Idealism in E-Lit

Unlimited Blade Works

During the the Unlimited Blade Works Route, Shirou falls into the same desire that Archer did when he was young and holds onto that desire with a steadfast heart. Archer then attempts to kill him multiple times, seeing it as a mercy so that Shirou will not have to undergo the same ideological torment that plagued Archer, as well as a possible paradoxical elimination of himself from his duty. In their final fight, their shared identity causing their memories to resonate with each other, forcing Shirou to see Archer's life, acknowledging that Archer is correct. However, Shirou powers through, saying "Just because you're correct doesn't mean you're right", and, in doing so, is able to make Archer remember those ideals that started him down the road in the first place. When Archer sacrifices himself to give Shirou the chance to defeat the strongest Servant, Gilgamesh, a remnant of the last war, Shirou's newfound conviction enables him to complete his Reality Marble, one of the ultimate spells. In order to have a Reality Marble, the most important requirement is to have a view that contrasts with that of Gaia, the entity of the world, which narrows the number of potential wielders to two digits. The Marble essentially, over a bounded area takes the personal worldview of the user and overwrites the world with it, essentially making a new world. Each Marble, relying on the wielder to form its worldview, is unique, and Shirou's Marble is a desolate plane filled with thousands upon thousands of swords that can be launched and created at seemingly no cost. Shirou continues and finishes the war by defeating Gilgamesh. Following the War's conclusion, Shirou continues to strive for his ideal, but he is now armed with the newfound wisdom that Archer granted to him, to ensure that he would not make the same mistakes that Archer did.

Unlimited Blade Works described "struggling with oneself as an ideal"(ComiPress), due to Shirou's struggle to reach his ideal, both as Archer and as himself. As Shirou interacts with Archer, he struggles to accept what Archer is telling him about his future, regarding the endless pain that following through on their ideal has brought them and how hypocritical that sacrificing oneself others before oneself can be. Eventually, however, Shirou does overcome great obstacles in the form of Gilgamesh and emerges from the War stronger and more prepared to realize his ideal than before. He learns that striving solely for one's ideals only leads to pain, so, as much as Shirou's core wants to wholeheartedly follow the ideal, he realizes that other parts of his life, love, family, and friends, are all reasons to exist beyond his ideal, and in doing so, will avoid the cruelty of Archer's future.

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