Lighto Yagami: good or evil?

[Hara!]

After a previous argument on another forum, I have agreed to refer to Light/Raito as Lighto.


I finished the manga and couldn't help but go: "waitaminute, who's the hero"

this manga doesn't even comply with SJ's Friendship + Effort + Victory rule. It makes no sense.

[ghed]

Ive only read volume 1, but I think that Deathnote is one of those stories where there is no real hero or villian in the good vs evil sense. But I could be wrong Light could go nuts in later volumes or something.

[HitokiriShadow]

I've read up to chapter 58 (roughly 1/2 through volume 8) and I'd say he's a bad guy.

He's a classic case of being corrupted by power, I think.

[kenshinbebop]

What he does is wrong and just at the same time. And yet, it is more just than wrong so I vote good over evil.

[Keldran]

Light is definitely the protagonist.

Light is definitely not a hero.

There is no right or wrong way to view the story, but at the same time you're doing the story a disservice if all you get from it is "good and evil is relative". Whether you wish to embrace uncertainty or simplify it to something easier to cope with is a personal choice.

[Manafairy]

I don't think he's evil. A bit extreme, sure, but the word "evil" should be reserved for characters who are dispicable purely for the sake of being so. I don't think Light ever believed he was in the wrong. He has a goal in mind, he believes in that goal, and he believes that once achieved he can better the world to a more perfect place. The innocents who were sacrificed, he had to eliminate for that greater good, as they stood to jeopordize his all important mission.

It's like, in a fantasy story, the hero slaughters so called "monsters" by the thousands. He walks into their home and kills any who cross his path, because he somehow believes his goal is more important. He'll cut down many an adversary for this mission, and with the last death he deals, be hyped and withheld as a great hero. Now how is Light really different from that? Because his "monsters" are human, does it make it more wrong? Light belives his actions will also lead to essentially saving the world, just as the fantasy hero does, only he lives in a modern, reality based society, so the opponents are much different.

Of course, the road to hell is paved with good intentions, or so I'm told, but as long as those good intentions are there, I don't see how one can ever truly be called "evil." The ends justify the means ^_^

[Suki]

Lmao, read the last chapter. He goes beserk

[Caine]

as far as I;ve gotten, Light is neither good nor evil. He is human.

[dreamer]

Well, I like how he wants to make this world a better place, free of criminals. I know he's quite extreme, but his initial intension was still a good one. BUT, later on when he went through all the trouble to get himself off the hook, to an extreme of killing so many others, criminal or not, he had fallen.

Well, like others had said, he's human, and he's a human corrupted by power... <_<

[kitzu]

I think he could be considered both. He's not a villian because he's just trying to give people what they deserve, and he has an easy way to do it. Who wouldn't want to make the world a better place? On the other hand, he is killing people, including the more innocent ones who only commited petty crimes or got in his way, which is obviously wrong.

Haha, Lighto. That's great. Made me laugh.

[gameoffreak8]

I am reading on Death Note vol. 6 now so I am not sure if Light is a evil person.

[HitokiriShadow]

Around that time, I was thinking he wasn't such a bad guy after all. Which why I hated him so much more later.

[taily]

errm...starts good, and turns evil . but his original motives are good :)

[Hara!]

I forgot the joke in this topic.

Heh, Lighto.

[YuriFanboy]

IMO, Light is evil. He's a classic case of the "power corrupts" scenario. He starts off as a decent guy. I could kind of agree with him at first, but he became more and more evil as the series went on. By the end of the series, I despised him.

[CitizenGeek]

His name is Light. In Japanese, his name is still Light, it's just mis-pronounced. So, no need for any of this "Lighto" business.

Anyway, I think Light Yagami is very definitely the villain in Death Note. It's kind of a cool twist to have the villain cast as the main character, really. His motives weren't the good of mankind, he wanted to reign as a god. I agree with YuriFanboy that it's a case of "power corrupts", but I never once agreed with what he was doing. L and Near/Mello are the 'heroes', but they certainly don't fit the usual 'hero' cliche! :]

[Gasaraki]

His name is Light. In Japanese, his name is still Light, it's just mis-pronounced. So, no need for any of this "Lighto" business.


He knows that, look at the thread date, this thing is over a year old, taily just thought it would be a good idea to bump it I guess =/

[Ejinathan]

Originally he's a good man even when he had that dathnote in his hands and killing criminals. But when we hold such power we have no other way ten become evil in the eyes of other people. Thats wy i voted for both.

[Holy Knight]

Light was just a nice guy who was misunderstood. He tried to make the world a better place, but people objected. He had to deal with them somehow.

[Hara!]

