Ghost In The Shell Identity

Many people define themselves based upon factors of appearance, such as gender, race, and attractiveness. However, in a society that allows you to alter every aspect of your exterior, identity must be defined by other means. The Ghost in the Shell, a graphic novel by Masamune Shirow, chronicles a society that contains more cyborgs than full humans, leading to issues involving the disposability of the human body in favor of robotic limbs. Though most people opt to robotize their bodies, they actively work to maintain their original “ghost,” or soul. The generic nature of the characters’ physical forms suggests that the characters value their inner “ghosts” more than their external appearances, showing that identity comes from within.
The characters’ flippancy towards maintaining their physical originality suggests that they value generic attractiveness over remaining externally unique. For example, when Motoko visits a factory that manufactures artificial body parts, a worker shows her the site of body production and says, “as needed, we can add a variety of optional equipment to a mass-production model—the way you were created, Motoko” (103). All female body parts come from the same “mass-production model,” and even the main character’s physical form
descends from the same pattern. The widespread acceptance of such generic models suggests that citizens prefer the attractive, mass-produced body parts to their own human limbs. However, the decision to adopt artificial body parts comes at the cost of individuality. During the same conversation between the worker and Motoko at the body manufacturing plant, the worker tells Motoko, “We put [a ghost] into the female mold…recent female models are created with a flexible material, which allows us to incorporate more individuality into each unit…nobody complains even if they’re a little skewed” (103). Even though the makers of body parts offer to incorporate “individuality into each unit,” they know the mundane nature of such options because “nobody complains even if they’re a little skewed.” The consumers’ lack of concern with regards to the individuality of their artificial body parts suggests that, even when given the option to add human-like “uniqueness” to their manufactured limbs, they would prefer to have the same generically attractive mass-model bodies.
The unexpected depiction of powerful individuals demonstrates that one’s influence in society comes from his or her ghost, not generically attractive appearance. For example, the illustrations show the president of a large manufacturing company not as a man, but as an electronic box with a ghost inside (124). Society traditionally depicts bosses as large, strong, powerful individuals, yet the boss of the large manufacturing company appears as a meek, dependent box. This discrepancy illustrates that the characters derive their power and identities from their inner ghosts, not their outer appearances. Due to the widespread artificiality of body parts, the need to appear unique or even human-like dissolves, and one’s ghost remains the source of identity. While many opt for generically attractive body parts, others (like the boss of the manufacturing company) do not rely on a human-like body at all.
Though most of the characters remain impartial to the uniqueness of their physical form, they view original ghosts as sacred. In a conversation between two garbage men, one says that he performed a “ghost hack” on his wife, and the other responds, “[I] can’t believe you’re willin’ to do a ghost hack just to find out what your wife’s thinking” (76). As shown by the garbage man’s shock, “hacking,” and therefore compromising, someone’s original ghost constitutes as a very significant event. This concern starkly contrasts with the characters’ willingness to sacrifice their original bodies, showing that the characters view their ghosts as more sacred than their physical appearance. Directly following the garbage men’s conversation, Motoko uses a ghost infiltration key to prevent Togusa from killing the garbage men. After she does so, Togusa becomes angry and states, “How would you feel if a stranger had your ghost infiltration key…Even someone like you, Major?” (89). The highly personal nature of one’s ghost can be seen through the need for a special “ghost infiltration key,” which would only allow a select few people access to someone’s ghost. Even though Togusa views Motoko as his trustworthy boss, he still feels violated when Motoko alters his ghost to stop him from shooting the garbage men. Togusa’s outraged sentiments reflect a broader societal attitude that ghosts should be considered sacred and original; bodies, however, can be altered and mutilated to fit the mold for unoriginal, mass-produced attractiveness. Ultimately, this social stigma suggests that people place more importance on their ghosts than their bodies.
Because the characters consider their ghosts as sacred, they define themselves based on internal, not external, factors.
In a conversation with another cyborg, Major Motoko states, “maybe someday your ‘maker’ will come…announce the recall of a defective product. What’s left of the ‘real you’ is a couple of lonely brain cells” (106). Motoko emphasizes the disposable nature of artificial bodies by categorizing them as “products,” not actual human parts. By dehumanizing aritifical limbs, Motoko suggests that one’s humanity lies within himself, independent of external appearance. She then defines the “real” person as “a couple lonely brain cells,” suggesting that one should define himself by his brain, not his
body.
Ultimately, the characters’ decision to define themselves based on their inner ghosts demonstrates that identity comes from within. When Batou unknowingly transfers Major Motoko’s ghost into a male body instead of a female body, Motoko does not dwell on the gender difference. Instead, she tells Batou, “thanks for the effort,” and leaves (346). Males and females in society have vastly different social roles, expectations, anatomy, and identities. External factors cause many of these discrepancies, and Motoko’s dismissive nature of the gender switch illustrates the unimportance of the external line between male and female. Ultimately, as long as her female ghost remains intact, the physical body she occupies does not hold significance. This attitude illustrates that one’s identity comes from within and remains independent of physical externalities.
Ultimately, the characters’ flippancy with regards to their external form demonstrates that one’s ghost holds greater significance than his body, suggesting that identity emerges from within. Today, the world remains filled with media encouraging plastic surgery, botox, and other tools to manipulate one’s appearance. Thus, the notion that true identity exists independently of external appearance may seem like an anachronism. However, the distinction between one’s inner and outer self holds great importance, especially as society increasingly mirrors that of The Ghost in the Shell. Though body parts may be replaceable, one’s ghost—or identity—remains permanent; therefore, maintaining its integrity equates to preserving one’s sense of individuality in a largely generic world.