TRIGGER WARNING: This post is going to be a controversial one. I am not trying to offend, those are not my intentions. However, if anyone is, I sincerely apologize in advance. I am just trying to make a few arguments in good faith. If this post seems too personal or too aggressive, please, I encourage you to scroll past.
Perhaps I’m reading too deeply into this, or reaching, and should just chill. But I have a problem about the messages surrounding the character of General James Ironwood. More specifically, his semblance, and the symbolism of James “losing his humanity” during V7C11. I know I made a comment on the character page that it doesn’t matter whether or not you liked James’ turn, in the long run, it doesn’t matter, because Ironwood doesn’t exist. Although this statement is true, Ironwood has no real autonomy outside the series. The messages surrounding him are real, however.
First his semblance. As we all know, Mettle allows James to strengthen his resolve on a decision, helping him hyperfocus. It’s also a passive type of semblance, he cannot turn it off. Unlike Qrow or Clover's semblances, there was no way of knowing his semblance was active. No audio or visual cues, not even a single mention by any of the characters. Some fans don’t even consider it to even be canon. Hell, Jason Rose, the actor behind James’ voice had no idea his character had a semblance until a fan told him at an RTX con.
Now in the real world, according to WebMD, doctors who see people hyperfocus are those who are diagnosed with ADHD. Although there isn't a lot of research into hyperfocus, but it's mainly found in those with ADHD.
https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/hyperfocus-flow
ADHD is a form of Neurodiveristy and according to the disabled-world website:
“Neurodiversity is an approach to learning and disability that argues diverse neurological conditions are the result of normal variations in the human genome. This portmanteau of neurological and diversity originated in the late 1990s as a challenge to prevailing views of neurological diversity as inherently pathological, instead asserting that neurological differences should be recognized and respected as a social category on a par with gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability status." - https://www.disabled-world.com/disability/awareness/neurodiversity/
Without any sort of context, in-universe about his semblance, people had to speculate and assume James' atrocious deeds were because his semblance. If his semblance is to blame, it takes away any sort of moral agency he has. It makes him a puppet of his own mind. It’s possible that's the message the writers were trying to convey. If that's true then it sends a hurtful message of, “people who are Neurodivergent are willing to commit acts of evil,” or, “they have no will of their own.”
Another message I have a problem with surrounding James Ironwood is during the ending portion of the Ironwood vs. Watts fight at the beginning of “Gravity.” When we see James pulling his left arm out of Watts’ trap, this is supposed to symbolize Ironwood finally losing his humanity, and becoming a full fledged villain. All I have to ask is why? Why is James losing his human arm supposed to represent him losing his humanity? That doesn't sit right with me. Even though I have never lost a limb, I can't imagine the pain, and turmoil those individuals are forced to suffer through. With symbolism of James losing his human arm, getting a prosthetic one, and essentially becoming a heartless machine. It sends another harmful message of, “individuals who have prosthetic limbs are less humans than those with real ones."
I know deep down, the members of CRWBY are not malicious, and are not intentionally trying to send a negative/hurtful message when it comes to controversial/difficult topics. I know they are not trying to offend anyone. I know the writing for RWBY is subpar, even back when the show was in its infancy. But, I wish the producers of the show would take some time to do a bit of research when it came to such controversial topics like racial discrimination, PTSD, prostethic limbs, mental disabilities, and so forth. Am I going to stop watching RWBY? No, despite it’s glaring flaws, in the long run I do enjoy RWBY. I want it to get a proper end.
Again, I am sorry if this post comes across as hateful or negative, I am not intending on it to be, and I am not expecting people to agree with me either.
