It seems that within Death Note itself, there are a great deal of allusions to different things. Twice, I’ve noticed that there are what seems like Bible references. The second one is the apples that Ryuk likes, as well as the apples in pictures with Light in them. I may or may not be wrong, but I’m reminded of the story of Adam and Eve. Again, I don’t believe in the religion, I’m simply stating the reference.

The apple had, in the Bible, been a symbol of temptation. In much the same way, so was the Death Note, as Light himself states that the note seemed to have an aura that tempted him to try it at least once. Like there was a whispering in his ear to just try it. All the same in the situation with the apple that tainted humanity. It’s actually stated that from the moment he touched the Death Note on, his life was tainted — ruined by temptation and power.

At first it had started with an innocent teenager thinking he could change the world for the better and make it a less rotten place — and given, he was a little less innocent because he did it due to being bored — by killing criminals. As time went on, he became more warped, and he developed the god complex we all know he has. By the end of the manga/anime, he’s fallen into complete insanity because his temptation had corrupted him beyond repair. Funny, he said that the world was regressing — the world is rotten — when he himself was the one regressing from a state of sanity, to insanity. He ultimately became rotten, like an apple left without being eaten for an incredibly long time.

Also, the highly intelligent are also closer to the brink of insanity than those of lesser intelligence. Too much for the brain to process without falling over a brink where morals become warped and intelligence is used the wrong way.

This happens to be my take on what is called the “crucifix” position. Throughout the manga, it was referenced in maybe one or two places. I can’t exactly remember how often it showed him standing like that. I believe it was also in one of the openings to the anime. In this, he keeps his arms outstretched and his legs close to each other. As if he were nailed to a cross. I will point out that despite me telling what the reference is.. I happen to not be a believer, even though it is the faith I was raised with.

This references Christianity, perhaps. Jesus Christ was sent by God to “cleanse the world of sin”. Throughout the whole of Death Note, Light refers to himself as a God, though he also thinks that he’s the only one capable of cleaning the world of evil — as if he were the only one worthy of possessing the first Death Note. Also, in a conversation he has with Ryuk, he states that he will make a pure world full of pure people — to which Ryuk responded something to the likes of “Then you will be the last impure person left?” To this end, I believe Light thinks himself to be sacrificing his own innocence to be the God of the people, as well as the one who leads a perfect world whilst believing himself to be perfect. When in fact, he could be compared to an angel of death more than one of life — he would be reigning with fear rather than an honest hand. A liar to possibly be equated with the devil — amusingly enough this creates an irony within the character himself.

In complete contrast to what he thinks are his perfect intentions, he has entirely warped morals when it comes to the fate of criminals. It could also equate to socialism’s way of forcing people, by fear, to act a certain way. [In fact, I was reminded of a book I read in grade school called Animal Farm. If you haven’t read it, it’s slightly strange, but it’s a decent reference to what socialism can become.]