What is the relation between Ergo Proxy and Vincent Law?


I understand that one of them is actually the other. At first we are led to
believe that Vincent is Ergo. But toward the end of the series, we discover
something but I am not sure what it means: Ergo created Vincent to run away
from himself. Also, in the beginning, when Vincent turns into Ergo, he loses
control and doesn't remember any of it. Later on he starts to control Ergo,
but at the same time he can talk with him.

So, basically, I don't understand which 'came first': Is Vincent Law Ergo
Proxy? Or is it the other way around? Or are they actually two different
'selves' that 'reside in the same body'?




From what I understand, Proxy 1 and Ergo Proxy are two separate entities. A
miss conception, thanks to the English translation, is proxy 1 created
Romdeau; this is not the case as Romdeau is described a flawed Dome in the
same way as its creator, Ergo Proxy, is a clone on Proxy 1 and hence a flawed
proxy (also shown by the fact he can survive UV rays).

This is further backed up by the relationship between Ergo and Monad. Monad we
are told loved Ergo proxy due to their opposing natures of life and death,
thus she comes to Vincent AKA Ergos aid at the end of the series rather than
to help forefill Proxy 1's ambitions for Ergo to destroy humanities chance for
a future on earth.

Vincent is therefore the human name of the being Ergo proxy while he has
amnesia due to the removal of his own memories to prevent him from becoming
the literal grim reaper on earth. Ergo Proxy was created a long time prior to
the series by Proxy 1 as a means of revenge on humanity.

Of coarse I could be completely wrong but it doesn't really matter as the main
focus of the anime isn't the plot but the moral and theological questions
which arise from the setting and premise of the series. In short its a
fantastic anime whether the ending is ambiguous or not :)

