Kei Sanbe’s television show, Boku dake ga Inai Machi, although Japanese, contains similarities to the Old English poem, “Beowulf,” through its protagonist Satoru Fujinuma. Throughout the storyline of Boku dake ga Inai Machi, Satoru Fujinuma must save his mother from a serial killer’s wrath in the present by using his uncontrollable ability called “Revival” to travel back in time. During Satoru’s time in the past, he meets new friends and comrades who aid him in his goal up until he sacrifices himself for them. Similarly, in “Beowulf,” Beowulf must save Hrothgar from the monsters that ravage his kingdom. His adventure ends when the dragon mortally wounds him; however, his comrade stays by his side to comfort him until his death. Both Satoru
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The night of the murder, Satoru’s mother stays in his apartment to take care of him after a minor accident. After witnessing an attempted kidnapping, she investigates the murder of three children 18 years prior and realizes the attempted kidnapper and the killer share the same identity. She returns to the apartment to tell Satoru about her discovery; however, the murderer follows her and kills her. Satoru later discovers his mother and, framed for the murder, runs away in a distraught panic as the police chase him. Satoru experiences a Revival and finds himself in front of his elementary school eighteen years prior to the slaughter of his mother. Discombobulated, he flees to his home and falls asleep. When he wakes up, he sees his mother and says tearfully, “Ma…” ("Palm of the Hand"). His joyous and comforted expression upon seeing his mother alive reveals his loneliness. Other than she, Satoru does not have any other close relative that he loves. His father abandoned Satoru’s small family in his childhood, and Satoru does not have friends. He takes his one acquaintance, Airi Katagiri, for granted and regards her at first as annoying, which also reveals Satoru’s loneliness. Later, Satoru states that he will not allow the opportunity of saving his mother to go to waste, revealing his determination to save his mother. Although under slightly different …show more content…
Furthermore, Beowulf does not have any mentioned comrades before he commences his journey. Beowulf’s unknown ancestry, mysterious strength, and initial lonely journey further portray Satoru as an epic hero because he also shares the aforementioned qualities. Thus, Satoru exhibits qualities of an epic hero because his determination and purpose of beginning a long, voluntary journey to aid a loved one shares similarities to Beowulf. However, after completing his long journey back to fifth grade, Satoru finds a friend that further portrays him as an epic
The night of the murder, Satoru’s mother stays in his apartment to take care of him after a minor accident. After witnessing an attempted kidnapping, she investigates the murder of three children 18 years prior and realizes the attempted kidnapper and the killer share the same identity. She returns to the apartment to tell Satoru about her discovery; however, the murderer follows her and kills her. Satoru later discovers his mother and, framed for the murder, runs away in a distraught panic as the police chase him. Satoru experiences a Revival and finds himself in front of his elementary school eighteen years prior to the slaughter of his mother. Discombobulated, he flees to his home and falls asleep. When he wakes up, he sees his mother and says tearfully, “Ma…” ("Palm of the Hand"). His joyous and comforted expression upon seeing his mother alive reveals his loneliness. Other than she, Satoru does not have any other close relative that he loves. His father abandoned Satoru’s small family in his childhood, and Satoru does not have friends. He takes his one acquaintance, Airi Katagiri, for granted and regards her at first as annoying, which also reveals Satoru’s loneliness. Later, Satoru states that he will not allow the opportunity of saving his mother to go to waste, revealing his determination to save his mother. Although under slightly different …show more content…
Furthermore, Beowulf does not have any mentioned comrades before he commences his journey. Beowulf’s unknown ancestry, mysterious strength, and initial lonely journey further portray Satoru as an epic hero because he also shares the aforementioned qualities. Thus, Satoru exhibits qualities of an epic hero because his determination and purpose of beginning a long, voluntary journey to aid a loved one shares similarities to Beowulf. However, after completing his long journey back to fifth grade, Satoru finds a friend that further portrays him as an epic