First of All: A popular Misunderstanding:
| Many people believe that Instrumentality and Third Impact may be a way of "Returning to nothingness." Some people misinterpret the statement that Man is to return to Lilith and Angels are supposed to return to Adam (returning to the beginning so to speak). Some believe that Human Instrumentality project may destroy the human race in some ways, returning us to the sea of LCL (which people think is a symbol of the "soup" from which human life evolved). In reality, however, this is not how Human Instrumentality works. Gendo himself said: "Human Instrumentality is not a return to nothing. It is a return to the beginning..." Gendo went on to say that going back to "The beginning" will allow humans to seize what was taken from them long ago. What is it that Gendo is trying to reclaim? The many theories of Evangelion are listed below, starting with my theory. |
Theory #1:
Reclaiming Human Perfection, at a price!
 First of all, it should be known at Evangelion really isn't THAT religious. The religious symbolism in the stories is supposed to help you understand the story some more. Director Hideaki Anno even described them as window dressings that are there to spice the show up a bit. They are extremely helpful though, so I will begin with some religious allusions. In the book of Genesis, Adam and Eve began as perfect humans. In the garden of Eden, they knew no pain, no death, no sadness. The word Suffering did not exist, and they lived in harmony with their environments. After Adam and Eve sinned, God cast them out of the garden of eden, and their perfection was taken away from them. Sickness, death, suffering, and all other aspects of the imperfect world we know today became a part of the human condition after that moment. Gendo Ikari said once that the Human Instrumentality project was a way of "bringing about a new genesis for mankind." He also remarked that Second Impact had "purged the Antarctic of the original sin." So what does this mean? Well, where should I begin. Human Instrumentality is essentially a method of escaping the original sin, of escaping human suffering and loneliness. In a non-religious sense, it is simply a method of perfecting humans so that they are no longer subject to isolation or pain. The true name of the experiment is the human complementation project. The plan is to join all of humanity together into one single living entity, in which all human minds shall become linked as one. According to Ritsuko and Gendo, every human has a natural gap in their mind which makes them feel lonely or sad (human suffering). This gap can only be filled through personal (and sometimes intimate) connections with other human beings. However, many humans suffer from the same problem Shinji has: Hedgehogs dilemma. People are too afraid to get close to one another for one reason or another, usually because they are afraid of "not fitting in" or being rejected. Seele proposed that this problem could be fixed through the complementation project. Once initiated, the Third Impact, under the control of humanity (instead of the angels), would destroy all AT fields in the world. As Tabris/Kaoru put it, the AT field is nothing more than the light of the soul, a sacred barrier where nothing can pass. It is what protects every human mind in the world. It is what allows you to be an individual in a society of many. If that should be destroyed, then all of humanity would be joined together. The idea of this 'linked entity' is that by combining all human minds into one, they will "complement" each other by filling in that 'gap' that exists in every human mind. With that, humanity can become a highly evolved being; perfect in a way. There will be no more suffering, no more pain, no more loneliness. Gendo wants control of the Instrumentality project for one reason only. No, it is not to become God as some believe. No, it is not world domination. Gendo wants to reclaim his beloved wife, Yui Ikari. Through the joining of souls, he would once again be with the woman he lost. At first, this plan also appeals to Shinji Ikari, a boy with many problems. He'd love nothing more than to end his pain, to escape his suffering forever. He'd never have to fear rejection or acceptance. His life would become better. But what is the price for all of this. The AT field is gone, and thus, individuality is destroyed. That's right, total freedom and total perfection, but without individuality. We would all exist together, as one being in the pool of LCL. This is, apparently, the only method of making humanity perfect and filling the gap that makes humans sad/lonely. Does Shinji really want this world? He is told that a world without individuals is one that he would like. A world that is seemingly without others, and without pain. However, during episodes 25 and 26, Shinji is forced to analyze his life. He begins in a theater, a creation of his mind, which symbolizes the barrier he has constructed to keep others away. He wants to be alone. He wants to escape from reality. However, the "People that exist in his mind" (By that I mean the images of Rei, Asuka, Gendo, Misato, and the other) continuously try to convince Shinji that his life is not that bad. He just believes that he is worthless. It takes a long time, but once Shinji realizes that everyone in the world doesn't hate him, and that he has value outside of being an Eva pilot, Shinji begins to make some new revelations. He discovers that his life is actually pretty good. That if he tries to live a good life, he can succeed, even in a world of imperfection. He also realizes that it is important to exist with others, for other individuals help to form your own individuality (a complex philosophical thought, but a pretty good one. See Philosophy section). Upon this realization, shinji finally comes to terms with his habit