1 It’s all gone…-Seita
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The sight of your home being destroyed in one shot, with nothing but rubble surrounding it, is not only traumatizing but concerning too, because now you’re on your own with not even a roof over your head.
2 I wanna see Mama – Setsuko
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Seita decided not to tell Setsuko about their mother’s death, because he knew that she’d cry relentlessly. So Setsuko kept asking for her mother everyday, until Seita explained that they’d go visit her once their mother got better.
3 You must also eat to build a strong body and go to war- Aunt Yokokawa
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Rations are scarce, and people die left and right. Despite it all, you’d expect a little kindness from your only family but instead, Seita’s aunt suggests selling his mother’s kimonos and encourages him to go help out for the war.
4 You loafers expect to eat the same as those working for our country-Aunt Yokokawa
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It was known that the siblings’ mother had succumbed to her injuries, and there had been no reply from their father. Slowly but surely, Seita and Setsuko’s aunt’s words got harsher, and her generosity scarcer.
5 I wonder where Dad is fighting now-Seita
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The siblings’ father had been in the navy. They hadn’t had a word from him even after sending multiple letters, but they still hoped that he was just busy fighting for their country.
6 It’s a grave. Mama is also in a grave, right? Auntie told me. Mama is already dead and in a grave- Setsuko
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Seita didn’t want Setsuko to know about their mother’s death because he knew that she would be heartbroken, and had let Aunt Yokokawa know as much. Setsuko, however, found out about it, so she was building a grave for the dead fireflies to put them to rest.
7 Why do fireflies have to die so soon?-Setsuko
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Fireflies only live for one to three weeks, and they glow the brightest during this time. It can be a parallel to Seita and Setsuko who spent their brief lives happily, while finding joy in the little things they could, before the war took them away.
8 When you’ll get well, we’ll go to the beach again – Seita
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One of the better memories during their stay at their aunt’s house is of sneaking out to go to the beach. Seita promises to take Setsuko there again once she gets better.
9 Seita. Thank You- Setsuko
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Setsuko’s body got weaker and weaker from malnutrition and probably some other underlying problems. These were her last words to a brother who fought, stole and begged just to keep both of them alive.
10 I never went to the cave again- Seita
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After losing his sister, Seita never returned to the cave and starved to death on a station. The siblings were later shown to have reunited in the afterlife.
10 Heart-Rending Quotes from Grave of the Fireflies
1. It’s all gone…-Seita
2. I wanna see Mama – Setsuko
3. You must also eat to build a strong body and go to war- Aunt Yokokawa
4. You loafers expect to eat the same as those working for our country-Aunt Yokokawa
5. I wonder where Dad is fighting now-Seita
6. It’s a grave. Mama is also in a grave, right? Auntie told me. Mama is already dead and in a grave- Setsuko
7. Why do fireflies have to die so soon?-Setsuko
8. When you’ll get well, we’ll go to the beach again – Seita
9. Seita. Thank You- Setsuko
10. I never went to the cave again- Seita