griffith has sacrificed the original Band of the Hawk, [[spoiler: [[RapeLeadsToInsanity raped Casca to insanity]] while [[ForcedToWatch making Guts watch]]]], and become a powerful demon, among other things.
* AmbiguouslyBi: Sure, his sleeping with Princess Charlotte becomes a major plot-point, but the sheer amount of HoYay he throws in Guts' direction coupled with his reaction once Guts leaves suggests an obsession beyond mere friendship.
* AndIMustScream: Suffers a purely physical and realistic form of this after being tortured for a year by the Midland King's orders. [[BodyHorror His body is emaciated almost to the bone]], [[TongueTrauma his tongue is cut out]] and his tendons are removed. He's been reduced to an immobile cripple, and things [[DespairEventHorizon only get worse]] [[MoralEventHorizon from there.]]
* AnimalMotifs: The white hawk, quite appropriately. As well as a Griffin for both his bird like motif and the fact that [[MeaningfulName the name Griffith sounds similar to Griffin.]]
* ArtifactOfDoom: His Crimson Behelit.
* AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence: To the worst plane imaginable.
* AsskickingEqualsAuthority: Half of the Hawks joined under Griffith because [[LikeAGodToMe his mere image put them in a state of awe.]] The other half joined under Griffith because they saw him a strong leader that they wanted to follow - meaning that most of them got their asses kicked by him when they tried to confront him. [[spoiler: Same with the new Band of Hawks, with added prophecy bonus.]]
* AttemptedRape: When he sees how close Guts and Casca have become, Griffith tries to rape Casca in a fit of jealousy and despair when she comes to check on his wounds. Being in a crippled state he isn't capable of doing much and rather than being disgusted Casca just feels sorry for him. Doubles as foreshadowing for what happens in the Eclipse.
* AxCrazy: As Femto.
* {{Badass}}: Just as Badass as Guts in his own way.
** BadassCape
** BadassNormal: Pre-Eclipse.
*** EmpoweredBadassNormal: Afterwards, things are different.
** CulturedBadass
* BarbieDollAnatomy: Unlike Guts, Griffith is shown as a Ken doll. [[AvertedTrope Femto]], [[{{Squick}} however...]]
* BeautyEqualsGoodness: Heavily implied to be a huge factor in how he wins people over.
** BeautyIsBad: And now, it ain't such a good thing anymore.
* BeautyIsNeverTarnished: RareMaleExample. Well, except for that one time where he was HORRIBLY TORTURED FOR A YEAR.
* BeingTorturedMakesYouEvil: A marginal example. The torture just got the ball rolling; it was the ''aftereffects'' that sent him over the edge.
* BewareTheNiceOnes: Griffith is very courteous and mannerly. But stand in his way and you shall see hell. [[spoiler: Now literally.]]
* BigBad: Debatable, even though he currently provides the primary motivation for the story.
** BigBadDuumvirate: With the other four members of The God Hand.
* BigGood: In the past.
* BigRedDevil: When he's his Godhand ego Femto. Bonus fact is that instead of cloven hooves, he has ''hawk talons.''
* {{Bishonen}}
* BitchInSheepsClothing: Had little compunctions about disposing of his companions yet acted as a caring and well-intentioned leader.
* BreakTheHaughty: Taken to [[UpToEleven level 11]].
* BrokenAce: [[TheChessmaster Brilliant]], [[DarkMessiah charismatic]]...and completely [[{{Yandere}} fucked up]].
* BrokenPedestal: To all the Hawks because of his betrayal, but especially to Guts who considered him his best friend and Casca who was one of his most devoted worshippers.
* BungledSuicide: With his dream in tatters and his body mutilated, Griffith couldn't even end his misery.
* CapeWings: As Femto, he sports a pair of dark, menacing ones.
* TheChampion: He was this to Casca for the longest time, since he saved her from a life of sexual slavery and prostitution and gave her a new one, and she was [[IOweYouMyLife indebted to him]] to the point that it was practically [[HeroWorshipper hero worship]]. According to Judeau, she took his word as gospel and was prepared to sacrifice her life for his dream.
* CharClone: Handsome, has pretty hair, a powerful warrior, possibly abandoned by his parents, treats everyone around him as pawns, wore a mask.
* TheChessmaster
* TheChosenOne: A villainous example. He was chosen by the Crimson Behelit to become the fifth member of the Godhand during the Eclipse.
* ControlFreak: Griffith obviously believes that he can use his comrades to his disposal whenever and however he feels like. But when Guts and Casca have plans outside of his control? [[{{Yandere}} NO]] - [[IfICantHaveYou that will NOT be permitted!]]
* ConvenientlyAnOrphan: The details of his back story are a bit blurry, but Griffith's parents are never mentioned and he never talked about up and leaving them like Isidro did his, so we can only assume that he lived with the street children and decided that one day, he was going to become king - and it wasn't like he had [[ParentalAbandonment parents to stop him.]]
* TheCorruptible: [[FaceHeelTurn And the process completed.]]
* CourtlyLove: Griffith [[InvokedTrope toyed with this concept]] concerning his relationship with Princess Charlotte, who was the quickest way to the throne of Midland if he were to succeed in wooing and earning her hand in marriage. The guy was doing a damn good job at it too, until he messed it all up in a moment of despair.
* CrazyJealousGuy: Towards Guts and Casca.
* DarkIsEvil: As Femto. Though it's more appearance wise than anything, as his powers so far follow the light motif.
* DarkMessiah: What he becomes after his reincarnation.
* [[spoiler:DealWithTheDevil: Like all the other Godhands before him, Griffith met the Idea of Evil and accepted its offer.]]
* DefeatMeansFriendship: His recruiting M.O. Besides famously winning Guts' allegiance in a duel, it's mentioned in passing that Corkus was the leader of a group of bandits before Griffith defeated him and earned his loyalty. It's never spelled out, but considering that Judeau has a shady past and is known to have run with thieves and bandits, it's likely he was recruited in a similar fashion. Post-Eclipse, this is how Zodd joins the new Band of the Hawk.
* DeflectorShields: Personal kind. One of powers that Griffith's Godhand form of Femto reveals to have during the movie, in which [[spoiler: he puts one up between he and Guts to prevent the latter from stabbing him in order to save Casca from his clutches.]]
* DespairEventHorizon: It is Griffith's crossing of this that activates his Crimson Behelit.
** Probably the visit at Charlotte's bedroom as well. Given, that he'd guessed the king's obsession with his own daughter (and thus could see how it'd probably turn out) and delivering an IShallTauntYou speech to the man, who was keeping him in his dungeons, we can assume that Griffith gave up on everything... or it would be QUITE a TooDumbToLive moment for a MagnificentBastard.
* {{Determinator}}: No matter how many people have to die and no matter what sacrifices he has to make, he ''will'' achieve his dream.
* {{Deuteragonist}}
* DevilInPlainSight: Even at the best of times, Griffith casually uttered lines like ''" You belong to me. And I will decide when and how you die."'' The only reason Guts didn't just pack up and leave right there is because he was used to being treated [[{{CrapsackWorld}} FAR WORSE]] and Grifith still managed to look idealistic.
** Also Griffith never said anything about making the world better for the little guy. He was always after power [[AmbitionIsEvil for the sake of power.]]
* DudeLooksLikeALady
* EmotionlessBoy: After his [[spoiler: reincarnation]]. He conveys little to no emotion, and it goes hand in hand with the fact that he has no empathy. Shows signs of it before the Eclipse as well, especially Casca's flashback of him after his "encounter" with Governor Gennon. That calm, compassionate smile starts to look more like a [[StepfordSmiler Stepford Smile]] after you know what it's hiding.
