The Goat

There are many a site that have labeled Shiori a goat. A goat is a typically lazy animal, spending a good deal of its time grazing like many other herd animals. It is also an animal that is quick to rage and anger, much like that of a bull. It is not a necessarily stupid beast, indeed it can have a very witty ingenuity if it wishes. It is however still an animal and is as such very short-sighted.

Symbolically the goat is something that represents the Devil or hell. Or at least it has in my eyes come to be so. (Listen to 'Sheep Go to Heaven' by the band Cake if you've got the time and inclination.) While I don't necessarily believe that she is a servant of the Devil I will agree that her pig-headishness and short-sightedness have certainly had her cause enough grief to go there...

As pointed out Shiori often spurns Juri's attempts at affection. Spurning to the point of damaging and wishing to destroy at least a piece of Juri in order to compensate. In this way I would say I could easily see how she is deservant of the classification of a goat. Her protective instincts of rage blind her to whatever it is she hurts to get away from the 'danger' she senses. Not to say she doesn't hurt Juri intentionally because she actually does do so willingly, but its more rather that her instincts tell her she must destroy the danger at all costs inconsequential of who it may be.

Jokingly, I can say that Shiori is a goat in the sense of the Devil representation. After all...what loyal Juri fan wouldn't? Her actions seem orchestrated by the 'devil' himself of the series, one Akio Ohtori. Seem. But I think her goals are more just in line with his than her being a pawn persay. So, all seriousness to the forefront I would say that no, she is not a goat in this sense. She is merely a miguided soul...as in she is guided, but by all the wrong emotions.

So is she deservant of this title? A goat? Yes and no. Perhaps the greatest thing of all is that it can't be decided. Perhaps that's what is so great about anime in general and Utena in particular. Everyone is that shade of grey...though some are brighter...and some darker...than others are.

Copyright 2003 Tara Smith