Preface

Persona 5, a Japanese role-playing game developed for Playstation 3 and Playstation 4 was released in Japan on September 2016 and worldwide April 2017, rising to instantaneous critical acclaim with its vivid, picaresque gameplay style and design. Its core themes of rebellion and anarchy within an oppressive society are a major part of the game’s appeal.

As such, this five-part series will serve as an in-depth exploration of these themes. There exist many strains of anarchism, but there will not be an alignment with any specific school of thought for the purpose of this series. Rather, a cohesive overview with the appropriate theories will be utilized. Because this is not a review but a detailed analysis, it is expected that you have already played the game as there will be spoilers.

Anarchy in Persona 5

Anarchy is a political ideal rejecting hierarchy. It supports the absence of government and other related administrative institutions, collectively known as the “state”, thus resulting in the absolute freedom of the individual. As Wayne Price, writer, theorist, and activist explains in “Anarchism as Extreme Democracy“: “The program of anarchism is to replace the bureaucratic-military state machine with a federation of popular assemblies and associations, as decentralized as it practically possible. This is democracy without the state.”

Persona 5’s colour scheme of red and black is a nod to the anarcho-syndicalist and anarcho-communist movements, which utilize both colours on its diagonally-bisected flag. Black is the traditional colour of anarchism and can be seen as the negation of arbitrary hierarchical divisions, while red is the traditional colour of socialism and communism, representative of the blood of the common people.

The tagline of Liberty, Equality, and Solidarity describes the central anarchic ideal. As defined by political activist and anarchist Emma Goldman in “The Individual, Society and the State“: “[Liberty] is not the negative thing of being free from something, because with such freedom you may starve to death. Real freedom, true liberty, is positive: it is freedom to something; it is the liberty to be, to do; in short, the liberty of actual and active opportunity.”

Goldman continues, “Socially speaking, the criterion of civilization and culture is the degree of liberty and economic opportunity which the individual enjoys; of social and international unity and co-operation unrestricted by man-made laws and other artificial obstacles; by the absence of privileged castes and by the reality of liberty and human dignity; in short, by the true emancipation of the individual.”

Sound familiar?

In the game, the core idea of emancipation is embodied by none other than the Phantom Thieves of Hearts. Formed by a ragtag band of societal outcasts–slaves chained to fate as determined by corrupt individuals in power–they rebel against the oppressive social structures and institutions that are in place while seeking true freedom.

The Protagonist (Joker), a wrongfully-convicted youth placed on probation due to the actions of a politician and a judicial system that failed to bring about justice.

Ryuji Sakamoto, a former star track student turned delinquent after suffering an unjust injury by a teacher.

Ann Takamaki, a student model and a victim of sexual harassment at the hands of a teacher.

Yusuke Kitagawa, an honours art student abused by a corrupt artist who was also his legal guardian.

Makoto Niijima, a student-council president manipulated through the whims of the school principal.

Futaba Sakura, a hikikomori suffering from the trauma of losing her mother due to those who wished to take control of society for their own gains.

Haru Okumura, a corporate heiress susceptible to the schemes of her corrupt father and his associates of the business world.

The power of the individual is a topic that Goldman lauds. “Man, the individual, has always been and, necessarily is the sole source and motive power of evolution and progress. Civilization has been a continuous struggle of the individual or of groups of individuals against the State and even against ‘society,’ that is, against the majority subdued and hypnotized by the State and State worship. Man’s greatest battles have been waged against man-made obstacles and artificial handicaps imposed upon him to paralyze his growth and development. Human thought has always been falsified by tradition and custom, and perverted false education in the interests of those who held power and enjoyed privileges. In other words, by the State and the ruling classes. This constant incessant conflict has been the history of mankind.”

As Ryuji aptly quoted in response to the injustice each member of the Phantom Thieves experienced at the hand of the State and the ruling classes: “Just remember, we can’t trust any shitty adults.”

Goldman continues, “Individuality is not to be confused with the various ideas and concepts of Individualism; much less with that ‘rugged individualism’ which is only a masked attempt to repress and defeat the individual and his individuality. So-called Individualism is the social and economic laissez-faire: the exploitation of the masses by the classes by means of legal trickery, spiritual debasement and systematic indoctrination of the servile spirit, which process is known as ‘education.’”

In the case of Persona 5, this does not only apply to Shujin Academy (Kamoshida’s Castle), but also to the other Palace locations where the exploitation and the systematic indoctrination of the individual take place in relation to each of the characters: Yusuke’s former shack (Madarame’s Museum), the underground market (Kaneshiro’s Bank), Futaba’s room (Futaba’s Pyramid), Okumura Foods Headquarters (Okumura’s Spaceport), the courthouse (Niijima’s Casino), Japan’s National Diet Building (Shido’s Cruiser), and the entirety of society itself (Mementos).

Each triumph the Phantom Thieves achieved–the awakening of Personas, the infiltration of Palaces, the defeating of Shadows, the stealing of Treasures, and their ultimate battle against Yaldabaoth–were all steps in the reformation of society where the masses, once wilfully complacent with their subjugation, were able to break free of their restraints to bring forth a future of change.

As such, this five-part series will consist of the following sections:

Introduction: Wake Up, Get Up, Get Out There

Part 1: Your Empire for the Taking

Part 2: The Panopticon of Fate

Part 3: The Big Bang Manifesto

Part 4: Take The Mask Off and Be Free

So now…