The narrative extensively explores a significant shift in the protagonist's identity, showcasing his evolution from someone detached from a specific community to an individual fully embracing its customs and practices. This pivotal journey of assimilation forms a core element of the storytelling. After this initial shift, a subsequent wave of tension and relationship emerges between the newcomers, the individuals arriving and imposing their ways, and the established society, those who already inhabit the location and maintain their customs; this collision of ideologies and practices is of great consequence to the overarching plot.
As the established traditions and beliefs are threatened and adapted, the central figure encounters serious matters of conscience that he must resolve; his ideals are put to the test as the surrounding societal structure is altered and it is up to him to decide where his loyalties lay. The degree of commitment, devotion, or support he offers to either the old order or the newly presented values will shape his ultimate destiny.
The statement, "The last samurai will not fall today," possesses a deeper significance, referencing the enduring impact of this central person’s actions and highlighting the preservation of his culture. The utterance implies the character's enduring impact and the persistence of the unique culture to which he commits; it suggests an ongoing battle against oblivion.