Personality: Vergil is very calm and composed, generally showing little emotion aside from his determination. Even if he were truly shocked or afraid, he would make a great effort not to show it. He's very much the opposite of his brother, he doesn't speak unnecessarily, and thinks things through much more than Dante. 'Calculating' is definitely a good word to encompass him. Vergil has quite the high-and-mighty attitude, brushing off any who do not seem worth his time. He brushes off Arkham, who he is supposedly in a sort of partnership with, constantly speaking down to him. He's so hostile, in fact, that in the manga, after first telling him off twice, Vergil kills the librarian who appears along with Arkham. Nevertheless, he does make a few quips, though only after Dante's prompting. Alternatively, to show how much better he is, and how lowly and stupid others are, he definitely wouldn't be above sarcastic remarks.
Vergil has high ambitions and is ruthless in attaining them, entirely willing to sacrifice his own twin for his goals, as well as intending to use Arkham only so long as he's useful and to later kill him. He feels to not seek greater strength is a sign of weakness, and weakness is like a disease, something shameful and disgusting. Several times he openly looks down on Dante for not embracing his demon half and casting aside the human part, nor pursuing further power as he does. Despite his merciless nature, he believes in a sort of warrior's code. Vergil sees attacking an opponent from behind, using guns, or otherwise 'fighting dirty' as unacceptable behaviour. It's unsightly. Everything is built up on pride with him. From combat to appearance, if he can't somehow use it as a tool for condescension, it's no good. He can talk down to people like Dante for looking like a slob while he's prim and proper, his hair and clothes all just-so. He can talk down to people like Dante for using guns, an unpolished fighting style or lack of booksmarts because he would never use a gun, it's barbaric, not something a true warrior would resort to, likewise a true warrior should have complete mastery over his weapons and his own strength, but it shouldn't be just that, physical strength must be coupled with intellectual strength. You can't be perfect in only one area, it's all or nothing.
There are several reasons Vergil is obsessed with strength. One is pure selfishness. He wants his own greatness. Another, the shame of living in his father's shadow. It's a constant for both brothers to be compared to their father, for Vergil this means two things, he's seen as a traitor, and only half as powerful as his father, if even that. He wants to break out of both these misconceptions, prove he can be a great leader among demons, and surpass his father's legend. The next reason is out of guilt for his mother's death. Even though he was only eight years old at the time, he feels gulty for being unable to save her and thinks he should have been able to do so. Along with this, he's ashamed to have ever been weak. He was eight, anyone would be, there's no way a child could have stood up to a horde of demons, but still, his mother was attacked, and he was attacked. They made a fool of him, but he doesn't ever have to be degraded again if he can become more powerful than any other. At one point, he tells Dante, "might controls everything, and without strength you cannot protect anything, let alone yourself".
He does not, in fact, hold great hatred for his brother. Vergil is baffled by Dante's chosen path, they are very different people despite being twins and close during childhood, and it seems their encounters almost always end in a battle due to their vastly differing opinions and personalities. However, at the same time, despite their hostility, if their goals are ever not contrasting, it's even possible for them to work together. Of course, this can change in a splitsecond, but, both brothers care more for eachother than they show. Vergil at times tries to pass this off as disdain, such as when he tells Dante to hurry back to the human world before the gate closes and traps him in Hell. He tries to make it sound like he thinks Dante wouldn't be able to handle it, but really it's his own pride in not accepting help after losing a fight and concern for his brother's safety. There are multiple times Vergil very well could have killed his twin, and even acts as if he had intended to, but leaves him alive, and only wounded enough to incapacitate him for a few moments to get away. Though he would deny it, he has some sentimentality. But that's something only humans feel, certainly not demons, it's a sign of weakness. So he'll try his best to cover it up, and to cast it aside. In fact, every bit of his humanity is something he wishes to be rid of, and makes great efforts to act as if he lacks. And while it does seem as if he has entirely forsaken and rid himself of it, that isn't true. It's only seen in small doses which would otherwise appear to be simple mistakes or even condescension, but it's definitely there. In addition, as Nelo Angelo he seems to feel great pain whenever he spots Dante's amulet and is reminded of who he is. This is probably largely due to anger over being controlled, but it's undeniable that another important factor is remembering how things used to be, and not wishing to fight his brother.