* EtTuBrute: Seeing Guts leaving him and then Casca choosing Guts over him made Griffith completely lose it.
* EvenTheGuysWantHim: Even males in the series tend to find him attractive, or at least handsome.
* EvilCostumeSwitch: As Femto, Griffith's outfit is a darker, more sinister (and skin-tight) version of his warrior armor that he wears as Griffith.
** Femto technically [[FullFrontalAssault wears no costume at all]]. It's just what he looks like.
* EvilFormerFriend: To Guts.
* {{Expy}}: Similar in many ways to [[spoiler: Ryo]] from ''{{Devilman}}'', being the tough protagonist's {{Bishounen}} best friend who has strong feelings for him and turns out to be a villain. In an interesting sort of cyclical example, in the spinoff manga ''AMON,'' the character mentioned ends up looking and acting a lot like Griffith.
* FaceHeelTurn
* FaceOfAnAngelMindOfADemon
* FacialHorror: Implied to have happened to his face after his torture... [[TakeOurWordForIt but we're never allowed to see it.]] Given how grotesque the series usually is, this stands out a lot.
* FakingTheDead: Once he learns that the Queen of Midland and her nobles want him dead, Griffith blackmails Foss, the head of the conspiracy, into helping him set up a BatmanGambit that involved faking his own death. It ultimately leads to the Queen and her nobles being locked into a burning castle to die.
* FallenHero
* FatalFlaw --> {{Pride}}: Face it: this is Griffith's major fatal flaw and it's pretty hard to edge around (it's even implied in his [[MeaningfulName namesake]]). Most of his actions revolve around the fact that he believes that he's destined to become a ruler and that [[TheUbermensch no one can]] ''[[TheUbermensch quite]]'' [[TheUbermensch reach his standards.]] Everybody he encounters loves him, and he's fine with that, [[TheChessmaster especially if it gets him closer]] [[ManipulativeBastard to his goal.]] Griffith is a hard worker, but failure isn't an option for him and he rarely does, which sets himself higher on his own pedestal. But when he loses ''one'' battle against Guts, just ONE... ''Everything'' comes crashing down for him, [[BreakTheHaughty and he just goes on a downward spiral of self-destruction]] (you can also interpret his reaction in that Guts was his [[LivingEmotionalCrutch emotional crutch]] or that he [[HoYay had feelings for him]]). Again, we see this from a more sympathetic light, since Griffith genuinely wasn't a bad person to begin with. But again, this all changes when the Eclipse happens. Other flaws that can be associated with Griffith can be his [[AmbitionIsEvil ambition]], [[ItsAllAboutMe his selfishness]], and quite possibly his [[{{Hypocrite}} hypocrisy.]]
* AFatherToHisMen: [[{{Deconstruction}} Deconstructed]] in the Golden Age. Yes, he ''did'' legitimately care about the people in his army, but in order to cope with the inevitable death that would happen, he had to distance himself emotionally from them to the point where he had to see them more as tools than as people.
* FauxAffablyEvil: Post-resurrection into the physical realm, it's unclear whether he actually cares for the people he's saving or if it's just [[VillainWithGoodPublicity for PR]] as he grabs power.
* {{Foil}}: To Guts.
* ForTheEvulz: He is possibly the most despised character in the series for what he has done ([[DracoInLeatherPants at least as Femto]]).
* FromNobodyToNightmare: He started out as a normal commoner. Over time, he formed a gang of highwaymen, built them up into an army, became a successful general...and after the Eclipse, took his place in the Godhand as one of five demon kings.
* GoalInLife: ... To get a castle (i.e. his own kingdom). [[JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope At]] [[AmbitionIsEvil any]] [[FaceHeelTurn means]] [[DealWithTheDevil necessary.]]
* AGodAmI: Griffith was dying to be worshipped and got what he wanted.
* GodModeSue / InvincibleVillain: A deliberate in-universe example. Since his reincarnation, Griffith is [[NighInvulnerable nigh untouchable]] and his charisma is gravitational. It's described that opposing him "would be akin to someone in a story challenging the one who wrote it." He might as well just be called "[[StealthPun Godhand Sue.]]"
* GoldDigger: He's only interested in [[MealTicket Charlotte]] because he'll gain a kingdom by marrying her.
* TheHeavy: Griffith is not the only BigBad in ''Berserk'', nor is he [[BiggerBad the biggest one]], but he has the most direct involvement with the plot and is the source for Guts' motivation.
* HellishPupils: Clearly seen having this type of eyes after his reincarnation.
** OccultBlueEyes: Certainly crosses into this terrain since he originally had blue eyes.
* HeroicBSOD: In the past, he suffered one upon seeing a young boy in his army die in battle.
** He suffered another one after being tortured that sent him past the DespairEventHorizon, and was "rebooted" in the most horrific way possible.
* HumanoidAbomination: Since being reincarnated into a corporeal body. Griffith looks human ([[HellishPupils mostly]]), but he is most assuredly not.
* {{Hypocrite}}: He said that a true friend to him was somebody who went after their own dreams ''no matter what.'' And ''what'' [[IfICantHaveYou does he go and do]] when Guts tries to go after his own dream???
* IDidWhatIHadToDo: His reasoning behind his FaceHeelTurn, not that the audience has much sympathy.
* IfICantHaveYou: When Guts tries to leave, Griffith is willing to kill him rather than not have the man wrapped around his finger.
* ItsPersonal: [[spoiler: Sacrificing the Hawks]] was just a part of the bargain with the God Hand, same as anyone else destined with a behelit. [[spoiler: Raping Casca to insanity, on the other hand, was something Griffith did specifically to hurt Guts.]] [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge Guts is returning the favor.]]
* IHaveYouNowMyPretty: [[spoiler:Casca...]] will never be the same after what he did to her.
* IHaveYourWife: Griffith gets some hired goons to kidnap Minister Foss's daughter in order to get him to thwart the Queen of Midland who was planning to poison him during a ceremony honoring him and the Hawks.
* ImpliedDeathThreat: Griffith hands these out a la his DeathGlare.
* ItsAllAboutMe: Oh Griffith, you selfish bastard. Although he did seem to care at least a bit about his group of mercenaries, particularly Casca and Guts, achieving his dream is ultimately more important to him.
* JerkWithAHeartOfJerk: His rescue of Princess Charlotte from [[spoiler:Ganishka's captivity]] could just be seen as him returning to a modified Plan A. Become a hero to the country, marry the princess, be king and rule. He's been playing Princess Charlotte's fairytale prince from the begining and it's pretty clear that he was just manipulating her in order to get the crown.
* JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope: Griffith's goal seemed harmless and noble enough in the beginning, even making other characters look at their own lives in perspective, but most of his choices in order to achieve his goal are clearly in the morally gray territory (ya know, plotting assassinations, kidnapping kids, and making his second-to-the-right hand man [[DirtyBusiness do most of it]] so that he wouldn't smear his good image. Ya know, that sort of stuff.). And then [[BrokenAce Griffith's very personality begins to unravel like a sweater caught on a nail]], just to add. After all of the hideous things that happened to him over the course of the one year time-skip, we still look at him from a sympathetic light, and feel badly for him that he was unable to achieve a dream that seems so simple and pure. Until the Eclipse happened, and then - [[FaceHeelTurn uh]] [[MoralEventHorizon oh.]]
* KaleidoscopeEyes: They vary in look depending on Griffith's temperament and motive:
** CreepyBlueEyes: When he is plotting your demise.
** IcyBlueEyes: The standard look, representing Griffith's rather fluctuating and cunning personality.
** InnocentBlueEyes: When he wants to appear acceptable and trustworthy.
* KickTheDog: This trope isn't enough to explain the magnitude of what Griffith did during the Eclipse.
