The Power of Familial Love in ‘The Beginning After The End’

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Summary

  • Arthur learns the power of familial love, despite his lonely existence as King Grey.
  • Arthur experiences self-sacrifice for family, understanding love and devotion deeply.
  • The anime delves into the complexities of familial bonds, showcasing both joy and sadness.

One intriguing aspect highlighted in the anime version of “The Beginning After The End” is the stark difference in Arthur’s family experiences across his two lives. In one life as King Grey, we witness how he was secluded from an early age, failing to comprehend the warmth and bond that a family provides him.

Through Arthur’s extraordinary upbringing from infancy to adulthood, he comes to understand the profound impact of family love in a manner that most children couldn’t articulate. Thus, the novel The Beginning After The End delves into the intangible essence of familial love, a concept often overlooked yet invaluable, in a deeply moving and thought-provoking way.

The Contrast Between Arthur and Grey

Learning What Family Means

In this new adaptation of the anime, we’re introduced to Grey in a starkly contrasting light due to the added scenes at the start. Here, he appears as a character who is harsher and more detached. The storyline unfolds to reveal that as a child, he was secluded and had to focus on honing his combat abilities just to maintain control over his life. In comparison, Grey’s interactions with Arthur in the opening are similar but distinct due to Arthur’s support system post-reincarnation.

“To think, after my countless victories, I would be reduced to a helpless infant.” -Grey as Arthur.

In this new incarnation as Arthur, Grey encounters an entirely different scenario compared to his previous life. Here, he’s showered with boundless love and affection, even though he can’t control his infant body or utilize his combat skills effectively. He’s free from the need to prove himself, and experiences the warmth of this love firsthand, despite also feeling the vulnerability that comes with his new physical state.

Initially, he finds the idea of familial love peculiar. The initial storyline revolves around Grey comprehending his position as Arthur and gaining insights into his family’s actions. Over time, he becomes increasingly receptive to their affections, ultimately shedding tears, now fully embracing his character as Arthur, when he wraps his arms around his parents following the activation of his mana core.

Why does it seem like they’re weeping? Given that they managed to perform their task, one might expect them to feel a sense of pride instead. (Arthur, following his rescue from the falling debris by his parents.)

Arthur’s Sacrifice

The Culmination of What He Has Learned

In episode 1, I was drawn into the potent pull of my family ties. This theme beautifully unfolded in the finale of the next episode when I learned that my mother was expecting another child. Overwhelmed by this news, I found myself resolved to shield her from a relentless bandit attack we were facing.

This stands in stark contrast to an earlier scene in the same episode where King Grey mercilessly executed a mother and child in front of their father for defying his rule and attempting to harm him. At that time, I couldn’t grasp the depth of the love and devotion that man displayed as he pleaded for his family’s mercy. But now, with my newly realized familial bonds, I finally understand the profound emotions he experienced.

Having taken too much, I’m now fleeing to prevent losing something. It could be a form of karma.”

“I’ve taken more than enough and now I’m evading to keep from forfeiting something. This might just be an example of karma.

While they’re fleeing, a wind mage launches an attack aimed at Arthur and his mother. In that instant, he decides to shield them by hurling himself in front of the impact. He falls off a cliff as a result, but before he does, we hear for the first time the merging of King Grey’s inner voice with his new voice as Arthur, lamenting that he couldn’t have protected his unborn sibling as an older brother, expressing this regret in both voices.

It’s quite unusual; I’ve received no tangible rewards, yet my heart is brimming with contentment. For the first time, it seems I’ve grasped…The intention of that man in his request of me. And perhaps now I comprehend…Why those two were moved to tears. -Arthur, upon his descent from the cliff.

In the captivating world of “The Beginning After The End,” I find myself deeply moved by Arthur’s perspective. It’s striking how familial love, in his eyes, is a testament of self-sacrifice. This selflessness often leads to separation, causing profound sadness. Yet, these bonds of family, even as they stretch across contradictions and different worlds, provide an unshakable source of strength. Together, we endure the highs of joy and the lows of sorrow, bound by our shared experiences.

The Beginning After the End can be streamed on Crunchyroll.

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2025-04-13 16:04