History Characters / BerserkGriffithFemto

* AmbiguouslyBi: A particularly complex example. He’s voluntarily had sex with both men and women, and there’s more than a little evidence that he might have been in love with Guts (and possibly still is), but he’s so manipulative and so deeply in denial about his own feelings that it’s genuinely unclear if and how his actions match up with his desires. He could be bisexual, gay and deeply closeted, heterosexual but pragmatic, or even wholly asexual.

* HowTheMightyHaveFallen: He becomes a hero to all of Midland for putting an end to a hundred-year war, but when Guts leaves him, he's so upset that he [[SexForSolace screws it all up by deflowering Princess Charlotte]], which leads him to be thrown in a dungeon and suffering daily ColdBloodedTorture for over a year. By the time Guts and the rest of the Hawks finally break him out, Griffith is a crippled, emaciated shell of his former self.

* 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 (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). 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]] oh.

** His aforementioned fight with Guts, revealed another flaw, Arrogance, up until that moment he did not believe for a second that anyone could approach his level, just the idea that he wasn't the top of the food chain contributed to his impulsive actions directly afterwards, his choice to join the Godhand was probably partially due to his need to reaffirm that he was the superior in his and Guts relationship dynamic, as well as the idea that Casca could be devoted to someone other than himself, as well as his subsequent rape of Casca, in a way his cruel way of showing "You are mine and so is Casca, and I can do what I wish with you"

* FauxAffablyEvil: Griffith is a charming, charismatic leader of the Band of the Hawks, developing close bonds with them and receiving UndyingLoyalty in turn, when, in reality, he has no qualms with crossing any line so long as it pushes him up the political ladder, views all his men as so far beneath him, and it's implied that his heroic actions and personality prior to the Eclipse where purely for PR. During the Eclipse, we see all that charisma and friendship he has with the Hawks go out the window when he sacrafices them to the Godhand, showing no emotion other than something resembling rage towards Guts in all the mayhem he causes as he spitefully forces Guts to watch as he rapes Casca while his friends are all murdered and devoured around him. After his resurrection into the physical realm, it's very much implied that his more righteous deeds (like saving Princess Charlotte, rescuing the whole of Midland from Ganishka's clutches) are just [[VillainWithGoodPublicity for PR]] as he grabs power and establishes himself as the MessianicArchetype of the world.

* TheDarkSideWillMakeYouForget: It's only [[DiscussedTrope discussed]] without him in the conversation, but Guts comes to the realization that this is arguably the single ''biggest'' contrast between Griffith pre-Eclipse and Femto post-Eclipse. Both were defined entirely by their dream to rule their own kingdom, but Griffith was tempered somewhat by being ([[JerkWithAHeartOfJerk or at least pretending to be]]) a ByronicHero; he was so defined by his fear of being forgotten by time that it's what [[TheAntiNihilist causes him to come to terms with his own morality]], [[TheUbermensch making something from his finite time on his Earth with everything he can muster]]. When he [[WhatYouAreInTheDark ultimately betrayed his own ideals when nobody but the God Hand were watching]] and became Femto, this aspect was entirely lost; he no longer had his motive to fulfill his dream, [[{{Flanderization}} becoming so utterly defined by it]] that it [[CutLexLuthorACheck made what he could have ever achieved with his newfound godlike powers]] a [[VictoryIsBoring moot point]] when its simply [[TheNarcissist never]], ''[[AmbitionIsEvil ever]]'' [[DarkMessiah enough]] for Griffith.

* TheDarkSideWillMakeYouForget: It's only [[DiscussedTrope discussed]] without him in the conversation, but Guts comes to the realization that this is arguably the single ''biggest'' contrast between Griffith pre-Eclipse and Femto post-Eclipse. Both were defined entirely by their dream to rule their own kingdom, but Griffith was tempered somewhat by being ([[JerkWithAHeartOfJerk or at least pretending to be]]) a ByronicHero; he was so defined by his fear of being forgotten by time that it's what [[TheAntiNihilist causes him to come to terms with his own morality]], [[TheUbermensch making something from his finite time on his Earth with everything he can muster]]. When he [[WhatYouAreInTheDark ultimately betrayed his own ideals when nobody but the God Hand were watching]] and became Femto, this aspect was entirely lost; he no longer had his motive to fulfill his dream, [[{{Flanderization}} becoming so utterly defined by it]] that it [[CutLexLuthorACheck made what he could have ever achieved with his newfound godlike powers]] a [[VictoryIsBoring moot point]] when its simply [[TheNarcisssist never]], ''[[AmbitionIsEvil ever]]'' [[DarkMessiah enough]] for Griffith.