* KickTheSonOfABitch: Does this to the Midland nobles who cross his path. Although he does it for selfish reasons, he comes off as something of a hero simply because said nobles were... not the nicest people.
* {{Knighting}}: After an important battle in the Golden Age arc, Griffith is knighted by the King of Midland. Shortly after that, his knighthood is stripped from him for deflowering the princess.
* KnightInShiningArmor: Fits this perfectly during the Golden Age arc, making for a nice, juicy {{Deconstruction}}.
* KnightOfCerebus: We knew this bastard was playing for keeps after what he did at the Eclipse.
* KubrickStare: Not only was he [[spoiler: brutally raping Casca]] during the climax of the Eclipse, [[FoeYay he was staring directly into Guts' eyes the entire time.]]
* LackOfEmpathy: Highly suggested that he feels no remorse upon becoming a Godhand. Actually, it's not even suggested. Griffith himself confirmed this when [[spoiler:he went to the Hill of Swords after his reincarnation, telling Guts that he came just to see if he could "feel" anything after what he did to the Hawks]]. And do you know what he said?
--> '''Griffith''': [[spoiler:"It appears that I am free."]]
** Not even mentioning that [[PowerPerversionPotential his very first act as a Godhand]] solidified the fact that he didn't give a shit about his actions.
* LadyAndKnight: He [[InvokedTrope invokes]] this in his relationship with Charlotte. Charlotte is the bright lady character type and he's the knight who looks bright, but has dark intentions.
* LightIsGood: Before his FaceHeelTurn.
** LightIsNotGood: He oozes this after his reincarnation in the mortal world as Griffith again.
* LikeAGodToMe: The typical first impression that people get upon seeing Griffith for the first time. Played straight pre-Eclipse. Horribly subverted after the fact.
* LongHairedPrettyBoy
* LoveMakesYouEvil: While he was ostensibly sociopathic before, his perceived rejection from Guts started his spiralling descent.
* [[MagneticHero Magnetic Villain]]: See DefeatMeansFriendship above.
* MakeupIsEvil: He as his Femto persona and Slan are the only God Hand member to wear make-up.
* ManChild: Before the Eclipse, many characters comment that he has an almost childlike innocence about him (though since he would sometimes display this at inappropriate times certain people would find it creepy rather than endearing). Indeed, one could interpret his dream as a boyish fantasy he never did quite let go.
* ManInTheIronMask: Turned into this during his year of being put to the torture.
* ManInWhite: Griffith may look benevolent in his ever-so-shining white armor, but ''is'' he really?
* ManipulativeBastard: A very good example, at least before the Eclipse. Probably even more so afterwards (just look at how he treats Charlotte).
* MeaningfulName: See AnimalMotifs.
* TheMindIsAPlaythingOfTheBody: After he was reincarnated into a humanoid body, Griffith arranged for an encounter with Guts just to see if this trope was in effect and if he would feel anything from the meeting. [[AvertedTrope He didn't]].
* MindRape: Psychic assault scenario. What Ubik does to Griffith, which results in him carrying out the sacrifices for the Eclipse and turning into the demonic Femto.
* MrFanservice: Much like Guts, he also has a large female fandom, but for [[{{Bishonen}} completely]] [[DracoInLeatherPants different]] [[WhiteHairBlackHeart reasons]].
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: [[spoiler: When Griffith is being transformed into Femto, he has a moment of this...only to realize that he can no longer feel remorse. In the anime his inner voice suddenly becomes colder after the "last tear you ever shed" moment making it sound like Femto is [[BreakingSpeech breaking down]] Griffith.]] No more going back from here.
** IgnoredEpiphany: The result.
* NakedOnRevival: [[spoiler: When Griffith is reincarnated into the physical world as an [[HumanoidAbomination almost-human]], he's understandably naked, since he used the body of the Child to do so.]]
* NobleMaleRoguishMale: The Noble Male to Guts' Roguish Male.
* NominalHero: In the past. Now he's a straight up villain.
* NotGoodWithRejection: He didn't respond very well to Guts leaving him and the discovery of Guts and Casca's relationship.
* TheOmniscient: Widely speculated that [[spoiler: as Femto, he found out about [[RapeAsBackstory Guts' traumatic backstory]] and [[AchillesHeel used this knowledge]] [[MindRape to torture him]] during the Eclipse]], and/or that he knew that [[spoiler: raping Casca]] would allow him to one day manifest in the physical realm again.
* OmniscientMoralityLicense: Related to the above, if he DID know, it's the only possible justification for why [[spoiler: raping Casca]] could still be ForTheGreaterGood. Still doesn't explain why he [[ForcedToWatch made Guts watch]], though.
* TheParagon: Subverted. He starts out like this, as he gave Casca the sword and the courage to defeat her would-be rapist, he transformed Guts from a wandering brute-for-hire into a soldier who cares about his comrades, and the entire Band of the Hawk is made up of [[RagtagBunchOfMisfits rehabilitated social outcasts.]] However, Griffith only sees his comrades as a means to an end, and although he does care for them, [[spoiler: that was all that was needed in order for them to be made sacrifices.]]
* PetTheDog:
** His conversation with Casca after [[spoiler: prostituting himself for funds]], where he talks about how the only thing he can do for those who have died is to make sure their deaths weren't in vain, suggests some level of genuine care for his troops. It has been suggested that [[spoiler: his reincarnation as the demonic Femto has actually removed his ability to feel remorse (and maybe some other emotions),]] and thus regardless of what he may be now, his affection in the past was probably genuine.
** Saves [[spoiler: insane Casca]] from some falling rocks, though it is debatable on whether or not he truly did this out of remorse for the horrific things he had done to her in the past, or because [[spoiler: he was being manipulated by the Child, whose body he used in order to reincarnate himself back into the physical world]]. Speculations highly suggest that it was more due to the latter reason, so this would be a subversion.
** There's also the time he hesitates to destroy Guts. [[spoiler: Perhaps this was to preserve Casca's unborn child; or was there another motive?]]
** He also saved Princess Charlotte from [[spoiler:Ganishka's captivity]] in a very romantic, fairytale-esque way that ''almost'' makes up for his past actions... But, again, "[[FaceHeelTurn Eclipse!]] [[KickTheDog Eclipse!]] [[MoralEventHorizon Eclipse!]]"
* PitifulWorms:
--> '''As Femto''': "Still squirming around in your pitiful existence, I see."
* PowerPerversionPotential: Taken to the MOST extreme level of {{squick}} when he's Femto. He garners the extraordinary powers of a demon lord, and is able to [[RealityWarper bend reality at his very will.]] And what is the '''very first thing''' that he goes and does??? God, {{you bastard}}!
* PrinceCharmless
* ProtagonistJourneyToVillain: He went from a WideEyedIdealist to a demon lord all in the name of pursuing his dream.
* PsychopathicManchild: The events of the Eclipse and his actions afterwards definitely solidify his status as this.
* PsychoticSmirk: It's seen in episode 10 when he hears of Lord Yurius's death. It's as disturbing as Guts' [[WhenSheSmiles smile]] is heartwarming.
* RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil
* RealityWarper: As Femto.
* RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver: As Femto he is black with [[RedEyesTakeWarning red eyes.]]
* RedBaron: The Hawk Of Light.
* RedEyesTakeWarning: Femto in the movie adaptation has these.
* RedOniBlueOni: Blue Oni to Guts' Red Oni.
* RedRightHand: Even though he is [[HumanoidAbomination the most human-looking]] of the apostles when in his human form, Griffith still retains [[HellishPupils the terrifying eyes]] of his Godhand form. Now it looks as if he's ''always'' giving you the KubrickStare. *shudder*
* SanitySlippage: One can definitely argue that the moment Guts decided to leave the Hawks, Griffith slowly began to lose it, bit by bit, over the course of a year. And he was already a [[{{Yandere}} yanderic]] BrokenAce to begin with.
