Loss and Pursuit: A Greimas Structuralist Analysis of the Japanese Anime Violet Evergarden in the Feminist Perspective

Abstract

Anime can, to a certain extent, symbolize the growth of Japanese feminism as one of the most significant literary creative forms in contemporary Japan. Although the trend of female characterization in anime in recent years is diversified, there is a lack of independent female characters that break through the traditional gender division. A hugely popular anime called Violet Evergarden in 2018 tells the story of a young girl named Violet who lost her arms in a war, but fortunately regained robotic arms and started to help others write letters. In the process, she, who once knew only combat skills, gradually learned to express her emotions. Her story is a journey of seeking out the true meaning of love. The anime adaptation focuses on her growth and inner self, breaking the gender stereotype and showing Girl Power. This essay examines the feminist implications of Violet Evergarden, revealing its role in the growth of Japanese feminism by using Greimas' actantial model and the semiotic square following structuralism's theoretical thinking.