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This thread will be an analysis of who I consider the most misunderstood character in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba, Muzan Kibutsuji.
Character setup-
First it’s important to keep note which type of character Muzan is, he isn’t your typical prideful figurehead such as Madara or Aizen. He had no grand goal like ruling the world, his one objective was to live without fear of death.
First it’s important to keep note which type of character Muzan is, he isn’t your typical prideful figurehead such as Madara or Aizen. He had no grand goal like ruling the world, his one objective was to live without fear of death.
-Within the first 16 chapters we are introduced to Muzan and see him hiding among humans, this immediately sets up Muzan as someone who isn’t one for direct confrontations. We later see this point propelled as he sends 2 demons to deal with Tanjiro.
The cause for him sending these demons in his place was his fear of the one man who put him on deaths door, he saw Tanjiro’s Hanafuda Earrings and immediately remembered Yoriichi. This is our first glimpse of the reasoning behind Muzan’s cowardly demeanor.
-Immediately following these events we meet Tamayo who knew Muzan for years prior to Tanjiro meeting Muzan. She refers to him as a coward which his actions so far have shown to be true.
-Within the introduction chapters of Muzan, we also see his manipulative behavior. He manipulates 2 demons by lying about their standing in the demon hierarchy. They revere him yet he ends up being the cause of one of their deaths.
Philosophy- Muzan believes he is a force of nature. He believes if a life is snuffed out by him he is not one to be held accountable, grudges should not be held on him due to the fact he is the equivalent of a calamity. You would never hold an earthquake accountable, why him?+++
He was born brittle and achieved a powerful body at the expense of human life. It holds no weight on him as its required for him to live, which is his only goal. An eternal peaceful life. Tanjiro rejects Muzan’s beliefs and his very existence, then the final battle begins.
Just an interesting side-note. Many times throughout the series this "force of nature" parallel is brought up, such as when Muzan first confronts Yoriichi.
Coward-Once he became a demon he wasn’t cowardly, quite the opposite. Yoriichi’s first impressions showed a confident, powerful, and charismatic man in Muzan. However this all fades away as for the first time since becoming a Demon Muzan faces a worthy foe.
Immediately after being pushed to the edge, he retreats. He loses this charisma and immediately goes into hiding no longer doing his own bidding. He repeatedly claims that he isn’t the monster, the monster is Yoriichi and he holds this stance up until his last moments.
You see this cowardice behavior repeated throughout the story many times such as when he runs away from the final battle when he’s pushed to the edge. Its repeatedly been shown what kind of a character Muzan is, one who will not risk his life and one who avoids all adversity.
Manipulation/Conniving- -The demon's only purpose is to find the lily or conquer the sun, as well as keeping the corps away from him. He manipulates Daki and bends her to his will acting as if he appreciates her efforts +++
This however is a facade Muzan puts up, he has no appreciation for his moons as he states he didn’t even want to create them. He admits after Gyutaros battle that he knew Daki was a hindrance.
-Muzan intentionally confronts humans when they despair hardest and are backed in a corner in order to manipulate them into becoming demons, this is just in case he needs to use it against them. He uses this to his advantage such as with Tamayo when he shifted all blame for her++
family's murder onto her because she chose to be a demon.
Hideous Husk/Baby Muzan- The purpose was a last ditch effort by Muzan which put the bow on what kind of a character he is. A man who since birth did nothing but cling to life due to the unfortunate circumstances of his birth. A who will throw a hissy fit over his subordinate++
Running away from a battle (Akaza) when he attempts to do the same thing in a single battle on 2 occasions in a shameless manner. A manipulative, hypocritical, cowardly man.
Development/Dynamic with Ubuyashiki and the Corps- When Muzan first confronts Ubuyashiki we have the start of one of my personal favorite dynamics in demon slayer, one that does not wrap up until Muzan’s last moments. Ubuyashiki claims that the strength of the Corps is the+++
Fact that their hatred has built up for generations, passing on their wills and that this is the end of the road for Muzan as human feelings and determination never die out. Muzan is revolted and rejects these beliefs, however this changes once humans prove their worth in their
Final battle.
At the end of the final battle, we see his concession to the slayers, this concession is by using their own beliefs to his benefit. He passes his will down the same way the corps has done for multiple generations. This wraps up Muzan's character arc as he has officially admitted
Defeat and given his mantle to another following the very same beliefs he rejected earlier in the story.
Thank you for reading, I hope this cleared up some misconceptions about Muzan as a character!
Here are few other analysis that touch on some points i didn’t cover, i highly recommend them!
"A thematic analysis and interpretation of Kibutsuji Muzan"
https://mangahelpers.com/forum/threads/a-thematic-analysis-and-interpretation-of-kibutsuji-muzan.3016393/
"Muzan and Tanjiro: Which one of us is the real demon?" https://linkspooky.tumblr.com/post/614211049963552768/muzan-and-tanjiro-which-one-of-us-is-the-real
"A thematic analysis and interpretation of Kibutsuji Muzan"
https://mangahelpers.com/forum/threads/a-thematic-analysis-and-interpretation-of-kibutsuji-muzan.3016393/
"Muzan and Tanjiro: Which one of us is the real demon?" https://linkspooky.tumblr.com/post/614211049963552768/muzan-and-tanjiro-which-one-of-us-is-the-real
