Caroline’s indecision and the role of libraries in “Paradise Kiss”

Continuing my posts over the last couple of days about libraries in anime, let me talk about another anime, named Paradise Kiss, which includes various scenes in libraries. The protagonist, Yukari, studies in a library at her high school to ensure she passes her exams. This is pictured in the second episode (“Illumination”), which lasts for about two minutes, shows that others are as serious as her:

Later, she meets George, the de facto head of a group of fashion students who call themselves “Parakiss,” with others also studying in the library. He distracts her from her studies as she wants to be a fashion model for them instead:

He ends up liking the library too, as it turns out he can partially read foreign-language books (specifically ones related to fashion) there, so it’s a nice scene. There are some great parts of this scene, showing others deep into studying their materials and the overview of the library. She is deep into her studying, so much, she forgets about George…

Then, Yukari later sees that George has left, and has a look of shock on her face:

She solemnly walks out of the library, feeling defeated, but she looks out the window before leaving the building, sees George outside, sitting under a tree, and she has lunch with him on a tree outside the library. How nice!

A couple episodes later (episode 4, titled “Kiss”) there’s another mention of the library, serving as a sore point between George and Yukari. Clearly, Yukari is trying to take more control of her life and have more independence, as she only studied because her parents told her that she needed to do so. Yukari lashes out at George and admits the person she is really irritated with is herself:

Basically, she thinks if she broadens her horizons rather than just closing herself off, she can become a “more well-rounded and attractive person,” and she makes a bold move in the 5th episode (“Mother”), even shocking those in Parakiss.

In any case, the library represents something for her: not only a place of solitude, but a condition forced upon her. It’s something she wants to push away. So that’s very interesting to say the least, as none of these other anime have used the library as such a poignant part of the narrative itself.

© 2020 Burkely Hermann. All rights reserved.

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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on my History Hermann blog but has been re-edited and fixed before being posted on this blog. Enjoy!

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