The Record of Ragnarok anime is set in a world where the gods of various pantheons have grown tired of humanity’s constant wars and violence. They decide to hold a tournament to decide whether humanity should be allowed to continue existing. Thirteen gods will face off against thirteen of the greatest humans in history in one-on-one battles. The first side to win seven matches will be declared the victor.
The series follows the story of Brunhilde, the eldest Valkyrie, who is determined to save humanity. She believes that humans are capable of great things, and she is willing to fight for their survival. She recruits thirteen of the greatest humans in history to participate in the tournament, and she trains them to fight against the gods.
The first season of the anime covers the first five matches of the tournament. The first match is between the Greek god Zeus and the sumo wrestler Raiden Tameemon. The second match is between the Norse god Thor and the Japanese swordsman Kojiro Sasaki. The third match is between the Greek god Poseidon and the Japanese swordsman Kojiro Sasaki.
How is Poseidon portrayed in the Record of Ragnarok?
Poseidon is portrayed as cruel in the Record of Ragnarok. He is shown to be an arrogant, sadistic, and bloodthirsty god who takes pleasure in killing his opponents, and he shows no mercy to those who cross him.
- In his fight against Kojiro Sasaki, Poseidon taunts and belittles his opponent throughout the battle. He even goes so far as to break Sasaki’s sword in half, knowing that it was the only weapon that Sasaki could use to fight him. Poseidon’s cruelty is also evident in his backstory.
- He is shown to have killed his own brother, Adamas, in a fit of rage. He also shows no remorse for his actions, even when he is reminded of the pain that he caused Adamas’s wife and children.
A human, Kojiro Sasaki, takes on a god, Poseidon! 💥
via Record of Ragnarok: The Complete First Season pic.twitter.com/KEcDprKEKr
— VIZ (@VIZMedia) April 5, 2023
In short, Poseidon is a cruel and sadistic god who takes pleasure in inflicting pain on others. His portrayal in Record of Ragnarok is faithful to his depiction in Greek mythology, and he is a complex and well-developed character. On a more basic tone, he displays the common behaviour of the middle-child syndrome.
Is Poseidon as cruel as his backstory in actual mythologies?
Poseidon is a complex character in Greek mythology, and his cruelty is often exaggerated in modern retellings. In some myths, he is portrayed as a violent and vengeful god who is quick to anger. He has been known to cause earthquakes, floods, and shipwrecks to punish those who have wronged him. He has also been accused of rape and other forms of sexual assault, though Zeus takes the shameful title of being the most promiscuous.
In the myth of Atlantis, Poseidon is said to have destroyed the island after its people angered him. He caused a massive earthquake and flood that sank the island into the sea, killing all of its inhabitants. In the myth of Scylla, he turned the beautiful sea nymph Scylla into a hideous monster with six heads and twelve legs. This was because Scylla had rejected Poseidon’s advances.
In the myth of the Argonauts, he sent a storm to shipwreck the Argonauts’ ship. This was because he was angry that Jason had not sacrificed a bull to him before setting sail. In the myth of Odysseus, he was initially enraged by Odysseus’s blinding of his son, the Cyclops Polyphemus. He caused a series of storms to delay Odysseus’s journey home, and he even turned his men into pigs.
Poseidon, it’s not nice to call people chumps!
via Record of Ragnarok pic.twitter.com/Dj9DbIWFG7
— VIZ (@VIZMedia) August 10, 2022
So yeah, he’s not the poster boy for kindness. However, it is important to remember that these are just myths, and they should not be taken as literal accounts of Poseidon’s character. In reality, Poseidon was probably a more nuanced figure than he is often portrayed. He was certainly a powerful and sometimes destructive god, but he was also capable of great mercy and compassion.
For instance, in the myth of Odysseus, Poseidon is initially enraged by Odysseus’s blinding of his son, the Cyclops Polyphemus. However, he eventually relents and allows Odysseus to return home to Ithaca. This suggests that Poseidon was capable of understanding and forgiving even those who had wronged him.
In conclusion, whether or not Poseidon was cruel is a matter of outweighing his dark side with his merciful one. Between his brothers, Zeus and Hades, he is seen as the mediocre one and the one who is neutrally chaotic. Just like the ocean he rules, one can’t predict if the waves will be gentle or destructive enough to wreck your home. You can decide for yourself by watching the anime here.