* SatanicArchetype: He is more of an equivalent of Satan.
* SexForSolace: With Charlotte. And he pays for this dearly.
* ShamelessFanserviceGuy: He displays little shame in being nude before others.
* ShowerOfAngst: Complete with a wonderfully disturbing scene of him angsting while clawing at his arms until they bleed when washing himself after [[spoiler:he becomes a prostitute to make money]].
* [[spoiler:SingleMomStripper: [[BlatantLies No, this is not funny.]] But actually, he portrays sleeping with Gennon to Casca exactly this way.]]
* SmugSuper: Although we haven't heard Griffith speak as Femto many times, every time he does he is a snide and egotistical prick who loves nothing more than to laugh at the pain that he has caused Guts and how much more powerful he is than Guts or anyone around him. If he weren't already a vile, evil villain, Femto would be straight up in [[{{Jerkass}} Jerkass Avenue.]]
* SocialClimber: His goal is to become the king of Midland despite being a commoner. He starts out the leader of a band of mercenaries and rises to fame through military victories. He plans to marry Princess Charlotte to secure the throne. [[spoiler: In the end, the fact how close to succeeding Griffith gets only serves to make his fate that much more tragic. Griffith loses all that he has gained and sacrifices his men in a desperate attempt to salvage what has been lost.]]
* TheSociopath: Even before the events of the Eclipse. He is shown to be manipulative to his troops, having Guts doing his dirty work and keeping it secret from the others so he stays perfect in their eyes. Several characters note how his expressions are off, smiling childishly one second and giving the evil eye the next. And when Guts tries to leave, once Griffith is within a couple of easy steps to achieving his dream, he is willing to [[http://www.mrsmanga.com/Berserk/027.036/207 kill]] [[http://www.mrsmanga.com/Berserk/027.036/208 Guts]] rather than not have the man wrapped around his finger.
** More likely subverted (before he became Femto, that is). He *is* shown to be capable of feeling for others - the scenes with the dead boy, and the scene where he self-harms while talking to Casca confirm this. He then figures that the only way he can deal with this is to completely suppress any emotions he feels for others. This conflict is only resolved after he accepts his DealWithTheDevil.
* SpellMyNameWithAnS: While he is widely known as Femto, it is highly probable that the actual spelling of his name is [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PHEMT "Phemt"]], the technical concept after which he is named.
** It could also be a reference to [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Femto the prefix Femto]], which is equal to one quadrillionth.
* StartOfDarkness: Related to ProtagonistJourneyToVillain, the Golden Age arc, being Guts' back story, serves as this for Griffith.
* StepfordSmiler: ... Oh no. Not that smile. [[HellishPupils With the eyes.]] ''[[KubrickStare And the stare.]]'' Is there any feeling behind reborn Griffith's smile? I think not.
* StreetUrchin: While having an inner monologue to himself while imprisoned, Griffith mentioned that he spent his early years on the streets with other kids. [[ConvenientlyAnOrphan His parents are still never mentioned.]]
* StupidSexyFlanders: Even Guts experiences this upon seeing him naked.
* TakeOurWordForIt: Dear GOD! ''What happened to his face??!!''
* ThisIsSomethingShesGotToDoHerself: Instead of saving Casca from rape himself, he threw her a weapon and told her to defend herself, then just watched to see what the outcome would be.
* ThresholdGuardian: From [[TheHerosJourney the Joseph Campbell perspective.]] When Guts decided to leave the Hawks at the end of volume 8, Griffith was ultimately the one thing keeping Guts from pursuing his dream, and when Guts decided to go through with his decision - [[WinYourFreedom he had to fight for his freedom.]] Unfortunately, this particular encounter was not as fruitful for the participants as the trope often implies.
* TongueTrauma: Not only was Griffith's tongue removed, but that son-of-a-bitch torturer ''turned it into a necklace.'' But at least the torturer [[KarmicDeath got what was coming to him.]]
* TranshumanTreachery: [[spoiler:Upon the Eclipse the Idea of Evil reveals to Griffith that it is responsible for all the unfortunate events that turned him into a helpless cripple. Instead of being mad at it, Griffith decides to ally himself to the Idea and the Godhand.]]
* {{Ubermensch}}: He believes no one is able to understand his views and dreams.
* TheUnfettered: He'll doing anything to achieve his dreams, even [[spoiler: sacrificing the lives of his TrueCompanions to demons to do it.]]
* UngratefulBastard: [[spoiler: Seriously, dude: After everything Casca did for you, you treat her like THAT?]]
* VillainProtagonist: After returning to the human world. Occasionally, events are shown from Griffith's point of view when he's [[EvilVersusEvil fighting other Apostles]].
* VillainWithGoodPublicity
* WeaponOfChoice: Rapiers.
* WeUsedToBeFriends: With Guts.
* WhiteHairBlackHeart: Fits the physical description. Even when he was officially a "hero", he was manipulative and out for his own purposes.
* WhiteMagic: After return as the Falcon of Light, he can perform miracles, like summoning the souls of the recently departed to say goodbye to their loved ones. This doesn't make him morally decent in the least...
* WickedCultured
* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity
* [[WorldsMostBeautifulWoman World's Most Beautiful]][[RareMaleExample ... Man?]]
* WouldHurtAChild: Griffith saw no qualms about [[spoiler: raping a pregnant woman, tainting her child in the process, and then using it in order to reincarnate himself in the real world later on.]] ''[[MoralEventHorizon Low.]]''
* {{Yandere}}: Griffith seems to have some kind of obsession in regards to Guts, judging by how he acts when he tries to leave the Hawks, though whether or not it's romantic in nature depends on your perspective. He also started harboring this toward Casca as well, and the discovery that both of them were in a relationship would cause him to snap, leading to everything going to hell.
----
http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/griffith.jpg
[[caption-width:316:Griffith]]
[[quoteright:150:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Femto.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:150:Femto]]
-> ''"I did not betray my dream. That is all."''
-> ''"The Black Swordsman, you say? His petty existence is beneath our notice."''
A stock [[WhiteHairBlackHeart white-haired pretty boy]] and leader of the mercenaries known as the Band of the Hawk, he is also Guts's closest friend until the Eclipse. Griffith recruits Guts to his band [[DefeatMeansFriendship after defeating him in battle,]] and Guts quickly becomes his right-hand man. There are also many hints that his friendship with Guts [[HoYay might not be completely platonic...]]
Griffith is driven by his dream of obtaining his own kingdom, and stops at nothing to obtain it. He is in a good position to do so, being a cunning strategist, an unusually skilled swordsman, extremely charismatic, and a shrewd politician. It also helps that he possesses the Crimson Behelit, an ArtifactOfDoom that protects him from death several times. Griffith lacks any real scruples in his efforts to get what he wants - kidnapping, assassination, and self-abasement, [[spoiler:even to the point of prostituting himself once so he could finance the Hawks,]] are all considered acceptable, even necessary steps towards his ultimate goal.
Upon nearly achieving his dream, however, [[EtTuBrute he falls apart when Guts chooses to leave the Hawks]], an action born from Griffith's own philosophies of independence and the tireless pursuit of one's dream. Devastated, he seeks temporary solace by sleeping with Princess Charlotte, an act that sets off the inevitable countdown to the Eclipse. Crippled for life after a full year of torture on the King's orders for having deflowered the Princess, Griffith is later freed by his companions. After overhearing Casca convince Guts to leave ''again'', Griffith crosses the DespairEventHorizon and uses the Crimson Behelit to summon the Godhand, albeit unknowingly.
