[EVA] Eva Manga Stage 72

[M]

No, the Japanese does not work that way.
Let me try to explain as simply as possible.

- Kaworu first says: "If XXX did not have a soul, we could join."

This can be rephrased as: "XXX has a soul, so we cannot join."
Essentially, Kaworu is saying that he cannot join with Eva-02 under  
the current conditions (because XXX has a soul).

- Kaworu then says: "Because the soul of Eva-02 has shut itself away."

This can be rephrased as: "The soul of Eva-02 has shut itself away,  
so..."
Or, together with the previous line: "The soul of Eva-02 has shut  
itself away, so (if XXX did not have a soul, we could join)."

Can you see the contradiction here?
If Eva-02's soul shutting itself away is the same as Eva-02 having no  
soul, then Kaworu would be able to join with Eva-02 under the current  
conditions.  However, he essentially says himself that he cannot  
join.  Therefore, Kaworu *must* be referring to himself.

(FYI, the word "join = douka" that Kaworu uses does not mean just to  
synchronize or control, but actual assimilation or physical merging,  
so the current situation where he is controlling Eva-02 is -not- the  
joining he speaks of.)

"M"


>> We know that Eva-02 has a soul, so impersonal grammar or not, Kaworu
>> cannot be talking about Eva-02.
>
> We know Kaworu has a soul as well, dear friend.

Hence Kaworu's use of the word *If*.


> Not only that, he's living and speaking (= kind of manifestation of  
> it's
> soul), while Nigouki (and its pilot) are likely in catathonic  
> state. I think
> that the 'no-soul like' is referred to the Nigouki situation, like  
> Kaworu is
> saying 'I can unify with any Eva as long as it (the Eva) has no  
> soul, and
> you know, the soul of THIS Eva (Nigouki) is shutting itself away,  
> so..."
>
> I really fail to see ho Kaworu can refer to HIMSELF like a soul- 
> less being.
> And even if so, after doing that, would the remark of Nigouki soul  
> shutting
> itself away have any sense at all?
>
> G.