What’s A Sibuna?

Sarah Frobisher-Smythe (1915-2011)

Okay. So it has been a pretty widespread opinion in the fandom that Nnoitra has one of the worst personalities in Bleach. Phrases like “misogynic bastard”, “jerk”, “weak coward, “easy to hate” etc. etc. appear basically in every opinion thread.

However, I’d just like to prompt one question.

WHY is he like that?

Because Nnoitra has one of the most serious psychological issues in Bleach. He was in the desperate need of help, which he didn’t get and that’s why it all ended like that. Well, he actually got the opposite of help.

But let us start the analysis from the beginning.

The basic and underlying problem of Nnoitra is an inferiority complex with an absolute zero of any self-worth. I know, what he says doesn’t confirm it. He keeps on babbling how strong he is, saving degrading words for others, but there’s where the difference between what he shows outside and what really is is inside his mind comes in. If he’d really think of himself as the strong one, why would he try so desperately to prove his self-worth, why would he seek so much for validation?

With this said, Nnoitra feels really bad with this complex and has his own ways of dealing with it. Yes, these ways are sometimes super drastic. But the gravity of all the actions he is able to take just to feel a little better about himself only proves how serious his problems are.

The first and basic way in which he tries to increase his self-worth is by comparison with others. He finds those weaker than him and then, well, kills them without mercy in a fight. This gives him moments of validation, a proof that he actually has some worth - more worth than those weaklings he had just slain at least. Because he’s stronger and strength is what attributes for worth in the world of the Hollows/ Arrancars. His enjoyment of fighting isn’t about the process itself - it’s about what psychological benefit he can get from it.

Then why does he keep fighting Neliel although it doesn’t give him any validation but rather pushes him into the pit of inferiority really, really deep?

He says it’s because he hates her. Because he hates that a woman can be higher in rank than a man.

Again, there’s a big difference between reasons (what he says to justify his actions) and actual causes. Because the actual cause for Nnoitra’s hatred doesn’t lie in Neliel - it lies in himself.

Okay, when Goku and Vegeta lured Boly to fight Freeza while they escaped; the theater I was at just erupted with laughter and applause! Like a took us like 5 minutes calm ourselves down!