Light was just a nice guy who was misunderstood. He tried to make the world a better place, but people objected. He had to deal with them somehow.

5/10. Decent trolling.

[Holy Knight]

5/10. Decent trolling.

Alright, seriously though, I don't consider him to be a villain since he does not consciously antagonize humanity. A villain would be someone who attempts to eradicate the human race. However, in trying to create his own utopia, he correctly comes to the conclusion that his view is a radical one.

So however much he ends up mis-using his power, it is never in opposition to humanity. Thus, he is no villain.

[Lord Timaeus]

True, Light was up to no good the moment he picked up the Death Note. But considering how far L and the Meddling Kids were also willing to go to catch Kira, it cannot be simply assumed that neither L nor the Meddling Kids would've used the Death Note much like Light would've if either of them were the first one to have picked it up instead of Light.

Remember, when Light's memories of the Death Note were wiped, he continually assumed Kira's actions to be wrong. By this contrast in Light's true role as Kira, this train of thought may only be because such an unknown supernatural and scary method of murder is bound to create such opinions in such a character. And L, and to a certain extent the Meddling Kids weren't any different in Light's opinion at that time. So what if L had been the one to originally obtain the Death Note, especially considering his many similarities to Light in the first place?

Light was only as much of a villain as he let his power consume him. He never once had to get the police and L involved into his ambition for a new world and even eventually ruling it as God. But as the deaths of Lind L. Tailor, Ray Penber, and the like say, Kira hates competition.

[Hara!]

True, Light was up to no good the moment he picked up the Death Note. But considering how far L and the Meddling Kids were also willing to go to catch Kira, it cannot be simply assumed that neither L nor the Meddling Kids would've used the Death Note much like Light would've if either of them were the first one to have picked it up instead of Light.

I found a gun on the street and used it, I'm still a bad person for trying to kill someone.

[CrossboneGundam]

I don't think he's evil. A bit extreme, sure, but the word "evil" should be reserved for characters who are dispicable purely for the sake of being so. I don't think Light ever believed he was in the wrong. He has a goal in mind, he believes in that goal, and he believes that once achieved he can better the world to a more perfect place. The innocents who were sacrificed, he had to eliminate for that greater good, as they stood to jeopordize his all important mission.

It's like, in a fantasy story, the hero slaughters so called "monsters" by the thousands. He walks into their home and kills any who cross his path, because he somehow believes his goal is more important. He'll cut down many an adversary for this mission, and with the last death he deals, be hyped and withheld as a great hero. Now how is Light really different from that? Because his "monsters" are human, does it make it more wrong? Light belives his actions will also lead to essentially saving the world, just as the fantasy hero does, only he lives in a modern, reality based society, so the opponents are much different.

Of course, the road to hell is paved with good intentions, or so I'm told, but as long as those good intentions are there, I don't see how one can ever truly be called "evil." The ends justify the means ^_^

What? He thinks of himself as superior to humans, he wants to force the entire world to conform to his beliefs, etc.

I won't name a certain name for the sake of avoiding violating Godwin's Law, but explain to me how that's any different from any murderous dictators of the 20th century. These guys didn't sit around in a skull-themed throne room cackling with glee about how evil their plans were, they believed they were right and "good" and that it was ok for them to kill anyone who objected to their actions.

You would have gotten along well with Chairman Mao.

[Bisu]

I haven't anything to say that hasn't already been said, but I'll post anyway:

In my mind, yes. But it's a difficult choice.

I completely understand his motives, and, to an extent, wanted him to succeed, but he went about achieving them the wrong way.

What solidified my decision in Light being a villain (aside from the Lind L. Tailor incident) was the murdering of Ray Penber and Misora Naomi, who were decent, honest, hard working individuals -- they certainly did not deserve to die. Yes, they posed a considerable risk in revealing who he was, but killing them went directly against the fundamentals of what he was trying to create. It was inexcusable, regardless of the circumstances.

Overall, Light cared more for establishing himself as a god among humans as opposed to purging the world of evil and creating his utopia, which is ultimately more detrimental to humanity.

[Ejinathan]

That ting about the religion. Yea i forgot about it honestly. He wanted that people believes in his religion, but the thing is what if we don't want to believe and just live in peace? Thats when his evil came up in him in the biggest part. It's like the same as with dictators :D. People living in fear because they can die any moment.

[ZeroRyoko1974]

Light could have been considered one of histories greatest villains. Certainly the most prolific serial killer. How many hundreds of people did he kill. Cops, Government Agents, etc.

[Midoriko87]

I only read like two volumes of the manga, so all of my opinions are based on the anime (and, I missed maybe an episode or three of that).

