Today my, dear readers, because my brain is lacking creativity today we're talking about something this franchise has a lot of. S Y M B O L I S M.

Death Note is practically dripping with it, bug today I'm going to be focusing on symbolism in Ls final moments. The topic all L stans hate but it's rich with symbolism. IN THIS ESSAY I WILL-

L was very somber that day, proving my point I made ages ago that he does indeed have emotions.

But this isn't about that. I have two things I'm going to unpack for you, the strange ass foot massage scene and the date of his death.

Look, even someone who HATES Lawlight can admit that scene was very... strange. If you catch my drift. But I can assure you that it wasn't a 'yaoi moment'. It's actually bible symbolism. Death Note isn't a stranger to symbolism from different religions. I mean...

They literally reference the creation of Adam in the op.

Lights while journey to god hood is the reason theres so much symbolism to religions. He wants to be a god so he'd have a religion right? Kira-ism or something shit.

But the foot massage scene is a reference to the bible story of Judas betraying Jesus. I'm not religious so I haven't read the whole bible but I do know of this quote.

The Gospel of John states that Jesus confronted Judas at the last supper, telling him, "What you are about to do, do quickly."

So he knew something was about to happen, just as al knew he was going to die.

Not only that but L's foot massage is akin to biblical foot washing, something that Jesus and Judas did before said betrayal. Some of the roles are kind of swapped in death note at some points to fit the story of death note. But Light is usually compared to Jesus, god, other holy figures. Which would make L Judas in most situations. But in the foot massage scene, the roles are reversed for a brief moment. L is the one doing the foot massage/washing. Light was the one about to 'Betray him'.

What does this show? That L was the 'good' one all along. Light is merely compared to Jesus because of his path too god hood. In this scene it's L because he's the good guy in the situation. After that Light goes back to being compared to Jesus.

The whole time Light is compared to a god, Jesus. Whom followers of the religion deem righteous. Judas who followers see as a threat, was L. In the moments leading up to L's death the roles are swapped. Telling us L was the one truly righteous.

In that brief moment right before the betrayal of L being killed. L is the one at Lights feet, Light being truly Judas is about ti betray him.

It's a bit confusing to break down as Light compared to many bible stories and many other religions are referenced in DN (some Japanese religions and Near also plays with tarot cards which could possibly be a reference to pagan Wicca). It's also a bit confusing because of all the role swapping throughout the story and religions being mixed together in symbolism.

That whole scene was foreshadowing what was about to happen.

Next I'll talk about the date L died. 5th of November.

Sound familiar?

Remember, remember the 5th of November?
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I know of no reason
Why the Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.

That's right, the date guy fawkes was gonna blow up parliament in London, 1605. He was arrested, tortured and executed following it. All because of vigilante justice.

Who else has been argued to be vigilante justice? That's right. L.

"How is L vigilante?" You ask.

Well vigilante justice isn't just killing people in the name of justice like Light did. It's any act that's considered morally wrong or illegal for justice. And many people both in the fandom and in DN find L's methods morally wrong. The lind L tailor in indent, restraining Misa, suggesting they wait until Yotsuba kills to arrest them to be sure it's them. That kind of stuff.

Guy fawkes didn't just blow up parliament for the hell of it, it was for justice. The only way the higher ups would listen is if something major like that happened. And the public were on his side, sick of being oppressed by the government. The government deemed him a terrorist for blowing it up. The public deemed him a hero for fighting for their rights.

Some of you may know this story as the movie V for vendetta. Which is a modern day re-telling inspired by it. Some may attribute it to the famous mask that the hacker group anonymous use. That mask comes from the guy fawkes story. So that may be the reason some of you know of the name guy fawkes and the date November 5th.

Now let me break this down real simple.

•The government - Kira
•Guy fawkes - L
•Guy fawkes blowing up parliament - L facing Kira.
•The public seeing guy fawkes as a hero - the public seeing L as a hero (you know, the non Kira supporters)
•The government seeing Guy fawkes as a terrorist - the police force not agreeing with L's methods and being hesitant to being him into the case.
•guy fawkes blowing up parliament making him vigilante justice - L using morally wrong methods to catch kira making him vigilante justice.
•parliament being destroyed on the 5th of November leading to guy fawkes death - L dying on the 5th of November by the man he was trying to stop.

L is literally modern guy fawkes but with Kira and not the government.

That begs the question. In situations as insanely serve like the oppression of the people, and Kira... thousands of people, some innocent being murdered, is vigilante justice ok? Does the end justify the means? That depends on the morals of who you ask. If you asked me, I'd say yes. Sometimes change won't happen unless you riot, cause problems for the oppressor, eliminate the source of the problem for good.

But it depends on the person you ask. Just because In a situation as extreme as Kira I'd be all for hunting him down and crushing his skull, someone else might not be.

But in conclusion here, it's no coincidence that L died on the 5th of November. And no coincidence the rain/foot massage scene was added right before L died.

In all sense of the word, L was justice for the people. Where you stand, his side or Kira's is a different story. Light began 'for the people' but spiralled into a god complex and very soon it was for himself only. When he started killing the innocent, and broke his own rule of only criminals, he wasn't for the people anymore. L? He was always for the people as well as his own curiosity. But he knew that in such an extreme situation like Kira, some lives would have to be sacrificed to save thousands of others.

Both L and Light were vigilante in their own way, but only L stayed vigilante. Light just went god complex and ended up a near-dictator who killed who he liked when he liked.

So there you go. The bible and guy fawkes. Both things referenced through L. Thus, adding symbolism to justice and godhood to death note.

*mic drop*