of "Running away" (here we return to a problem that shinji showed in the very first episode: "I musn't run away...I musn't run away..."etc). Shinji alwasy hated himself for running away, and yet he felt it was the only way to escape his problems. However, now he has realized that individuality is one of the most important aspects of existence (as well as one of the best). To sacrifice individuality just to escape original sin/escape human suffering (however you want to look at it) is the ultimate form of running away. With all of this in mind, he rejects Instrumentality. Since Shinji is in Unit 01 at the time, Shinji's decision is paramount. Whether or not his decision *alone* will decide the outcome is debatable, for it is also possible that every human on Earth is going through the same process, but Shinji is the main one that we see. It is also possible that Shinji's decision may be instrumental to the decision that others will make in the long run. Whatever the case, Shinji rejects Instrumentality, and awakens to find his friends congratulating him. In End of Evangelion, we see that Shinji and Asuka have returned to the Earth to carry on with their lives. While they are the only ones seen by the time the movie ends, there is no proof that they are the last people on Earth. In fact, at that very moment, other people could be making their decisions, and could be decending down to join them. |
Theory #2:
All in a Dream
 Another popular theory is one in which all of Neon Genesis Evangelion (up to the very end that is) was one giant dream. A fake fantasy world Shinji Ikari created for himself. Based on the alternate world we see in the end, the people who lean towards this theory believe that the alternate world was in fact, the real world! All of the characters in Shinji's fantasy world are allegedly real people in Shinji's life, but in completly different ways. Shinji's father isn't the leader of NERV (NERV doesn't even exist), his mother is still alive, Misato is his teacher, Asuka and Rei are normal classmates. According to this theory, Shinji was (as you read earlier) insecure about his life and value, so he created a world where he would be important. His "Importance" came from being an Eva pilot, as he was now considered a 'hero' for fighting against the angels. However, there came a time where Shinji had to leave his Dream world. People often cite each 'psychological analysis' scene in Evangelion as a part where Shinji is close to returning to the real world. Meanwhile, the fictional characters in his fantasy world beg him to return. Shinji doesn't want to return though, because he hates the real world. Living in a dream world is his method of running away. In this theory, Instrumentality didn't really exist. It was nothing more than Shinji finally coming to terms with himself and returning to the real world. All of the talk about Shinji's life not being so bad and the importance of existing with others were merely ways of making shinji realize that he should leave the dream world. People who believe in this theory also believe that the theater Shinji sits in resembles the barrier between him and reality. When Shinji finally says that maybe he could like who he is, the theater cracks and then subsequently shatters. This is cited as the exact moment when Shinji finally leaves the Fantasy and embraces real people into his life. So what other evidence is there to support this? Well, some episodes, such as episode 19 (a Man's Fight) progress in a very 'dream-like' nature. Furthermore, there is no evidence to completly contradict this theory, and it is therefore plausible. I think this theory is rather nice, but I prefer Theory #1. The thematics behind Shinji's discovery of his value and individuality are the same as described in Theory 1. |
Theory #3:
It's the End of the World as we Know It
 This is perhaps the simplest of all the theories. The Angels are, supposedly, nothing more than another life form that has existed on the Earth, yet has never been active until the year 2000. Sound strange? You bet. Basically, Third Impact was nothing more than an attempt by both races to survive. Whoever succesfully returned to their origins (it stand to reason that all Angels came from Adam, and all 'Lilims' (humans) came from Lilith) will evolve, while the other is destroyed. Kaoru even mentioned that for him to survive would mean the destruction of the human race. Still, something is missing here, and I have yet to meet one person who can give me enough information about this theory. If returning to our origins is what completes Third Impact, then why did the humans have to wait until all 17 Angels were defeated? NERV possesed Lilith since the very beginning. Surely they could have begun human instrumentality before the Angels Arrived. And yet they wait for the angels to come one by one. Seele even sent Kaoru Nagisa to NERV just to 'advance the schedule.' Clearly, both Seele and Nerv believe that the Angels must first be defeated before instrumentality can begin. Some people have a slightly different theory on the angels, saying that they were testing humanity to see whether or not they deserved to evolve, which explains why Seele and Nerv had to fight the Angels in the first place. This theory is a rather generic one because there is little else to explain about it. What really happend in the very end. Well, people who hold to this theory don't really know. In fact, they often hate the original ending and stick to the movie End of Evangelion. So what do they think of the movies ending? They think it was armageddon. The end of the world, leaving only Shinji and Asuka behind to rebuild the human race. Why did Shinji and Asuka return? Allegedly Shinji was able to because he was in control of Third Impact, and performed hte act by pure will. |
Theory #4:
To be Alone, That is your Desire...
