Fullmetal Alchemist is known for its philosophical quandaries and debates on perspective. In comparison to other shonen series, it takes a more thoughtful approach to the narrative, delving into questions about religion, truth, human nature, and existentialism. The characters are challenged to question their morality and their own nature as frequently as they are confronted with intense battles, resulting in well-thought-out character arcs and authentic growth. However, one character stands out above the rest for his understanding of humanity and contempt for those who hide from it.
Solf J. Kimblee, the former State Alchemist, had a big impact on the Ishvalan War. Kimblee appears to be a psychotic murderer who has no regard for human life at first, but upon closer inspection of his persona, it is evident that he is much more than just a murderer. Compared to the 2003 version, which only briefly touches on the character's actions, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood's 2009 depiction of the character is much more accurate. One can only fully comprehend the true observations of his immoral actions and viewpoints through Brotherhood and the manga.
The FMA's View of Certainty is One of Brotherhood
Kimblee adopts a perspective of apparent objectivity. Kimblee's worldview and human nature contain the ironic fallacy—he thinks it is objective, which is inherently subjective—despite the fact that no truth can be said to be objective in absolute certainty and that all perceptions are subjective. His understanding of his nature and the perceivable nature of others usually serves as the foundation for this point of view. Kimblee is very aware that his nature is unacceptable in the society in which he lives, but he makes sure that he does not fight against it. Instead of disparaging his desires, he analyses other people's thoughts through philosophical discussion, drawing them into existential contemplation.
This can be seen in the series during a flashback to the Ishvalan War. Roy Mustang, Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye, and Alex Louis Armstrong are troubled by their actions during the conflict. Kimblee, on the other hand, is unconcerned about death and destruction. Because of his psychotic nature, it may appear that the act of killing brings him pleasure at first, but the situation is more complicated. Kimblee is disgusted by the weight of his fellow soldiers' consciences, commenting on the irrationality of their despair through the decision to be soldiers who follow orders. He can sense their fleeting joy in their wartime accomplishments, which they have honed their skills to achieve.
Kimblee Has a Sharp Eye for Human Nature
Kimblee demonstrates his keen perception of the motives and character of those around him by taking on the role of an uninterested observer in the story. Because of his highly developed ability to understand human nature, he can detect treachery even when a person only perceives violence in their mind. This is not a supernatural ability or a deus ex machina event to keep him from being caught off guard, but rather a skill of reading people that are commonly attributed to sociopaths in the real world. It is about being aware of the world and the people in it, as well as being aware of himself. It evolves into a mind's-eye understanding of others for someone who is completely honest with themselves about why and what they are – a true rarity.
Psychotic behavior is often regarded as irrational and harmful, but when combined with sociopathic traits, it can transform into a startlingly efficient system of manipulation and control. Kimblee's description is based on this. Even though he doesn't think of himself as having morality, his understanding of morality gives him the power to steer a conversation and deconstruct another person's moral choices as selfish or immoral. By pointing out the flaws in the young State Alchemist's assumptions and motivations during his debate with Edward Elric about the use of the Philosopher's Stone, he almost succeeds in making Edward doubt the entire purpose of his mission.
The Significant of Kimblee's Character in the Series
Kimblee's significance to the plot was never fully realized in the 2003 anime. Making Kimblee a ruthless destroyer had its place in that version of the story, but it painfully diminished how important Kimblee was to the Elric brothers' development. The Homunculi are ironic conflicts of their names, Edward's moral code struggles against the course of his journey, and even Scar's development adds uncertainty to his initial endeavors. Kimblee is the only character in Fullmetal Alchemist who understands themselves and the nature of the world to the same extent as Edward. In some instances, Kimblee serves as a conduit for the audience's criticism of the characters' actions because she sees it all and dissects the logic—or lack thereof—behind these things.
The very last scene of Kimblee's story serves as the best illustration of this behavior. When he is defeated and consumed by Pride, his essence continues to exist within the scream-filled tidal wave of souls inside Pride. It is not surprising given the character's previously established personality that he is able to maintain his uniqueness amidst the sea of souls. This is not a supernatural ability or a deus ex machina event to keep him from being caught off guard, but rather a skill of reading people that is commonly attributed to sociopaths in the real world. It is about being aware of the world and the people in it, as well as being aware of himself. It evolves into a mind's-eye understanding of others for someone who is completely honest with themselves about why and what they are – a true rarity.
Kimblee acted with conviction in each action he took. He never acted irrationally because of his subjective certainty in his own nature and the nature of the world because everything he believed to be true was, in his opinion, objective. He didn't see himself as a villain or a hero, a good guy or bad guy; he just saw himself as someone who did evil things because the world had a morality of its own. Although he was aware of the evil in his deeds, he didn't realize how evil the world and society had made him. Kimblee was a person with a philosophical grasp of reality and morality. He was always true to himself and despised people who tried to hide their own truth.
