Was Griffith a visionary leader or a heartless traitor? Dive deep into Griffith’s ambition, his transformation into Femto, and the twisted morality of his dream.
Introduction:
Griffith is one of the most controversial and complex characters in manga history. In Berserk, he starts as a charismatic commander chasing a dream—but his path to greatness leaves behind rivers of blood and shattered lives. Is he a visionary leader? A necessary evil? Or a cold-blooded monster?
Let’s explore how Griffith’s ambition shaped the story, broke Guts, and redefined the concept of betrayal in modern storytelling.
The Dream of a Kingdom
Griffith’s singular goal is clear from the start: to have his own kingdom. He doesn’t just want power—he wants to earn it, to rise from nothing through sheer will and strategy. That ambition makes him inspiring. Soldiers flock to his banner. Kings fear him. He even wins the loyalty of Guts, the strongest warrior around.
But from the beginning, Griffith’s dream comes with a dark price—he sees people as stepping stones.
Manipulation Behind the Smile
Griffith’s charm is undeniable, but it hides ruthless calculation. He’s willing to seduce nobility, assassinate political enemies, and risk the lives of his own men to get ahead.
His famous quote reveals everything:
“If I couldn’t have him, I’d never want to be a friend to someone like that in the first place.”
This moment—after overhearing Guts say he wants to find his own purpose—is a turning point. Griffith’s mask slips. He doesn’t want equals. He wants tools.
The Downfall: Pride Before the Eclipse
Griffith’s near destruction begins when Guts leaves him. That loss unravels him emotionally. In a desperate moment, he seduces Princess Charlotte, triggering his arrest, torture, and the fall of the Band of the Hawk.
His pride and belief in his destiny lead him to reckless choices. The man who once controlled everything becomes a broken shell.
But Griffith doesn’t stay broken.
The Eclipse: Birth of a God, Death of a Friend
During the Eclipse, Griffith sacrifices his loyal comrades—including Guts and Casca—to ascend as Femto, one of the God Hand. This act cements his transformation: he no longer walks among men—he becomes a god-like entity, free of human emotion.
It’s not just betrayal—it’s annihilation of everything he once claimed to cherish.
He rapes Casca in front of Guts. He erases the Band of the Hawk. He leaves Guts alive—but broken.
Femto: The Savior With Bloodied Wings
After his rebirth, Griffith returns to the world not as a villain in chains—but as a savior on a white horse. With a new body and divine presence, he builds Falconia, a utopia amid demonic chaos. He saves thousands. He fights the monsters he once joined.
To the world, he is salvation.
But we, the readers, know what he did to get there.
Savior or Monster?
This is the question at the heart of Griffith’s character.
- To the people, he’s a savior, a messiah building a new world.
- To Guts, he’s the destroyer of everything that once mattered.
- To himself, he’s simply fulfilling his destiny.
Griffith never saw morality in black and white. For him, the dream justifies all means.
Conclusion
Griffith is not evil in the traditional sense—he’s terrifying because he believes he’s right. His ambition burned too bright for human compassion, and everyone around him paid the price.
In Berserk, he is not just an antagonist—he’s a god that used to be a man. And perhaps that’s the scariest thing of all.