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Jujutsu Kaisen represents Yuta Okkotsu and Satoru Gojo as two sides of the same coin. Each embodies a differing answer to power, purpose, and isolation. On one side, the strongest modern-day sorcerer, Gojo, stood alone atop the Jujutsu world, bearing the burden of immense expectation and disconnected from genuine emotional connection.
Elsewhere, Yuta found strength in love and fellowship (particularly through Rika). Their contrasting outlooks reflect the flaws inherent in the Jujutsu Society’s fixation on strength and isolation. Yuta’s journey and enduring bond with Rika are a direct contradiction to Gojo’s isolated path. The two experience very different fates, and Yuta stands as an example that even the most powerful aren’t meant to fly solo.
Disclaimer: This article reflects the writer’s opinion.
Jujutsu Kaisen: Gojo and Yuta’s work ethic testifies to them being two sides of the same coin
Jujutsu Kaisen has consistently featured isolation as a significant theme throughout the story. It was believed to be the driving force behind power, as seen with Sukuna and Gojo. The latter stressed this with Megumi early on, telling him that he would eventually die alone.
But this is where Yuta comes in as a foil to that ideal – he has been and is loved by Rika, with love being a central theme for his character. Thus, no matter what, Yuta always seemed to come out on top. For starters, Gojo was born into a powerful sorcerer clan with the greatest and rarest abilities.
He was raised to be the best, made to bear that title (burden) from an early age. In contrast, Yuta was a weak youngster. But it only took years for him to grow as a sorcerer enough to rival his teacher. A distinct reason for this was that he wasn’t alone, i.e., he was loved by Rika.
However, Gojo’s case portrays an individual yearning for genuine connection and love. Beneath the smirk and the mantle of “Strongest” stands one who is incredibly lonely at the summit. It is this contrast that ultimately leads to Gojo’s death and Yuta’s survival. Yuta goes on to have a family and even grandchildren, and becomes the head of the Gojo clan.
Thus, Yuta Okkotsu was to stand against the themes of isolation and a hunger for power in Jujutsu Kaisen. The story rewards him for this, and against all odds, he emerges unscathed after copying Kenjaku’s technique in Shinjuku.
In this comparison, Yuji can also be brought in as a foil to the mentioned themes. The two teenagers are similar in that they possess something within themselves and their love for their friends. Yuji’s character becomes more interesting as he graduates from his “cog mindset” and unlocks his potential.
He accepts the love of his siblings and those around him to grow, akin to Yuta accepting Rika and not seeing her as a Cursed Spirit any longer. For Yuji, this is exemplified in Jujutsu Kaisen, where Todo comes to his aid time and again, and Choso sacrifices himself to protect the teen.
Like Yuta, he was no longer alone. The only point that can be raised is when Yuta left Rika to fight as Gojo, but even then, the Queen of Curses kept him alive by protecting his body. On a similar plane, Yuji was saved at crucial moments by Choso and Todo, soon accepting their actions and moving on to defeat Sukuna.
Another intriguing point to note in Jujutsu Kaisen is that Yuta and Yuji’s Domains reflect the theme of love. Since Domains are a manifestation of the user’s mental landscape, Yuta’s one showcases his love for Rika, while Yuji’s Domain testifies to his love for his hometown.
This is likely why both survived and lived well after. Yuji’s drive to save his friend and their bond were strong enough to renew Megumi’s fighting spirit, which proved crucial in ultimately separating him from Sukuna.
In Conclusion
All in all, Jujutsu Kaisen looks to have portrayed Yuta/Yuji and Gojo as two sides to the same coin. With the theme of isolation resulting from power being quite prevalent, individuals like Gojo and Sukuna stood at the summit. True enough, they were the strongest of the lot, but they were incredibly lonely.
Even the Demon King himself reflects that his life would have turned out differently had he traversed another path. On a similar note, Gojo also suffered from this, carrying the burden of being the “strongest” quietly, yet preaching to his students the importance of camaraderie and the value of relying on others.
That is precisely where Yuta and Yuji come in – Yuta with his bond with Rika, and Yuji with his love for his friends. They stand in direct contrast to the themes of isolation and a hunger for power, showcasing that Love was likely the answer to it all, for it took many hands to overcome a great evil where one was unable to.
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Edited by Casey Mendez