Is Light a villain? Imo, pretty much. From Beginning to End, Light was nothing more than an égoïste. Mentioning how much crime has gone down every 3 seconds (gross exaggeration) doesn't make his character any more deserving of sympathy.

I don't believe I feel this way because my beliefs about Good/Bad are set in stone. If Light's character was merely ideological, I'd probably judge him differently; however, that's not the case. It was never "A New World" but "A New World Ruled By Me." There's a lot more to be said (I'm bored, though), but you know the moments that really make you hate Light... Naomi Misora, Raye Penber, L... "Oh, come on, Midoriko! Necessary sacrifices!" Shut up, let me finish, you Tards! Before Misora's Death, what did Light do; before Raye's Death, what did Light do; Before L's Death, WHAT DID LIGHT DO?!! How did he behave at his father's Deathbed? Anywho, yea, he's a real douche.

But considering how far L and the Meddling Kids were also willing to go to catch Kira, it cannot be simply assumed that neither L nor the Meddling Kids would've used the Death Note much like Light would've if either of them were the first one to have picked it up instead of Light.
I'm sure L/Near/Mello wouldn't have used the Death Note in the same way that Light used it. L believed that Kira was a high school student, because killing only criminals is something so Black/White. Like Light, L hates to lose and possesses top-notch deductive skills; however, there's been nothing to point to L being so ideological . Same goes for Near and Mello. Their passion seems to be solving crimes and testing their minds, not saving the World.

[Lord Timaeus]

I found a gun on the street and used it, I'm still a bad person for trying to kill someone.

I'm sure L/Near/Mello wouldn't have used the Death Note in the same way that Light used it. L believed that Kira was a high school student, because killing only criminals is something so Black/White. Like Light, L hates to lose and possesses top-notch deductive skills; however, there's been nothing to point to L being so ideological . Same goes for Near and Mello. Their passion seems to be solving crimes and testing their minds, not saving the World.

Then again, I am rather biased. After all, if I myself had the Death Note, I'd certainly use it much like Light did. Only I wouldn't profess myself as God, and would instead blame the murders on Ebaumsworld, while killing criminals solely for the lulz.

Does this make me as bad a person as Light? No, that would make me even worse.

[taily]

On the other hand, I suppose you could say L was just as bad from the moment he used lind L taylor to be his double, and die instead of him

taily just thought it would be a good idea to bump it I guess =/

Is that with me or against me:unsure: ?

[Gasaraki]

Is that with me or against me:unsure: ?

Against. =)

[Meggles]

I think he started out with good intentions, but just lets the power get to his head, and thinks of it as more of a game when the police start to chase him.

[goddessofanime]

Well...if it's anything like the anime, he starts out with good intentions but winds up getting corrupted to the point where he'll basically do whatever he wants to do to avoid getting caught (playing along with L and the police, f*cking with Misa's head)

[Justinian]

I'm up to the 8th volume so I just chose "a little of both". I haven't seen any of the anime, so I really don't know how things turn out.

[Shawaazu]

The anime is almost the same as the manga. The only real differences that I can remember are the storytelling (manga=strategy, anime=emotions), two(?) scenes in the anime weren't in the manga, and the ending. Oh, and that's excluding the two hour special.

[Hajime Saitou]

What solidified my decision in Light being a villain (aside from the Lind L. Tailor incident) was the murdering of Ray Penber and Misora Naomi, who were decent, honest, hard working individuals -- they certainly did not deserve to die.

My memory is kind of fuzzy, but I think that was supposed to be the turning point. I think those were the first deaths portrayed in a sympathetic light, and rightfully so.

That was the point where I made up my mind about him too.

[Hara!]

My memory is kind of fuzzy, but I think that was supposed to be the turning point. I think those were the first deaths portrayed in a sympathetic light, and rightfully so.

That was the point where I made up my mind about him too.

His first kill, Shibutaku, was innocent in the manga.

[ryushe]

as far as I;ve gotten, Light is neither good nor evil. He is human.
It can't get anymore simple as this.

[Hajime Saitou]

His first kill, Shibutaku, was innocent in the manga.

His first kill was that guy in the school. His second kill was the guy you mentioned, and I wouldn't exactly call him innocent. The anime made him much worse, but even in the manga, I didn't see his death as all that sympathetic.

[Hara!]

His first kill was that guy in the school. His second kill was the guy you mentioned, and I wouldn't exactly call him innocent. The anime made him much worse, but even in the manga, I didn't see his death as all that sympathetic.

He went about as far as any guy trying to hit on a girl. He didn't really do anything wrong.

[Waga]

Put it this way. He's bad a-ss which is good

[Hajime Saitou]

He went about as far as any guy trying to hit on a girl. He didn't really do anything wrong.

:lol:

(filler)