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Was Light Yagami Right or Wrong?


Light Yagami is the protagonist of the anime and manga series 'Death Note' (which I recently finished watching). He is a highly intelligent high school student who comes into possession of a mysterious notebook known as the Death Note which has the power to kill the person whose name is written on it, provided that the person who writes the name knows the face of the person they intend to kill (so that other people sharing the same name won't be killed too). Motivated by a strong desire to rid the world of criminals and create a utopia free from crime, Light begins using the Death Note to execute individuals he deems as wrongdoers. He adopts the alias 'Kira' and gains a reputation as an enigmatic and cut-throat vigilante who punishes criminals with lethal consequences.

Light's activities attract the attention of law enforcement agencies who ultimately decide that the case should be left to L, a brilliant and mysterious detective who has solved every single case that was brought to him until then. L is determined to capture Kira and bring him to justice, leading to a high-stakes game of cat and mouse between the two masterminds, who though on opposite sides, think horrifyingly alike due to their high reasoning and deduction abilities (which left me in awe throughout the course of the series because, how even, bro?! They both have hundred times the brain cells in my whole head just at a little corner of their mind.)

Now, the question here is whether Light was right to do what he was doing. Let's analyse this from both perspectives.

Light believed with his whole heart that what he was doing was entirely right. He sought to create a world free from crime- a utopia where there was nothing but eternal peace. Light saw himself as a saviour, a beacon of justice who could cleanse society of its inherent flaws. In his eyes, the traditional legal system had failed to deliver swift and effective justice to those who were deserving of it. He believed that by wielding the Death Note, he could deliver immediate consequences to those who deserved it. Light's idealism was fuelled by a genuine concern for the greater good, and he saw himself as a necessary force to bring about a world where people could live without fear of crime. His intelligence and strategic thinking added a layer of complexity to his pursuit of justice. He thoroughly planned out each move, outsmarting everyone who sought to stop him. He argued that his actions were a means to an end, a necessary sacrifice to achieve a utopia where crime would be eradicated. From his perspective, the ends justified the means, and he was willing to make the tough decisions that others were not.

On the flip side, Light Yagami's belief in his own sense of justice was deeply flawed and morally questionable. He assumed the role of judge, jury, and executioner, undermining the principles of a fair and just legal system. His arrogance led him down a dangerous path where he became a tyrant with a god-complex, wielding absolute power without accountability. The Death Note became a symbol of unchecked authority that corrupted Light's original intentions. His actions resulted in the loss of innocent lives, as he occasionally targeted individuals who were wrongly accused or framed for crimes they did not commit. He had a rigid black-and-white perception of everything. He refused to acknowledge the grey areas in justice- the space where there is a possibility of rehabilitation and redemption for those he deemed criminals. In his pursuit of a crime-free world, Light created a dystopia where fear and oppression replaced the freedom he claimed to champion. His obsession with maintaining his vision of justice at any cost showcased the dangers of absolute power. 

Thus, I raise the question from earlier once again. Do you think Light was right to do what he was doing? And also, if you were to wield such power as Light did, what would YOU do in his place?

Remember, having great power is always something monumental. But as the Spiderman movies have taught us-

"With great power comes great responsibilities."

Would you be responsible enough if you were to be given this mighty power called the Death Note?

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