Lecture Notes: The Bird of Hermes in Hellsing Ultimate

Introduction

• Quote: “The bird of Hermes is my name, eating my wings to make me tame."
• Significance: Appears on every title screen; acts as a warning.
• Appearances: Phrase only spoken once in Hellsing Ultimate, crucial to title cards.
• Reflects the power and characterization of Alucard.

Origin of the Quote

• Source: 15th-century alchemical writing (Ripley Scroll).
• Purpose of Scroll: Instructions on creating the Philosopher's Stone.
• Symbolism: Phoenix → Immortality.

Alucard’s Connection to the Phoenix

• Phoenix: Represents rebirth and new life.
• Transformation: Vlad Tepes → Count Dracula → Alucard.
• Each transformation is a rebirth with distinct personality and traits.

Stages of Alchemy and Alucard

• Three Stages:
  • Black (Negredo): Decomposition or demise.
  • White (Albedo): Purification.
  • Red (Rubedo): Self-awareness and re-entry to mortal world.

Alucard's Color Palette

• Count Dracula: Mostly black (death) with some red; minimal white (skin).
• 40s Form: A girl in white suit (purification) with black hair (still deadly) and red eyes.
• Modern Alucard: Red suit (self-awareness), white gloves, black hair (death).
• Other Character: Seras' outfit turns red upon becoming true vampire.

Character Arc and Final Battle

• Restraint Level Zero: Alucard releases full power, starts annihilation.
• Form Changes: Moves through alchemical process in battle against Walter.
• Schrödinger Absorption: Gains omnipresence but loses self-awareness.
  • Spends 30 years eliminating absorbed souls to regain self-awareness.

Master-Servant Dynamic

• Important Themes: Duality of man and monster; master-servant relationship.
• Power Dynamics: Servants (monsters) are more powerful than their masters.
• Alucard's Submission: To Integra (descendant of Van Hellsing).
• Restricts himself to be tameable (eating his own wings).

Other Characters

• Anderson: Serves God’s will, wishes to be a perfect monster for God.
• Millennium: Monsters serving the Major.

Conclusion

• Alucard's Ultimate Fate: Returns to Integra after purification.
• Future: Speculation about Alucard’s power with no Integra to tame him.

Further Engagement:

• Encourages audience to add thoughts or correct alchemical details.
• Invitation to discuss Hellsing Ultimate.

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