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kimetsutrash · 2 years

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[Manga Spoilers]

I think Akaza and Douma are opposites narrative-wise.

(This is coming from someone who has not read the manga but has been around enough to have picked up details in many of the Uppermoon’s backstories, so I apologize if I get anything wrong.)

When Akaza/Hakuji and Douma were born, there was already a stark difference between them.

Hakuji was labeled a “demon child” while Douma was regarded as a blessed child due to his eyes.

Hakuji was born into a life of poverty and Douma was given a lavish lifestyle.

Hakuji is driven by his compassion and will to protect those he cares about. His rise and downfall is his love for others, as seen with his father, Keizo, and Koyuki.

Douma has no drive. His ability to express emotion and compassion was stolen away from him the moment he was born, and thus he really had no way to go but down.

And this is the key difference that makes Akaza and Douma opposites.

Akaza, despite living in poor conditions and losing everything he’s ever loved, still holds onto his compassion, even if that had been smothered when he turned into a demon. His love is his driving factor. It’s the reason why he wants to get stronger. Even as a demon, where he had forgotten his previous life and everything that made him who he was, his humanity was carved deep into his bones. He never quite forgot who he was.

He was raised and taken care of by people who loved and supported him even at his lowest point. This alone shapes Akaza’s character and is why he is arguably the most humanized and honorable demon among the Uppermoons.

Douma was never given the same chance as Akaza. From the moment he opened his eyes, the people that were supposed to support and take care of him used him for their own, selfish purposes. Despite having seemingly everything, Douma was never allowed to be a child. Douma’s childhood was stolen away when he was forced to listen to the problems of his followers daily, when his father cheated on his mother, and when his mother stabbed his father to death and committed suicide. He was forced to grow up too young and too soon, which stunted his emotional growth.

He never had a safety net—people he could fall back on when he was in his lowest moment. His followers regard him as a god, and his fellow demons never liked him. He has never felt security. He was never allowed to grow his compassion, his love.

Akaza and Douma both live for other people. It’s part of their identity.

Akaza’s identity is built around other people, but that is because he loved and cherished the people in his life. Ultimately, his love is what saves him.

Douma has never loved or been loved. His only sense of identity was built by people were never cared for him they way he needed them to, and he has no other identity than the one that he clings to.

Akaza’s upbringing brings him back to humanity.

Douma’s upbringing never gave a chance at humanity.

#kny #Kny analysis #demon slayer #kimestu no yaiba #kny akaza #demon slayer douma #hakuji #analysis #character analysis #manga spoilers #sorry if this makes no sense it’s late and I wanted to ramble #people don’t give Douma enough credit #his backstory is a lot more tragic then it is presented #Akaza’s however #I was bawling my eyes out so

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