[I don't care if someone else talked about this previously].
Evangelion's (specially the TV series and/or manga) plot it's more than anything concerning angels. Who are them?, or rather, what are them?
If you watch Eva in the first time, you'll believe it's about giant-mutant-aliens-monsters trying to destroy Earth. We can understand this interpretation as a "linear" or "direct" concept. The seriousness (of the story) could finish there, but there is something "more", such a higher or more hidden symbolism through it, invisble to the naked eye. (We must remember that Anno declared it).
So, which is the more important Eva's symbolism? The psychological one. (Fans and developers recognize it).
You know, NGE looks like a fable, where the signifiers (eva-units, LCL, Seele, Nerv, etc.) are less relevant than its own significance (otherwise, Gundam stuff, for example, should be better than Eva franchise given its esthetic full of guns, mechas, action, violence and son on). What's the point of watching a coward Japanese boy piloting an autobot? If you looked for Eva, it was for its "character-viewer" connection.
Well, I'd better get down to business. In response of the answer located in the top of this text, angels are a kind of "iniquities". An iniquity is the conception of something that keeps over time and makes ill to somebody or a group of entities; therefore, men has the right and task to stop it.
You'll see some Angels "reinterpretations" below:
- 1.- Adam: First light ("I was chosen to be pure")
According to a PS2 manual-game, an "Ancestral Race" managed the two "Seeds of Life": Adam, the light moon, and Lilith, the dark moon. (I suppose everyone in this forum already know what I'm talking about). Adam was originally put on the Earth surface, but something made that Lilith descend to it. So, the dark moon collapsed and gave rein to the "First Impact". The moon body left Earth and became the one which everybody knows. Then, Lilith started to create the nature and all its elements.
Now, forget everything from the last paragraph (sorry), but remember when it says: "Adam was originally put on the Earth surface". This looks like an analogy where the real destiny of living creatures and the rest of Universe was to be "pure" or "light". It doesn't look as an iniquity, nonetheless, the fact of want obligatorily or extremely to get something, makes a dependency to it (if you don't get that, you're not happy).
- 2.- Lilith: Wrong source ("I was created from sin")
Adam was purity, Lilith is nastiness. She just verifies the argument that "humanity is the spawn of disaster" (please, don't take it so literal). Adam's sons are resentful with her creation.
Maybe, Lilith makes chaos not just beacuse she has to, but beacuse, she wasn't aimed to be in the place where she actually is.
- 3.- Sachiel: Early childbirth ("I must be born")
(Here begins our story...). While watching Shinji refusing to pilot the Eva Unit-01, it seems a fetus who doesn't want to get out from the comfort of his mother's belly. He's afraid of life. Next, is forced to be born when he sees someone else suffering (Rei is equal to a woman writhing pain for its baby's birth). He accepts the life test if that means stop the sorrow of his mom (Rei, again).
- 4.- Shamshel: Rebellion ("I want to be somebody for you" or "Please, hear me!")
(This is better understood in the manga). Shinji disobeys and behaves Misato from a bratty way. He produces hate to be listened while he says: "Hey, you, love me!". Shinji wants to draw attention. It seems like an argument between mother and son. In the end, one learns from the other (specially Misato).
Both wanted to rectify their relationship (and to know if they could share affection, something they really needed).
- 5.- Ramiel: Protection ("I can count on you")
(This is similar from the previous one). Rei and Shinji believe they're alone, specifically when they are in critical moments. They worked together, they saved together.
[I'll possibly continue this stuff later]. Bye...
