It’s truly beautiful.
Summary:
- Denji’s shallow desire to find a girlfriend turned into a more meaningful feeling.
- Chainsaw Man sends an important message about love.
- It also shows the destructive power of love.
You wouldn’t expect a deep exploration of love from a series as unhinged and insane as Chainsaw Man, but Fujimoto can just do it all, huh?
Important Message
Chainsaw Man starts with the most shallow motivation that the main protagonist might have: Denji wants to ‘have a girlfriend and touch some boobs.’ But the more we see and learn of him, the deeper this idea feels.
Denji quickly realizes that what he really wants is not only to be physical with a pretty girl. He has never been truly loved and cared for, so this seemingly shallow desire has a deeper meaning: Denji wants to be close with someone.
His initial goals are lustful, but there comes a moment when he understands that a sexual partner is not really something he wants, he longs for a soulmate. Makima shows him how great even a touch can be when it’s given by the right person.
That’s how Denji comes to the conclusion that all things are better when they are done with the one you truly care about. He feels no satisfaction after touching Power or kissing Himeno (well, that one went terribly), only Makima could ignite a spark in him. The person he really cared about.
Power of Love
Chainsaw Man shows us that love is not just a happy feeling of butterflies in your stomach, it’s also a powerful weapon. Makima is the perfect proof of that: she uses Denji’s affection to manipulate him, practically turning him into her loyal dog.
The Bomb Girl Arc is also a good example of how destructive love can be. It blinded Denji and made him trust Reze. It messed with Reze’s head, made her come back and led to her death.
Yoru also used love in a similar way. She could only turn a person she cared about into a weapon, so she pushed Asa to start dating someone, and it was important to her that Asa and Denji had a real connection.
Moreover, it goes even beyond just love between two people. The Chainsaw Man church became weaker when people started loving their idol more.
This is how devils work in the series: the more they are feared, the stronger they get. And since Chainsaw Man was more loved than feared, the Chainsaw Man church started losing its power.
Chainsaw Man shows a completely different side of love. It’s not just a happy romance or an instant attraction between two people, it’s a very powerful and sometimes even dangerous weapon that can destroy lives and bring suffering.