Goth, one of the best manga I’ve ever read, I found myself reflecting on the darker sides of human nature and how curiosity can lead us down paths we never intended. The manga is a haunting reminder that fascination with the morbid, while intriguing, can be dangerous if it get to consume us.
As a man in my late 30s, I see this story differently than I might have when I first read it. The characters, Kamiyama and Morino, are drawn to darkness in a way that’s unsettling. They observe the worst of humanity with a detached fascination. When I was younger, this detachment might have seemed cool or rebellious, but now, with years of life experience, it reads like a warning: what you choose to focus on shapes you.
The manga shows that curiosity isn’t inherently bad, but unchecked curiosity without empathy can lead to emotional numbness. Kamiyama, for example, doesn’t intervene whenn he sees something horrific; he only observes. It’s easy to become like him, especially in our current world where we’re bombarded with shocking news and tragedies daily. Goth challenges us to think about how much we let ourselves be desensitized.
Nowadays, I understand better the importance of balancing curiosity with compassion. It’s fine to want to know why people do what they do—even the worst things—but if we lose our humanity in the process, what’s the point? This manga made me realize that it’s essential to have a line we don’t cross, to maintain a sense of empathy and not let ourselves become cold observer.
There’s also a message in Goth about the need to confront the darkness within ourselves. Both protagonists have experienced pain and loss, which they hide behind a mask of curiosity. The story suggests that, in a way, their fascination with death is a way to understand their own trauma. This resonates with me now that I’m older, because I know that running away from pain, or burying it under distractions, doesn’t make it go away. It’s important to face it, acknowledge it, and then decide how it will—or won’t—shape you.
Ultimately, Goth taught me that it’s okay to be interested in the darker sides of life, but it’s crucial not to let it consume you. Curiosity should be balanced with empathy, and understanding the darkness in the world should serve to make us better, not colder, people.