* WhatYouAreInTheDark: The entirety of Griffith sacrificing the Band of the Hawk during the Eclipse is framed as this. To the outside world, especially after returning as the Hawk of Light, Griffith is revered as a [[MessianicArchetype messiah]] and savior of mankind, and the last bastion of hope against the dark horrors of the setting's CrapsackWorld. [[DramaticIrony What nobody else knows]] is that Griffith was given a choice by the four other God Hand; he will get to have a second chance if he sacrifices everyone he ever led and cared for to become a God Hand, and absolutely nobody will know of what he did except the God Hand themselves. Needless to say, [[ForegoneConclusion you can]] probably [[FaceHeelTurn guess how]] ''that'' [[BloodbathVillainOrigin turned out]]. And indeed, nobody ''would'' have been able to remember what Griffith did [[SpannerInTheWorks if it wasn't for the Skull Knight's timely intervention]]; without it, Guts and Casca wouldn't have survived, and Rickert would've never learned the utter atrocity Griffith committed on the Eclipse.

* AndThenWhat: Griffith never brings up this topic in the entire series, but Guts eventually realizes that's because Griffith ''has'' no answer to that question. Gedfryn wonders why Griffith would wreak so much havok in his quest to become king, and Guts replies that it's just in Griffith's nature to always seek more. He has become so defined by his dream that where other men would be pleased with what they achieved and call it a day, Griffith must keep trying to conquer more and more of the world.

* AndThenWhat: Griffith never brings up this topic in the entire series, but Guts eventually realizes that's because Griffith [[ArmorPiercingQuestion has no answer to the question]]. Gedfryn wonders why Griffith would wreak so much havok in his quest to become king, and Guts replies that it's just in Griffith's nature to always seek more. He has become so defined by his dream that where other men would be pleased with what they achieved and call it a day, Griffith must keep trying to conquer more and more of the world.

* AndThenWhat: Griffith never brings up this topic in the entire series, but Guts eventually realizes that Griffith has no answer to the question. Gedfryn wonders why Griffith would wreak so much havok in his quest to become king, and Guts replies that it's just in Griffith's nature to always seek more. He has become so defined by his dream that where other men would be pleased with what they achieved and call it a day, Griffith must keep trying to conquer more and more of the world.

* SpaceMaster: Seems to have taken a liking to using his Godhand powers this way. He most commonly uses it to [[DeflectorShields repel attacks]]; but he's capable of things like crushing a group of Apostles into nothingness with a gesture [[spoiler: as well as physically grabbing and manipulating ''the swing of a sword'']].

** There's also the assassination of Count Julius. While Julius [[KickTheSonOfABitch definitely had it coming]], the same can't be said of Adonis, who Guts had to kill for being a witness to his father's murder. Said boy was being groomed to marry Princess Charlotte, who Griffith wanted for himself, and Griffith sent Guts after Julius knowing full well that the boy would likely die too, killing two birds with one stone.
* 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.

* CrazyJealousGuy: Becomes insanely jealous towards Guts and Casca when they start to favor each other over him.

* HundredPercentAdorationRating: As the "falcon of light" who saved Midland from the Kushan Empire's invasion, Griffith's popularity skyrocketed. Everyone, from the lowliest peasant to official nobles of the court, see Griffith as a charismatic savior. The only one in Falconia who doesn't love Griffith is Rickert, and not even he can bring himself to truly hate Griffith for what he did in the Eclipse.

* BadassBaritone: In the Japanese dub for the 1997 anime, Toshiyuki Morikawa gave him a surprisingly deep voice for such a handsome, almost feminine man.
** Kevin T. Collin's portrayal wasn't particularly deep in the original series dub, but age has lowered his voice considerably by the time of the ''Golden Age Arc'' Movies straight into this trope.

* YouGotSpunk: As strange as it may seem, this is pretty much the reason why Griffith became so enamored with Guts. Because of Guts' skill in battle and his willingness to put his own life at risk [[BloodKnight for the thrill of the fight]], Griffith saw in Guts a freedom in spirit he hadn't seen out of the rest of the Band of the Hawk. Furthermore, Guts' violent display of reluctance to the offer of joining the Hawks was something Griffith (who usually got new members rather easily because of his charisma) did ''not'' see coming, and thus sought to conscript the man even more than he already did.

* DetrimentalDeterminaton: He is incredibly determined to make his dream come true and goes to insane lengths to make them happen. However, the stress of such a monumental task results in him having to hide his emotions and take risky, drastic actions that result in a number of his men getting killed. Despite his inspiring presence, nobody is aware that his dreams are inherently selfish until its too late, as Griffith is willing to sacrifice anyone loyal to him if it means getting more power to accomplish his goal.