After betraying and sacrificing his whole party to the Godhand and [[spoiler: the Idea of Evil]], Griffith becomes Femto, the fifth member of the Godhand, earning Guts's undying hatred both for throwing him and his comrades to the wolves in order to become a Godhand and for [[spoiler:raping Casca to insanity right in front of him in his first act as Femto]]. Griffith is later reincarnated into a human form after the mock Eclipse at the Tower of Punishment. Having gathered a new Band of the Hawk, one primarily composed of Apostles, he sets off to follow his dream once more. He is currently [[spoiler: claiming ownership of his freshly conquered kingdom, Falconia, after defeating Ganishka in a massive FinalBattle and fusing the physical and astral realms]].
As Femto he appears as a dark, massively muscled figure with taloned feet like a hawk, clawed hands, large bat-like CapeWings, and a hood that is modelled on the hawk-helmet Griffith wore back when he commanded the Band of the Hawk.
----
* AffablyEvil: Pre-Eclipse, there wasn't much he wouldn't stoop to if it would help achieve his goals, but he wouldn't go out of his way to be cruel and had several PetTheDog moments. Post-Eclipse he may be closer to FauxAffablyEvil territory, although this is a point of contention among the fandom.
* AgentPeacock
* AlmightyJanitor: Subverted. Not only were people surprised at the charisma and military knowledge that Griffith carried, but they were most surprised at the fact that he is not even of noble birth, climbing up in rank in the Midland army from a street kid with a ragtag bunch of misfits to a knight general. [[AristocratsAreEvil The upper class saw this as a threat to their own power.]]
* AmbitionIsEvil: In pursuit of his dream of obtaining his own kingdom, Griffith has sacrificed the original Band of the Hawk, [[spoiler: [[RapeLeadsToInsanity raped Casca to insanity]] while [[ForcedToWatch making Guts watch]]]], and become a powerful demon, among other things.
* AmbiguouslyBi: Sure, his sleeping with Princess Charlotte becomes a major plot-point, but the sheer amount of HoYay he throws in Guts' direction coupled with his reaction once Guts leaves suggests an obsession beyond mere friendship.
* AndIMustScream: Suffers a purely physical and realistic form of this after being tortured for a year by the Midland King's orders. [[BodyHorror His body is emaciated almost to the bone]], [[TongueTrauma his tongue is cut out]] and his tendons are removed. He's been reduced to an immobile cripple, and things [[DespairEventHorizon only get worse]] [[MoralEventHorizon from there.]]
* AnimalMotifs: The white hawk, quite appropriately. As well as a Griffin for both his bird like motif and the fact that [[MeaningfulName the name Griffith sounds similar to Griffin.]]
* ArtifactOfDoom: His Crimson Behelit.
* AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence: To the worst plane imaginable.
* AsskickingEqualsAuthority: Half of the Hawks joined under Griffith because [[LikeAGodToMe his mere image put them in a state of awe.]] The other half joined under Griffith because they saw him a strong leader that they wanted to follow - meaning that most of them got their asses kicked by him when they tried to confront him. [[spoiler: Same with the new Band of Hawks, with added prophecy bonus.]]
* AttemptedRape: When he sees how close Guts and Casca have become, Griffith tries to rape Casca in a fit of jealousy and despair when she comes to check on his wounds. Being in a crippled state he isn't capable of doing much and rather than being disgusted Casca just feels sorry for him. Doubles as foreshadowing for what happens in the Eclipse.
* AxCrazy: As Femto.
* {{Badass}}: Just as Badass as Guts in his own way.
** BadassCape
** BadassNormal: Pre-Eclipse.
*** EmpoweredBadassNormal: Afterwards, things are different.
** CulturedBadass
* BarbieDollAnatomy: Unlike Guts, Griffith is shown as a Ken doll. [[AvertedTrope Femto]], [[{{Squick}} however...]]
* BeautyEqualsGoodness: Heavily implied to be a huge factor in how he wins people over.
** BeautyIsBad: And now, it ain't such a good thing anymore.
* BeautyIsNeverTarnished: RareMaleExample. Well, except for that one time where he was HORRIBLY TORTURED FOR A YEAR.
* BeingTorturedMakesYouEvil: A marginal example. The torture just got the ball rolling; it was the ''aftereffects'' that sent him over the edge.
* BewareTheNiceOnes: Griffith is very courteous and mannerly. But stand in his way and you shall see hell. [[spoiler: Now literally.]]
* BigBad: Debatable, even though he currently provides the primary motivation for the story.
** BigBadDuumvirate: With the other four members of The God Hand.
* BigGood: In the past.
* BigRedDevil: When he's his Godhand ego Femto. Bonus fact is that instead of cloven hooves, he has ''hawk talons.''
* {{Bishonen}}
* BitchInSheepsClothing: Had little compunctions about disposing of his companions yet acted as a caring and well-intentioned leader.
* BreakTheHaughty: Taken to [[UpToEleven level 11]].
* BrokenAce: [[TheChessmaster Brilliant]], [[DarkMessiah charismatic]]...and completely [[{{Yandere}} fucked up]].
* BrokenPedestal: To all the Hawks because of his betrayal, but especially to Guts who considered him his best friend and Casca who was one of his most devoted worshippers.
* BungledSuicide: With his dream in tatters and his body mutilated, Griffith couldn't even end his misery.
* CapeWings: As Femto, he sports a pair of dark, menacing ones.
* TheChampion: He was this to Casca for the longest time, since he saved her from a life of sexual slavery and prostitution and gave her a new one, and she was [[IOweYouMyLife indebted to him]] to the point that it was practically [[HeroWorshipper hero worship]]. According to Judeau, she took his word as gospel and was prepared to sacrifice her life for his dream.
* CharClone: Handsome, has pretty hair, a powerful warrior, possibly abandoned by his parents, treats everyone around him as pawns, wore a mask.
* TheChessmaster
* TheChosenOne: A villainous example. He was chosen by the Crimson Behelit to become the fifth member of the Godhand during the Eclipse.
* ControlFreak: Griffith obviously believes that he can use his comrades to his disposal whenever and however he feels like. But when Guts and Casca have plans outside of his control? [[{{Yandere}} NO]] - [[IfICantHaveYou that will NOT be permitted!]]
* ConvenientlyAnOrphan: The details of his back story are a bit blurry, but Griffith's parents are never mentioned and he never talked about up and leaving them like Isidro did his, so we can only assume that he lived with the street children and decided that one day, he was going to become king - and it wasn't like he had [[ParentalAbandonment parents to stop him.]]
* TheCorruptible: [[FaceHeelTurn And the process completed.]]
* CourtlyLove: Griffith [[InvokedTrope toyed with this concept]] concerning his relationship with Princess Charlotte, who was the quickest way to the throne of Midland if he were to succeed in wooing and earning her hand in marriage. The guy was doing a damn good job at it too, until he messed it all up in a moment of despair.
* CrazyJealousGuy: Towards Guts and Casca.
* DarkIsEvil: As Femto. Though it's more appearance wise than anything, as his powers so far follow the light motif.
* DarkMessiah: What he becomes after his reincarnation.
* [[spoiler:DealWithTheDevil: Like all the other Godhands before him, Griffith met the Idea of Evil and accepted its offer.]]
* DefeatMeansFriendship: His recruiting M.O. Besides famously winning Guts' allegiance in a duel, it's mentioned in passing that Corkus was the leader of a group of bandits before Griffith defeated him and earned his loyalty. It's never spelled out, but considering that Judeau has a shady past and is known to have run with thieves and bandits, it's likely he was recruited in a similar fashion. Post-Eclipse, this is how Zodd joins the new Band of the Hawk.