 This theory is strange one, because it assumes that all of Instrumentality was about Shinji. Even though it is explained in Eva that The human complementation project is vital to the future of the human race, allowing them to open up "The path to becoming one with God," this theory focuses on Shinji completly. Apparently, what Complementation would do is erase the AT field, thus destroying all of individuality in the process (just as I described above). There is one major difference however. All individuality will be gone, except for Shinji Ikari's. He will be alone, existing in a universe with no one else. According the the people who talk with him during the Psychological analysis of episode 25 and 26 (the "Me" that exists inside of your mind), a world where Shinji is alone is a world that Shinji wants. He is so insecure, so fragile, and so afraid of human contact, that he wishes to be alone. If there was no one else to bother him, they he wouldn't be afraid anymore. At the same time, Shinji would become, in a sense, a god, simply because he is the only thing that exists. Everything else is gone. The theater seen in Episode 25 and 26 is supposed to be a smaller symbol of Shinji's desire to be isolated. Apparently, Complementation will make the entire world like that Theater. In the end, Shinji realizes that one cannot truly exist without others, and that humanity is not meant to be alone (see philosophy section). After finally coming to terms with himself, the theater breaks, and Shinji rejects Instrumentality, allowing people to return from the pool of LCL if they choose. This theory is a very sound one, with lots of evidence to support it, but I have my own reasons for not believing in this one. Firstly, the world "complementation" is completly contradicted if its purpose is to destroy all individuals except Shinji. Secondly, each person was seen in episode 25 going through their own analysis of themselves. In episode 26, a note appeared at the beginning explaining that due to lack of time, only Shinji would be shown from now on. I believe that all the talk about being alone was not what Instrumentality/complementation was about. No, it was just what Shinji was going through during his analysis. He had to make his decision to accept or reject Third Impact based on his current problems. Rei had the problem with identity among the clones, Asuka had to face her tragic past. The theater was just Shinji's battle, and his alone. That doesn't necessarily mean that is what all of Instrumentality was about. Still, this theory is still held by many. |
Theory #5:
A Personal Reflection
| This theory won't give you answers about the show and what Instrumentality was to the characters. Rather, it tries to give reasons for why director Hideaki Anno had Evangelion end the way it did. What does it mean to him? Well, far be it for me to start assuming things about a man I've never met before, but plenty of people believe in this theory, which states that the final two episodes of Evangelion were a personal reflection of Hideaki Anno's feelings. How so? Well, I have been told time and time again that the easiest way to view the entire hour of the final episodes by replacing "Shinji" or (In the case of Shinji talking) "I" with Hideaki Anno. Furthermore, "Eva 01" or "Unit 01" is to be replaced with Neon Genesis Evangelion (The TV series itself), and any mention to "Father" is supposedly to Anno's actual father. Thus, everything said about Shinji is actually Hideaki Anno analyzing himself. Some people have told me instrumentality was all about Anno coming to terms with himself as an Anime director. They say that he hated making animes for the public (possibly due to dislike of the fan community), and Shinji's realization at the end is symbolic of Hideaki's decision to accept his job as a director and continue. In my opinion, this theory is interesting, but has no real evidence. This doesn't even concern the show at all, it concerns a man that very few Eva fans have actually met (in the US at least). Furthermore, most fans would prefer to stick to a theory that actually wraps up the series rather than making allegations about its creator. |