* {{Determinator}}: Deconstructed. No matter how many people have to die and no matter what sacrifices he has to make, he ''[[AmbitionIsEvil will]]'' achieve his dream.

* TheSociopath: Even before the events of the Eclipse, Griffith was already a cold-blooded narcissist, though his apparent lack of empathy was something that he forced himself in order to cope with the deaths around him. On one occasion he even asked Guts if he considered him a bad person for commiting such acts without never dirtying his own hands. After the Eclipse, he ticks all of the boxes to a T.

* BecameTheirOwnAntithesis: Griffith from before the Eclipse and Femto are almost like inverted reflections of each other. Griffith was just a common nobody with no power or resources in the beginning while Femto is a demon god with power over reality, cosmic awareness, and the loyalty of an army of monstrous abominations. Griffith rose up using nothing but his own wit, will, and natural born human talents to bring together his own army, train them, and lead them to victory by being a tactical genius and strategist. Femto already had his army granted to him (with soldiers so powerful no human forces can hope to match them) with each of them already being a skilled warrior in their own right with a psychic girl using telepathy to allow Femto to essentially control the battle with almost no effort. Griffith is beholden to no one and holds nothing and to be above him in pursuit of his ambition to claim a kingdom and make his mark in history before his inevitable end while Femto is an Immortal servant of causality and the forces that empower him, sees gaining a kingdom as nothing more than a stepping stone to other things and doesn't seem at all invested in anything he does as though he's merely playing his role. Lastly, Griffith seems to be a representation of human ambition and drive while Femto is a representation of the grand forces that indifferently manipulate humanity as part of a role or duty.
* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: Griffith tells Charlotte outside a royal ball that he could never consider someone who blindly follows him a friend; to be his friend, that person would have to find their own path, even if it put them in conflict with him. They would have to be his equal to be his friend. Little did he know, but Guts happened to hear his entire speech, and it spurs Guts to leave the Band of Hawk to find his own purpose so he could become an equal in Griffith's mind. Griffith takes Guts's resignation ''badly'', and it singlehandedly starts the downward spiral that leads to the Eclipse.
* BecauseYouWereNiceToMe: Downplayed, but the biggest reason Griffith ends up so attached to Guts during their time together is because Guts doesn't treat Griffith as some flawless, eternally perfect god-amongst men. Guts merely saw him as a guy willing to do whatever it took to fulfill his dream.

* BecameTheirOwnAntithesis: Griffith from before the Eclipse and Femto are almost like inverted reflections of each other. Griffith was just a common nobody with no power or resources in the beginning while Femto is a demon god with power over reality, cosmic awareness, and the loyalty of an army of monstrous abominations. Griffith rose up using nothing but his own wit, will, and natural born human talents to bring together his own army, train them, and lead them to victory by being a tactical genius and strategist. Femto already had his army granted to him (with soldiers so powerful no human forces can hope to match them) with each of them already being a skilled warrior in their own right with a psychic girl using telepathy to allow Femto to essentially control the battle with almost no effort. Lastly, Griffith is beholden to no one and holds nothing and to be above him in pursuit of his ambition to claim a kingdom and make his mark in history before his inevitable end while Femto is an Immortal servant of causality and the forces that empower him, sees gaining a kingdom as nothing more than a stepping stone to other things and doesn't seem at all invested in anything he does as though he's merely playing his role. Lastly, Griffith seems to be a representation of human ambition and drive while Femto is a representation of the grand forces that indifferently manipulate humanity as part of a role or duty.

* PsychopathicManChild: 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. Once he becomes Femto, he still tries to pursue this fantasy, but in a much more ruthless and remorseless way.

Griffith is driven by his dream of obtaining his own kingdom, and stops at nothing to reach it. He is in a good position to do so, being a cunning strategist, a MasterSwordsman, a charismatic leader, and a shrewd politician. His androgynous beauty combined with his persuasiveness and charm allow him to win people over easily. 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--even to the point of selling his body once so he could finance the Hawks--are all considered acceptable, even necessary steps towards his ultimate goal. He earns the trust of the King of Midland through repeated victories on the battlefield, and soon has the king's daughter Princess Charlotte under his spell.

* 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. Same with the new Band of Hawks, with added prophecy bonus.

* HellishPupils: Clearly seen having this type of eyes after his reincarnation.

* TranshumanTreachery: Upon the Eclipse, [[spoiler: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 still decides to serve it.