Communication, in its wider sense, is one of the main themes of the series,[29] not only as opposed to loneliness, but also as a subject in itself. Writer Konaka said he wanted to directly "communicate human feelings". Director Nakamura wanted to show the audience - and particularly viewers between 14 and 15 - "the multidimensional wavelength of the existential self: the relationship between self and the world".[20] The intrusion of technology in the social structure is part of the process described:[14] As Lain embraces the Wired, the viewer can see her drifting apart from her friends and family, to the point where "she can no longer relate to and interact with her fellow humans".[14]
Loneliness, if only as representing a lack of communication, is recurrent through Lain.[4] Lain herself (according to Anime Jump) is "almost painfully introverted with no friends to speak of at school, a snotty, condescending sister, a strangely-apathetic mother, and a father who seems to want to care but is just too damn busy to give her much of his time".[5] Friendships turn on the first rumor;[30][4] and the only insert song of the series is named Kodoku no shigunaru, literally "signal of loneliness".[31]
Mental illness in general, and specifically Dissociative identity disorder is a significant theme in Lain:[27] She is constantly confronted with alter-egos, to the point where writer Chiaki Konaka and Lain's seiyuu Ori Shimizu had to agree on subdividing the character's dialogues between three different orthographs.[27] The three names designate distinct "versions" of Lain: the real-world, "childish" Lain has a shy attitude and bear pajamas. The "advanced" Lain, her Wired personality, is bold and questioning. Finally, the "evil" Lain is sly and devious, and does everything she can to harm Lain or the ones close to her.[18] As a writing convention, the authors spelled their respective names in kanji, katakana, and roman characters (see picture).[32]
Reality never has the pretense of objectivity in Lain.[33] Acceptations of the term are battling throughout the series, such as the "natural" reality, defined through normal dialog between individuals; the material reality; and the tyrannic reality, enforced by one person onto the minds of others.[4] A key debate to all interpretations of the series is to decide whether matter flows from thought, or the opposite.[34][4] The production staff carefully avoided "the so-called God's Eye Viewpoint" to make clear the "limited field of vision" of the world of Lain.[33]
Theology plays its part in the development of the story too. Lain has been viewed as a questioning of the possibility of an infinite spirit in a finite body.[35] From self-realization as a goddess to deicide,[23] religion (the title of a layer) is an inherent part of Lain 's background.[35]
Three personalities of Lain Iwakura from the anime series Serial Experiments Lain. From the Visual Experiments Lain artbook by Yoshitoshi ABe.
Dissociative identity disorder (DID) is a diagnosis described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition, Revised, as the existence in an individual of two or more distinct identities or personalities, each with its own pattern of perceiving and interacting with the environment. At least two of these personalities are considered to routinely take control of the individual's behavior, and there is also some associated memory loss, which is beyond normal forgetfulness. This memory loss is often referred to as "losing time". These symptoms must occur independently of substance abuse or a general medical condition.
Dissociative identity disorder was initially named multiple personality disorder (MPD), and, as referenced above, that name remains in the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems. Regardless of whether the disorder is termed dissociative identity disorder or multiple personality disorder, it is in no way related to schizophrenia. Although schizophrenia and dissociative identity disorder are commonly linked in the minds of lay people, it is a misconception.
While dissociation is a demonstrable psychiatric condition that is tied to several different disorders, specifically those involving early childhood trauma and anxiety, multiple personality remains controversial. Despite the controversy, some mental health institutes, such as McLean Hospital[1], have wards specifically designated for dissociative identity disorder.