* DeflectorShields: Personal kind. One of powers that Griffith's Godhand form of Femto reveals to have during the movie, in which [[spoiler: he puts one up between he and Guts to prevent the latter from stabbing him in order to save Casca from his clutches.]]
* DespairEventHorizon: It is Griffith's crossing of this that activates his Crimson Behelit.
** Probably the visit at Charlotte's bedroom as well. Given, that he'd guessed the king's obsession with his own daughter (and thus could see how it'd probably turn out) and delivering an IShallTauntYou speech to the man, who was keeping him in his dungeons, we can assume that Griffith gave up on everything... or it would be QUITE a TooDumbToLive moment for a MagnificentBastard.
* {{Determinator}}: No matter how many people have to die and no matter what sacrifices he has to make, he ''will'' achieve his dream.
* {{Deuteragonist}}
* DevilInPlainSight: Even at the best of times, Griffith casually uttered lines like ''" You belong to me. And I will decide when and how you die."'' The only reason Guts didn't just pack up and leave right there is because he was used to being treated [[{{CrapsackWorld}} FAR WORSE]] and Grifith still managed to look idealistic.
** Also Griffith never said anything about making the world better for the little guy. He was always after power [[AmbitionIsEvil for the sake of power.]]
* DudeLooksLikeALady
* EmotionlessBoy: After his [[spoiler: reincarnation]]. He conveys little to no emotion, and it goes hand in hand with the fact that he has no empathy. Shows signs of it before the Eclipse as well, especially Casca's flashback of him after his "encounter" with Governor Gennon. That calm, compassionate smile starts to look more like a [[StepfordSmiler Stepford Smile]] after you know what it's hiding.
* EtTuBrute: Seeing Guts leaving him and then Casca choosing Guts over him made Griffith completely lose it.
* EvenTheGuysWantHim: Even males in the series tend to find him attractive, or at least handsome.
* EvilCostumeSwitch: As Femto, Griffith's outfit is a darker, more sinister (and skin-tight) version of his warrior armor that he wears as Griffith.
** Femto technically [[FullFrontalAssault wears no costume at all]]. It's just what he looks like.
* EvilFormerFriend: To Guts.
* {{Expy}}: Similar in many ways to [[spoiler: Ryo]] from ''{{Devilman}}'', being the tough protagonist's {{Bishounen}} best friend who has strong feelings for him and turns out to be a villain. In an interesting sort of cyclical example, in the spinoff manga ''AMON,'' the character mentioned ends up looking and acting a lot like Griffith.
* FaceHeelTurn
* FaceOfAnAngelMindOfADemon
* FacialHorror: Implied to have happened to his face after his torture... [[TakeOurWordForIt but we're never allowed to see it.]] Given how grotesque the series usually is, this stands out a lot.
* FakingTheDead: Once he learns that the Queen of Midland and her nobles want him dead, Griffith blackmails Foss, the head of the conspiracy, into helping him set up a BatmanGambit that involved faking his own death. It ultimately leads to the Queen and her nobles being locked into a burning castle to die.
* FallenHero
* FatalFlaw --> {{Pride}}: Face it: this is Griffith's major fatal flaw and it's pretty hard to edge around (it's even implied in his [[MeaningfulName namesake]]). Most of his actions revolve around the fact that he believes that he's destined to become a ruler and that [[TheUbermensch no one can]] ''[[TheUbermensch quite]]'' [[TheUbermensch reach his standards.]] Everybody he encounters loves him, and he's fine with that, [[TheChessmaster especially if it gets him closer]] [[ManipulativeBastard to his goal.]] Griffith is a hard worker, but failure isn't an option for him and he rarely does, which sets himself higher on his own pedestal. But when he loses ''one'' battle against Guts, just ONE... ''Everything'' comes crashing down for him, [[BreakTheHaughty and he just goes on a downward spiral of self-destruction]] (you can also interpret his reaction in that Guts was his [[LivingEmotionalCrutch emotional crutch]] or that he [[HoYay had feelings for him]]). Again, we see this from a more sympathetic light, since Griffith genuinely wasn't a bad person to begin with. But again, this all changes when the Eclipse happens. Other flaws that can be associated with Griffith can be his [[AmbitionIsEvil ambition]], [[ItsAllAboutMe his selfishness]], and quite possibly his [[{{Hypocrite}} hypocrisy.]]
* AFatherToHisMen: [[{{Deconstruction}} Deconstructed]] in the Golden Age. Yes, he ''did'' legitimately care about the people in his army, but in order to cope with the inevitable death that would happen, he had to distance himself emotionally from them to the point where he had to see them more as tools than as people.
* FauxAffablyEvil: Post-resurrection into the physical realm, it's unclear whether he actually cares for the people he's saving or if it's just [[VillainWithGoodPublicity for PR]] as he grabs power.
* {{Foil}}: To Guts.
* ForTheEvulz: He is possibly the most despised character in the series for what he has done ([[DracoInLeatherPants at least as Femto]]).
* FromNobodyToNightmare: He started out as a normal commoner. Over time, he formed a gang of highwaymen, built them up into an army, became a successful general...and after the Eclipse, took his place in the Godhand as one of five demon kings.
* GoalInLife: ... To get a castle (i.e. his own kingdom). [[JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope At]] [[AmbitionIsEvil any]] [[FaceHeelTurn means]] [[DealWithTheDevil necessary.]]
* AGodAmI: Griffith was dying to be worshipped and got what he wanted.
* GodModeSue / InvincibleVillain: A deliberate in-universe example. Since his reincarnation, Griffith is [[NighInvulnerable nigh untouchable]] and his charisma is gravitational. It's described that opposing him "would be akin to someone in a story challenging the one who wrote it." He might as well just be called "[[StealthPun Godhand Sue.]]"
* GoldDigger: He's only interested in [[MealTicket Charlotte]] because he'll gain a kingdom by marrying her.
* TheHeavy: Griffith is not the only BigBad in ''Berserk'', nor is he [[BiggerBad the biggest one]], but he has the most direct involvement with the plot and is the source for Guts' motivation.
* HellishPupils: Clearly seen having this type of eyes after his reincarnation.
** OccultBlueEyes: Certainly crosses into this terrain since he originally had blue eyes.
* HeroicBSOD: In the past, he suffered one upon seeing a young boy in his army die in battle.
** He suffered another one after being tortured that sent him past the DespairEventHorizon, and was "rebooted" in the most horrific way possible.
* HumanoidAbomination: Since being reincarnated into a corporeal body. Griffith looks human ([[HellishPupils mostly]]), but he is most assuredly not.
* {{Hypocrite}}: He said that a true friend to him was somebody who went after their own dreams ''no matter what.'' And ''what'' [[IfICantHaveYou does he go and do]] when Guts tries to go after his own dream???
* IDidWhatIHadToDo: His reasoning behind his FaceHeelTurn, not that the audience has much sympathy.
* IfICantHaveYou: When Guts tries to leave, Griffith is willing to kill him rather than not have the man wrapped around his finger.
* ItsPersonal: [[spoiler: Sacrificing the Hawks]] was just a part of the bargain with the God Hand, same as anyone else destined with a behelit. [[spoiler: Raping Casca to insanity, on the other hand, was something Griffith did specifically to hurt Guts.]] [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge Guts is returning the favor.]]
* IHaveYouNowMyPretty: [[spoiler:Casca...]] will never be the same after what he did to her.
* IHaveYourWife: Griffith gets some hired goons to kidnap Minister Foss's daughter in order to get him to thwart the Queen of Midland who was planning to poison him during a ceremony honoring him and the Hawks.
