NAVIGATION

 

NEGATIVE

Self-loathing: When Suzaku was ten years old, he murdered his father, Genbu Kururugi — the prime minister of Japan — in order to prevent a a pointless war and the subsequent loss of life. This act and the fact that he was never punished for it has defined his personality in the years since. It's shaped his morality, which will be discussed below, and it's given him a pervasive self-hatred and the desire to die a "good' death in atonement for his perceived sin. This was part of his motivation for joining the military in the first place, and explains his propensity towards self-sacrificing gestures and throwing himself into danger. On a smaller scale, it is why he doesn't protest the hatred and disgust directed towards him from others.  From this canon-point, that self-loathing has only increased due to the violence he's committed as the Knight of Seven, along with Euphemia's death and the reveal of Zero's identity. 

Reckless: Surprisingly, this is a trait that predates the former. Suzaku's always been an impulsive person, prone to acting without thought and with a tendency towards violence. The latter has been subdued (in most situations) due to years as a second-class citizen and soldier under an empire that views discrimination against people like him as part of their national policy. However, the former is still very prevalent, especially when lives are at risk around him. Whether it's driving a car without hesitation despite no experience outside of video games or hopping into a cockpit of a war machine with, you guessed it, no experience, he rarely hesitates to consider the consequences. This also applies in combat, where he works more by instinct than strategy or tactical thinking. 

Unstable: Suzaku has many other flaws — hypocrisy, self-righteousness, a high capability for ruthlessness — but these are all intensified by his lack of mental stability. At this point in time, he really is the only one who can understand his own goals and moral standards because, to most others, they come across as inconsistent and contradictory. He rails against violence while helping Britannia continue its imperialistic conquest of the world. He decries the use of Geass and taking away a person's will, but stands by while the Emperor uses the same power to erase his son's memories. This is because Suzaku's constantly at odds with himself, using self-delusion intentionally or otherwise as a coping mechanism to keep from completely breaking down. 

POSITIVE

Idealistic: Over the past year, Suzaku's outward personality has changed significantly. Grief and anger have hardened him, leaving him distantly polite rather than showing the same amiable friendliness from the first season. Despite this, he still ultimately desires the same peaceful world, a place without war where people would no longer have to lose their loved ones. The methods have changed, but his desire to protect the citizens of Area Eleven hasn't. That's why he's aiming to become the Knight of One, so he can claim Japan for his own and fulfill the dream once shared between him and his princess. This idealism is the same reason he keeps any faith in the system and the idea that it can be changed from within. 

Dedicated: Dedication, or stubbornness, is another consistent aspect of Suzaku's characterization. When he chooses a path, there's very little that can shake him from it regardless of the cost. Ultimately, it doesn't matter what others may think of him or what sacrifices are required if it means following the justice and rules he's committed himself to. While this can be used for good or ill, it's ultimately a testament to the strength of his willpower and ability to continue on despite the tragedies he's faced and the uncertainty of the future. 

Kind: From this point in the series, kind isn't the first word that comes to mind for Suzaku. To the world, he's a traitor, a murderer, and Britannia's 'White Death'. To himself, he's all of those things and worse. However, the boy who shed tears at Lelouch's devotion to his sister at age ten, and who cried again at getting to be with his friends seven years later, isn't gone. He's simply buried beneath the weight of his experiences. The capability for gentleness and compassion may only be shown in glimpses, but it still remains. Equally present is his genuine desire to protect others and stop senseless violence. It'd take a great deal of time and the right circumstances to allow himself to open up again and embrace these better impulses, but that doesn't mean it could never happen.