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Vergil has high ambitions and is ruthless in attaining them, entirely willing to sacrifice his own twin for his goals, as well as intending to use Arkham only so long as he's useful and to later kill him. He feels to not seek greater strength is a sign of weakness, and weakness is like a disease, something shameful and disgusting. Several times he openly looks down on Dante for not embracing his demon half and casting aside the human part, nor pursuing further power as he does. Despite his merciless nature, he believes in a sort of warrior's code. Vergil sees attacking an opponent from behind, using guns, or otherwise 'fighting dirty' as unacceptable behaviour. It's unsightly. Everything is built up on pride with him. From combat to appearance, if he can't somehow use it as a tool for condescension, it's no good. He can talk down to people like Dante for looking like a slob while he's prim and proper, his hair and clothes all just-so. He can talk down to people like Dante for using guns, an unpolished fighting style or lack of booksmarts because he would never use a gun, it's barbaric, not something a true warrior would resort to, likewise a true warrior should have complete mastery over his weapons and his own strength, but it shouldn't be just that, physical strength must be coupled with intellectual strength. You can't be perfect in only one area, it's all or nothing.
There are several reasons Vergil is obsessed with strength. One is pure selfishness. He wants his own greatness. Another, the shame of living in his father's shadow. It's a constant for both brothers to be compared to their father, for Vergil this means two things, he's seen as a traitor, and only half as powerful as his father, if even that. He wants to break out of both these misconceptions, prove he can be a great leader among demons, and surpass his father's legend. The next reason is out of guilt for his mother's death. Even though he was only eight years old at the time, he feels gulty for being unable to save her and thinks he should have been able to do so. Along with this, he's ashamed to have ever been weak. He was eight, anyone would be, there's no way a child could have stood up to a horde of demons, but still, his mother was attacked, and he was attacked. They made a fool of him, but he doesn't ever have to be degraded again if he can become more powerful than any other. At one point, he tells Dante, "might controls everything, and without strength you cannot protect anything, let alone yourself".
He does not, in fact, hold great hatred for his brother. Vergil is baffled by Dante's chosen path, they are very different people despite being twins and close during childhood, and it seems their encounters almost always end in a battle due to their vastly differing opinions and personalities. However, at the same time, despite their hostility, if their goals are ever not contrasting, it's even possible for them to work together. Of course, this can change in a splitsecond, but, both brothers care more for eachother than they show. Vergil at times tries to pass this off as disdain, such as when he tells Dante to hurry back to the human world before the gate closes and traps him in Hell. He tries to make it sound like he thinks Dante wouldn't be able to handle it, but really it's his own pride in not accepting help after losing a fight and concern for his brother's safety. There are multiple times Vergil very well could have killed his twin, and even acts as if he had intended to, but leaves him alive, and only wounded enough to incapacitate him for a few moments to get away.
Though he would deny it, he has some sentimentality. But that's something only humans feel, certainly not demons, it's a sign of weakness. So he'll try his best to cover it up, and to cast it aside. In fact, every bit of his humanity is something he wishes to be rid of, and makes great efforts to act as if he lacks. And while it does seem as if he has entirely forsaken and rid himself of it, that isn't true. It's only seen in small doses which would otherwise appear to be simple mistakes or even condescension, but it's definitely there. In addition, as Nelo Angelo he seems to feel great pain whenever he spots Dante's amulet and is reminded of who he is. This is probably largely due to anger over being controlled, but it's undeniable that another important factor is remembering how things used to be, and not wishing to fight his brother.
Background: Here and here