* ImpliedDeathThreat: Griffith hands these out a la his DeathGlare.
* ItsAllAboutMe: Oh Griffith, you selfish bastard. Although he did seem to care at least a bit about his group of mercenaries, particularly Casca and Guts, achieving his dream is ultimately more important to him.
* JerkWithAHeartOfJerk: His rescue of Princess Charlotte from [[spoiler:Ganishka's captivity]] could just be seen as him returning to a modified Plan A. Become a hero to the country, marry the princess, be king and rule. He's been playing Princess Charlotte's fairytale prince from the begining and it's pretty clear that he was just manipulating her in order to get the crown.
* JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope: Griffith's goal seemed harmless and noble enough in the beginning, even making other characters look at their own lives in perspective, but most of his choices in order to achieve his goal are clearly in the morally gray territory (ya know, plotting assassinations, kidnapping kids, and making his second-to-the-right hand man [[DirtyBusiness do most of it]] so that he wouldn't smear his good image. Ya know, that sort of stuff.). And then [[BrokenAce Griffith's very personality begins to unravel like a sweater caught on a nail]], just to add. After all of the hideous things that happened to him over the course of the one year time-skip, we still look at him from a sympathetic light, and feel badly for him that he was unable to achieve a dream that seems so simple and pure. Until the Eclipse happened, and then - [[FaceHeelTurn uh]] [[MoralEventHorizon oh.]]
* KaleidoscopeEyes: They vary in look depending on Griffith's temperament and motive:
** CreepyBlueEyes: When he is plotting your demise.
** IcyBlueEyes: The standard look, representing Griffith's rather fluctuating and cunning personality.
** InnocentBlueEyes: When he wants to appear acceptable and trustworthy.
* KickTheDog: This trope isn't enough to explain the magnitude of what Griffith did during the Eclipse.
* KickTheSonOfABitch: Does this to the Midland nobles who cross his path. Although he does it for selfish reasons, he comes off as something of a hero simply because said nobles were... not the nicest people.
* {{Knighting}}: After an important battle in the Golden Age arc, Griffith is knighted by the King of Midland. Shortly after that, his knighthood is stripped from him for deflowering the princess.
* KnightInShiningArmor: Fits this perfectly during the Golden Age arc, making for a nice, juicy {{Deconstruction}}.
* KnightOfCerebus: We knew this bastard was playing for keeps after what he did at the Eclipse.
* KubrickStare: Not only was he [[spoiler: brutally raping Casca]] during the climax of the Eclipse, [[FoeYay he was staring directly into Guts' eyes the entire time.]]
* LackOfEmpathy: Highly suggested that he feels no remorse upon becoming a Godhand. Actually, it's not even suggested. Griffith himself confirmed this when [[spoiler:he went to the Hill of Swords after his reincarnation, telling Guts that he came just to see if he could "feel" anything after what he did to the Hawks]]. And do you know what he said?
--> '''Griffith''': [[spoiler:"It appears that I am free."]]
** Not even mentioning that [[PowerPerversionPotential his very first act as a Godhand]] solidified the fact that he didn't give a shit about his actions.
* LadyAndKnight: He [[InvokedTrope invokes]] this in his relationship with Charlotte. Charlotte is the bright lady character type and he's the knight who looks bright, but has dark intentions.
* LightIsGood: Before his FaceHeelTurn.
** LightIsNotGood: He oozes this after his reincarnation in the mortal world as Griffith again.
* LikeAGodToMe: The typical first impression that people get upon seeing Griffith for the first time. Played straight pre-Eclipse. Horribly subverted after the fact.
* LongHairedPrettyBoy
* LoveMakesYouEvil: While he was ostensibly sociopathic before, his perceived rejection from Guts started his spiralling descent.
* [[MagneticHero Magnetic Villain]]: See DefeatMeansFriendship above.
* MakeupIsEvil: He as his Femto persona and Slan are the only God Hand member to wear make-up.
* ManChild: Before the Eclipse, many characters comment that he has an almost childlike innocence about him (though since he would sometimes display this at inappropriate times certain people would find it creepy rather than endearing). Indeed, one could interpret his dream as a boyish fantasy he never did quite let go.
* ManInTheIronMask: Turned into this during his year of being put to the torture.
* ManInWhite: Griffith may look benevolent in his ever-so-shining white armor, but ''is'' he really?
* ManipulativeBastard: A very good example, at least before the Eclipse. Probably even more so afterwards (just look at how he treats Charlotte).
* MeaningfulName: See AnimalMotifs.
* TheMindIsAPlaythingOfTheBody: After he was reincarnated into a humanoid body, Griffith arranged for an encounter with Guts just to see if this trope was in effect and if he would feel anything from the meeting. [[AvertedTrope He didn't]].
* MindRape: Psychic assault scenario. What Ubik does to Griffith, which results in him carrying out the sacrifices for the Eclipse and turning into the demonic Femto.
* MrFanservice: Much like Guts, he also has a large female fandom, but for [[{{Bishonen}} completely]] [[DracoInLeatherPants different]] [[WhiteHairBlackHeart reasons]].
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: [[spoiler: When Griffith is being transformed into Femto, he has a moment of this...only to realize that he can no longer feel remorse. In the anime his inner voice suddenly becomes colder after the "last tear you ever shed" moment making it sound like Femto is [[BreakingSpeech breaking down]] Griffith.]] No more going back from here.
** IgnoredEpiphany: The result.
* NakedOnRevival: [[spoiler: When Griffith is reincarnated into the physical world as an [[HumanoidAbomination almost-human]], he's understandably naked, since he used the body of the Child to do so.]]
* NobleMaleRoguishMale: The Noble Male to Guts' Roguish Male.
* NominalHero: In the past. Now he's a straight up villain.
* NotGoodWithRejection: He didn't respond very well to Guts leaving him and the discovery of Guts and Casca's relationship.
* TheOmniscient: Widely speculated that [[spoiler: as Femto, he found out about [[RapeAsBackstory Guts' traumatic backstory]] and [[AchillesHeel used this knowledge]] [[MindRape to torture him]] during the Eclipse]], and/or that he knew that [[spoiler: raping Casca]] would allow him to one day manifest in the physical realm again.
* OmniscientMoralityLicense: Related to the above, if he DID know, it's the only possible justification for why [[spoiler: raping Casca]] could still be ForTheGreaterGood. Still doesn't explain why he [[ForcedToWatch made Guts watch]], though.
* TheParagon: Subverted. He starts out like this, as he gave Casca the sword and the courage to defeat her would-be rapist, he transformed Guts from a wandering brute-for-hire into a soldier who cares about his comrades, and the entire Band of the Hawk is made up of [[RagtagBunchOfMisfits rehabilitated social outcasts.]] However, Griffith only sees his comrades as a means to an end, and although he does care for them, [[spoiler: that was all that was needed in order for them to be made sacrifices.]]
* PetTheDog:
** His conversation with Casca after [[spoiler: prostituting himself for funds]], where he talks about how the only thing he can do for those who have died is to make sure their deaths weren't in vain, suggests some level of genuine care for his troops. It has been suggested that [[spoiler: his reincarnation as the demonic Femto has actually removed his ability to feel remorse (and maybe some other emotions),]] and thus regardless of what he may be now, his affection in the past was probably genuine.
** Saves [[spoiler: insane Casca]] from some falling rocks, though it is debatable on whether or not he truly did this out of remorse for the horrific things he had done to her in the past, or because [[spoiler: he was being manipulated by the Child, whose body he used in order to reincarnate himself back into the physical world]]. Speculations highly suggest that it was more due to the latter reason, so this would be a subversion.
** There's also the time he hesitates to destroy Guts. [[spoiler: Perhaps this was to preserve Casca's unborn child; or was there another motive?]]
