Writing is an art. As is the case with any art form, the creator of a work has to expose some of their personal being to others. These others tend to, more often then not, be strangers. Those same strangers then freely interpret what they perceive to be the creator's process. This then gives rise to an understanding of what a body of work is about. Slave In Utero is difficult to pin down for a number of reasons. First and foremost, he isn't a North American writer. Born and raised in Korea, there is bound to be a significant level of difference in how SIU conceptualizes and values certain aspects of human living. Then there are a multitude of factors stemming from his geographic location that directly effect his cultural perception of the world. These are then heavily characterized by linguistics and demographic qualities that suffuse his writing.
TOWER OF GOD's central protagonist, the 25th Baam, is a fairly capable protagonist despite his seeming naivete. To the contrary, his naivete appears to endear and charm others into working alongside him. Without actively having to take a leadership role, he nevertheless is the leader of his team. Despite this focus on Baam, SIU doesn't appear to characterize his personal state with that of Baam's. To the contrary, Phantaminum appears to be much closer to the author's personal avatar than even the lead character. Why is this and what relevance does that have to TOWER OF GOD? Where Phantaminum is an all powerful entity, capable of changing a Talse Uzer Story on a whim, Baam is bound by his level of experience. Again playing into the naivete of his character, the lack of experience evident in Baam creates a simple plot of growth and development that has served as a focal point for the TOWER OF GOD. Admittedly, Rachel has her part to play in pushing Baam to climb the Tower. Her insistence on climbing even if it means having to harm others is something that Baam struggles to comprehend. His personal love for Rachel and his isolation from others had provided a strong motive for his development as a character. Yet, across more than three hundred chapters Baam is still learning and discovering new things about himself. In creating a character as fantastical as Phantaminum, there is an unknowable quality that captures the essence of an author writing a literary piece. There is a distinct feeling of involvement from an unseen character that is difficult to fully comprehend with words. It is a sensation that epitomizes how foreign an author can seem despite having shared some of their feelings and thoughts through their work. Coming back to the hero, it is clear from his earliest interactions with the denizens of the Tower that Baam is of a gentle nature. There are few who go through hardships and can maintain the level of civility that has allowed him to enamor others to his cause. It is a virtue that derives from a mix of personal ethos and isolationism. The need for social relationships that are often named necessary for human well being act as driving forces in Baam's personality. For this reason he shares a close attachment to everyone that he meets. This idea of "love everyone" is quickly left behind by SIU as the second season of TOWER OF GOD places a much greater emphasis on Baam's growing inner struggle. As is the way of children, experience, intelligence, and knowledge force a change in how Baam sees the world around him. There is an austere quality to the Baam trained by FUG that is off-putting when compared to his former nature. Of course, SIU doesn't hold him to this standard instead allowing Baam to rediscover himself through the lens of his increased understanding. This development, break down, and redevelopment of characters is something that appears in a variety of stories, not just TOWER OF GOD. The reason for this is a simple one. No person can ever stay the same despite how they might attempt to isolate themselves. Baam is a character who actively seeks out others because of his intimate experience with isolation. There is a desire to leave no man/woman behind evident in his character. Holding to this core value serves as the basis of conflict and resolution for Baam as he continues to chase after Rachel. Though this marks Baam's isolation in an external manner, there are layers of internal depth that are profoundly facilitated by this same isolation. It is the quiet of isolation that allows for the deepest introspection and reflection upon oneself. By virtue of this, Baam is acutely aware that he still has yet to fully understand himself, let alone understand Rachel. SIU then draws on this as a device to progress and elevate the plot through "Revolution". Revolution is a turn around. It is a shift in paradigm, a change in thought. Change is something that everyone goes through, but a revolution is more immediate. There is a drastic quality to a revolution that implies rapid shifts and understandings. There wasn't anything stopping Baam from learning from Eduan about "Revolution". To the contrary, it seemed almost as if Eduan would coach Baam through how to achieve "Revolution" through tutelage similar to what he had been doing earlier on. Instead SIU introduces a much more profound concept. Revolution, within the context of TOWER OF GOD, is something that is deeply individual. It is a change that derives from an personal evaluation of oneself, and the direction in which one is going. Through the give and take of understanding oneself, there is a conviction that is built up that subsequently manifests as an increase in power. SIU's "Revolution" is about mastery of the self, and inner power that then impacts the external world. Although he now has the conviction necessary to face Zahard's data, there is still a large discrepancy between their combat abilities. Again, SIU plays on the idea of knowing oneself here, because even with "Revolution" Baam does not aggressively fight against Zahard's data. In place of a physical confrontation, there is a greater focus on finesse and subterfuge in order to come out ahead that suffuses the most recent chapter. Baam's understanding of his own capabilities, and his enemy's strengths saves him from death at the onset of this fight. Even with the power of "Revolution" there is an unspoken understanding that Baam is still not strong enough to win. There is, however, a new level of conviction in his character that appears frequently in young protagonists. In a literary sense, conviction forms the basis upon which a character is able to overcome their personal limitations and against all odds succeed in their endeavors. The fight against Zahard's data is a crucial one. This fight marks an important turning point in Baam's character, through both "Revolution" and in gauging how powerful he will need to grow in the future. There are unanswered questions that have come full circle as well in the form of Urek Mazino. What his purpose and motivations on the Hidden Floor are remain unknown. When paired with White and Icarus blocking Aguero and Rak's path forward, there is still another dimension in his thought process that has yet to be explored fully. With Baam now desperately fighting for his life, and his companions pitted against worth rivals, it feels as if this season is finally drawing to a close. Where will the story go, and how will SIU have his characters grow in the future are up for debate. The only way for these questions to be answered is by reading the upcoming chapters of TOWER OF GOD. Written By: ALAN "VIENNA" SINGH
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