: The protagonists suffer significant personal and strategic blows: Lan Fan loses her arm.
: Fuhrer King Bradley thwarts Edward's attempt to resign by threatening to kill Winry Rockbell, leaving the Elric brothers in a desperate position. 29 : Struggle of the Fool
: Edward is noted for maturing in this episode; he starts acting more strategically and building alliances (such as with Mustang) rather than reacting on whim. Other Possible Contexts : The protagonists suffer significant personal and strategic
: The "struggle" refers to characters finding ways to move forward despite being "collared" by their enemies. Other Possible Contexts : The "struggle" refers to
is dismantled and reassigned to keep him from acting. Ling Yao is forcibly converted into the homunculus Greed. Thematic Meaning
In this episode, the "Fools" (Edward, Alphonse, Roy Mustang, and Ling Yao) realize the true scale of the conspiracy within the Amestrian military and are effectively cornered.
While Fullmetal Alchemist is the primary match, the term "Struggle of the Fool" can occasionally appear in other media or philosophical discussions: