Summary
- Demon Slayer reveals the humanity and pain behind its tragic villains.
- Demons’ final words show their regrets, fears, and lost dreams.
- The series teaches empathy through its complex, heartbreaking villains.
Susamaru
❝ Forgive me… I'm sorry! I'm begging you!!❞
Susamaru was a demon who played with Temari balls as her weapon. She had a childish and cruel nature in the way she battled, but in the end, her final words were vulnerable. In the end, she begs for forgiveness, showing how desperate and afraid she is. Her cries for mercy remind us that demons were once humans who fell into despair and became lost in their monstrous forms. Susamaru’s end shows that even the strongest personality can break down to death.
Kyogai
❝ Both my Blood Demon Art. and my drumming have been recognized.❞
Kyogai, or the Drum Demon, was an artist at heart. His drums were part of his soul, and he yearned to be recognized. As a human, he was rejected and belittled, which made him a demon. In his final breath, Tanjiro discovered his talent, and that brought him solace. For Kyogai, to be seen meant everything, and he passed away with a very rare sense of satisfaction, knowing his passion had been recognized.
Gyutaro
❝ My only regret as a human? It was you, Ume.❞
Gyutaro’s final words are spoken to his sister, Ume (Daki). The siblings had been harnessed through the most unbearable forms of poverty and hardships. The remorse of Gyutaro was that he was the one who made his sister a demon. Though causing havoc as a demon, their love remains unpolluted. In death, Gyutaro’s words utter the pain of a brother who would have wanted for his sister’s better life.
Gyokko
❝ I made that bunch of worthless dung the most excellent work all the time! You insignificant maggot— ❞
Gyokko’s pride is his defining characteristic because he treats people as if they are just some sort of material to use in his twisted artwork. He never finishes saying his last words, but in those last words, there was his sense of twisted pride. Gyokko is driven by deep insecurity and the need to prove himself in his artwork. In his final moments, he is unable to confront reality about himself or his deeds.
Akaza
❝ I am home, Father, I am returned Master Koyuki-san I'm home.❞
Those last moments Akaza spent at death’s bedside were full of human emotion; those memories Hakuji had tried so hard to hold onto since transformation were returned once he was near death. He had been in love with a young woman whose name was Koyuki when he was known as Hakuji. His words were a yearning to return to the people he loved and the life he lost. It was such a heartbreaking moment, showing how much he regretted the path he was forced to take.
Kokushibo
❝ Why in the world was I ever born? Tell me, Yoriichi.❞
Kokushibo’s last words are to his twin brother, Yoriichi, the great swordsman. Kokushibo had lived his entire life in the shadow of jealousy for his twin brother’s innate talent and power. Even when he became a demon, he was unable to rid himself of the specter of his brother. The question he asks is laced with a deep sense of pain and self-doubt. Kokushibo’s entire life was characterized by a search for his own identity, and the final moments were filled with regrets and a yearning for answers.
Muzan Kibutsuji
❝ Tanjiro! Don't go, Tanjiro! Don't leave me here!!❞
Muzan Kibutsuji is the Demon King throughout the series. Muzan spent his life chasing power and immortality because he hated death more than anything else. At his last breath, Muzan begs Tanjiro to not leave him as he is left with nothing but anxiety. This desperation in his last moment reveals that Muzan feared being alone and could not accept the end of his life. It is one of the most powerful moments, showing even the strongest villains can be brought to their knees with their fears.
The last words from these demons reveal humanity in them once upon a time and the pain carried all along throughout their lives. While they perpetrated such horrific deeds in demon’s garb, their last scenes remind us all of how they, once upon a time, were victims of tragedy and despair. It is masterful the way the show portrays villains as complex characters and deepens our understanding of the struggles and the regrets that plague them. Empathy and the recognition of the humanity of all people those who lost their way-is taught to us.
