>>4069878Interesting point about the MP Evas. It lines up well with other observations. For example, somehow NERV was able to bind and even divide souls - through esoteric technology or spiritual machinations, or both - even the soul of the most powerful entity known in the series (if you go by AT-Field) who is immortal and possibly omniscient at the bare minimum.
In some respects, I agree with your thought about Lilith as Rei's only nature (though I haven't given up on a doctrine of hypostatic union). Certainly I agree that many simply see her as the "cute, protect" object. I myself have. It goes with something I've said before: a lot, probably the great majority, of fan art of Rei is not fan art of Rei. It is a kind of moefied thing that is depicted. Adorable and pleasing to look at, yes, but it is not really Rei. (To say nothing of ecchi/hentai "art".) This goes with your argument about how our imagination of Rei's nature and personality - maybe any character's - is based off our own desires, consciously or not. I freely admit this has been true for me, and I have had to check myself; her character design is attractive to me for a variety of reasons and her image brings me a feeling of comfort and peace, probably partly due to residual influences from my own past relationships. I am but a man.
About her being a "death goddess," I think that is too simplistic. She is the origin of life (
>>4069913) but, by extension, death - she is metaphorically, and then literally in EoE, the ocean from which all life flows and, consequently, to which all life returns.
>>4069913I don't know. It's hard to set aside my personal animosity - and sympathy - towards Shinji when thinking about their relationship, but I don't think it's as clear as you say. I also wonder how much of Rei's attachment to Shinji came not from her direct experiences with him but both from her primordial maternal nature as well as from Yui's residual influence, if any.
There is just so much to consider.