** He also saved Princess Charlotte from [[spoiler:Ganishka's captivity]] in a very romantic, fairytale-esque way that ''almost'' makes up for his past actions... But, again, "[[FaceHeelTurn Eclipse!]] [[KickTheDog Eclipse!]] [[MoralEventHorizon Eclipse!]]"
* PitifulWorms:
--> '''As Femto''': "Still squirming around in your pitiful existence, I see."
* PowerPerversionPotential: Taken to the MOST extreme level of {{squick}} when he's Femto. He garners the extraordinary powers of a demon lord, and is able to [[RealityWarper bend reality at his very will.]] And what is the '''very first thing''' that he goes and does??? God, {{you bastard}}!
* PrinceCharmless
* ProtagonistJourneyToVillain: He went from a WideEyedIdealist to a demon lord all in the name of pursuing his dream.
* PsychopathicManchild: The events of the Eclipse and his actions afterwards definitely solidify his status as this.
* PsychoticSmirk: It's seen in episode 10 when he hears of Lord Yurius's death. It's as disturbing as Guts' [[WhenSheSmiles smile]] is heartwarming.
* RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil
* RealityWarper: As Femto.
* RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver: As Femto he is black with [[RedEyesTakeWarning red eyes.]]
* RedBaron: The Hawk Of Light.
* RedEyesTakeWarning: Femto in the movie adaptation has these.
* RedOniBlueOni: Blue Oni to Guts' Red Oni.
* RedRightHand: Even though he is [[HumanoidAbomination the most human-looking]] of the apostles when in his human form, Griffith still retains [[HellishPupils the terrifying eyes]] of his Godhand form. Now it looks as if he's ''always'' giving you the KubrickStare. *shudder*
* SanitySlippage: One can definitely argue that the moment Guts decided to leave the Hawks, Griffith slowly began to lose it, bit by bit, over the course of a year. And he was already a [[{{Yandere}} yanderic]] BrokenAce to begin with.
* SatanicArchetype: He is more of an equivalent of Satan.
* SexForSolace: With Charlotte. And he pays for this dearly.
* ShamelessFanserviceGuy: He displays little shame in being nude before others.
* ShowerOfAngst: Complete with a wonderfully disturbing scene of him angsting while clawing at his arms until they bleed when washing himself after [[spoiler:he becomes a prostitute to make money]].
* [[spoiler:SingleMomStripper: [[BlatantLies No, this is not funny.]] But actually, he portrays sleeping with Gennon to Casca exactly this way.]]
* SmugSuper: Although we haven't heard Griffith speak as Femto many times, every time he does he is a snide and egotistical prick who loves nothing more than to laugh at the pain that he has caused Guts and how much more powerful he is than Guts or anyone around him. If he weren't already a vile, evil villain, Femto would be straight up in [[{{Jerkass}} Jerkass Avenue.]]
* SocialClimber: His goal is to become the king of Midland despite being a commoner. He starts out the leader of a band of mercenaries and rises to fame through military victories. He plans to marry Princess Charlotte to secure the throne. [[spoiler: In the end, the fact how close to succeeding Griffith gets only serves to make his fate that much more tragic. Griffith loses all that he has gained and sacrifices his men in a desperate attempt to salvage what has been lost.]]
* TheSociopath: Even before the events of the Eclipse. He is shown to be manipulative to his troops, having Guts doing his dirty work and keeping it secret from the others so he stays perfect in their eyes. Several characters note how his expressions are off, smiling childishly one second and giving the evil eye the next. And when Guts tries to leave, once Griffith is within a couple of easy steps to achieving his dream, he is willing to [[http://www.mrsmanga.com/Berserk/027.036/207 kill]] [[http://www.mrsmanga.com/Berserk/027.036/208 Guts]] rather than not have the man wrapped around his finger.
** More likely subverted (before he became Femto, that is). He *is* shown to be capable of feeling for others - the scenes with the dead boy, and the scene where he self-harms while talking to Casca confirm this. He then figures that the only way he can deal with this is to completely suppress any emotions he feels for others. This conflict is only resolved after he accepts his DealWithTheDevil.
* SpellMyNameWithAnS: While he is widely known as Femto, it is highly probable that the actual spelling of his name is [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PHEMT "Phemt"]], the technical concept after which he is named.
** It could also be a reference to [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Femto the prefix Femto]], which is equal to one quadrillionth.
* StartOfDarkness: Related to ProtagonistJourneyToVillain, the Golden Age arc, being Guts' back story, serves as this for Griffith.
* StepfordSmiler: ... Oh no. Not that smile. [[HellishPupils With the eyes.]] ''[[KubrickStare And the stare.]]'' Is there any feeling behind reborn Griffith's smile? I think not.
* StreetUrchin: While having an inner monologue to himself while imprisoned, Griffith mentioned that he spent his early years on the streets with other kids. [[ConvenientlyAnOrphan His parents are still never mentioned.]]
* StupidSexyFlanders: Even Guts experiences this upon seeing him naked.
* TakeOurWordForIt: Dear GOD! ''What happened to his face??!!''
* ThisIsSomethingShesGotToDoHerself: Instead of saving Casca from rape himself, he threw her a weapon and told her to defend herself, then just watched to see what the outcome would be.
* ThresholdGuardian: From [[TheHerosJourney the Joseph Campbell perspective.]] When Guts decided to leave the Hawks at the end of volume 8, Griffith was ultimately the one thing keeping Guts from pursuing his dream, and when Guts decided to go through with his decision - [[WinYourFreedom he had to fight for his freedom.]] Unfortunately, this particular encounter was not as fruitful for the participants as the trope often implies.
* TongueTrauma: Not only was Griffith's tongue removed, but that son-of-a-bitch torturer ''turned it into a necklace.'' But at least the torturer [[KarmicDeath got what was coming to him.]]
* TranshumanTreachery: [[spoiler:Upon the Eclipse the Idea of Evil reveals to Griffith that it is responsible for all the unfortunate events that turned him into a helpless cripple. Instead of being mad at it, Griffith decides to ally himself to the Idea and the Godhand.]]
* {{Ubermensch}}: He believes no one is able to understand his views and dreams.
* TheUnfettered: He'll doing anything to achieve his dreams, even [[spoiler: sacrificing the lives of his TrueCompanions to demons to do it.]]
* UngratefulBastard: [[spoiler: Seriously, dude: After everything Casca did for you, you treat her like THAT?]]
* VillainProtagonist: After returning to the human world. Occasionally, events are shown from Griffith's point of view when he's [[EvilVersusEvil fighting other Apostles]].
* VillainWithGoodPublicity
* WeaponOfChoice: Rapiers.
* WeUsedToBeFriends: With Guts.
* WhiteHairBlackHeart: Fits the physical description. Even when he was officially a "hero", he was manipulative and out for his own purposes.
* WhiteMagic: After return as the Falcon of Light, he can perform miracles, like summoning the souls of the recently departed to say goodbye to their loved ones. This doesn't make him morally decent in the least...
* WickedCultured
* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity
* [[WorldsMostBeautifulWoman World's Most Beautiful]][[RareMaleExample ... Man?]]
* WouldHurtAChild: Griffith saw no qualms about [[spoiler: raping a pregnant woman, tainting her child in the process, and then using it in order to reincarnate himself in the real world later on.]] ''[[MoralEventHorizon Low.]]''
* {{Yandere}}: Griffith seems to have some kind of obsession in regards to Guts, judging by how he acts when he tries to leave the Hawks, though whether or not it's romantic in nature depends on your perspective. He also started harboring this toward Casca as well, and the discovery that both of them were in a relationship would cause him to snap, leading to everything going to hell.
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