There are many points throughout Demon Slayer during which the audience is encouraged to see things from the demon’s point of view. This is largely because of the sympathetic and thoughtful personality that Tanjiro Kamado possesses, as well as his sister’s status as a demon. The pain and struggle of being a demon and needing to consume blood to live are often overlooked, but many do this for survival.
As Demon Slayer progresses fans are given moments where they are both meant to feel sorry for these demons and revile them for the horrific acts they commit. In the end, viewers are meant to fear them just as much as pity them.
10 Did: When Rui Was Cruel To His Siblings
There is a lot of tragedy both within the ranks of demons and demon slayers. Death, loss of loved ones, injury, and trauma are commonplace. Sometimes, the demons do not deserve what happens to them despite their reliance on eating humans for survival. One such instance was with the demon moon Rui’s pseudo-family of spider demons.
Rui created a toxic and abusive environment and he killed multiple spider family members. If a member went against Rui or tried to escape, he had them killed in horrific ways. This is exactly what happened to his “sister” and likely countless others.
9 Didn’t: When Muzan Killed The Kamado Family
One of the most tragic and hard-to-watch moments in Demon Slayer was the deaths of the Kamado family members. Though it is not shown on screen, the carnage was apparent. Tanjiro, the eldest son, comes home to find his family completely massacred — except for his sister, Nezuko, who was transformed into a demon.
No one felt bad for the demons at that moment. Tanjiro had everything he loved taken from him and fans had just seen how kind, caring, and selfless Tanjiro was. He certainly did not deserve such a horrific sight.
8 Did: When Rui’s Parents Tried To Kill Him
When Muzan turns someone into a demon he often also manipulates that new demon. As they take their first steps in demonhood they are left to their own devices which leads to tragedies. Both Tamayo and Rui were victims of this. Rui killed his parents because they tried to kill him for being a demon and Tamayo killed her family in a demonic frenzy.
Rui was a tragic character, but his choices as a demon were so bad that he had to die. Still, fans can’t help but feel Rui was the victim of Muzan just as much as others were victims of Rui’s.
7 Didn’t: When Rengoku Was Killed
Warning! There are spoilers in this entry!
Another of the saddest moments in the Demon Slayer franchise came during the Infinity Train Arc. The flame hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku, died at the hands of the demon Akaza, one of the stronger of Muzan’s demon moons, after an intense fight.
Demon Slayer fans had come to love Rengoku and he even enjoyed widespread popularity as a character across the internet, but the sad truth was that he left Tanjiro to pick up the pieces.
6 Did: When The Demons Were Just Trying To Survive
The tragic truth of being a demon is that they rely on human blood to live and fight. For most of them, not eating humans is unthinkable, firstly because the impulse is unignorable, and secondly because it takes an incredibly special demon to be able to survive without ever tasting human blood. Once a demon has tasted it, there is no going back.
So, for most of these demons, eating humans is necessary for survival, though some have found less intrusive ways of obtaining their nutrition. While it is their job to find a less deadly means to get their nutrition, it is sad to see them killed for what is ostensibly necessary.
5 Didn’t: When Rui Coveted Nezuko & Tajiro’s Relationship
When Tanjiro confronted Rui, he was alone (except for Nezuko whose consciousness was not always reliable). Thankfully, Rui was not one of the strongest of the demon moons. However, he was still so strong that he almost killed Tanjiro and Nezuko. It seemed he had it out for Tanjiro and this was because of his relationship with his sister.
Rui missed having a family because of the trauma he experienced after becoming a demon and having to kill his own family. So, he took it out on Tanjiro and Nezuko — especially after Nezuko tried to defend her brother.
4 Did: When Nezuko Was In Pain
Nezuko and Tanjiro were the only survivors of the Kamado family. However, Nezuko was made a demon during that encounter. On top of all the pain Nezuko went through as a human turned demon, she was never believed by the slayers. Both she and Tanjiro had to fight tooth and nail to prove her innocence and she even had to endure being stabbed by a hashira.
Nezuko was a special demon. She did not consume human blood, but instead healed through sleeping. She was afforded special powers since she didn’t consume human blood.
3 Didn’t: When Kazumi’s Financé Was Revealed To Have Been Eaten
The reality of demons having to eat humans is sad, but the reality of humans having to be eaten is even sadder. Tanjiro experienced this first-hand when he tried to find and save a villager who was Kazumi’s fiancé. The financé, whose name was Satoko, was taken in the night by the Swamp Demon.
This was one of Tajiro’s first encounters with demons in the real world (outside of training exercises and tests to join the Slayer Corps) and it was his first real mission.
2 Did: When Tamayo Was Antagonized
Tamayo is in a precarious position as a demon. She is sought after by slayers and demons alike, as she has had a troubled past with Muzan, but is also a demon. Luckily, Tamayo has Yushiro and, at times, Tanjiro, to help her. Tamayo is a sympathetic character because she is a healer and even healed Tanjiro, who is a slayer.
On the flip side, Tamayo was also attacked by some of the demon moons sent by Muzan. Tamayo is a likable character who is constantly forced to hide.
1 Didn’t: When Muzan Was Abusive To Everyone
Muzan is considered the strongest of the demons, but he is also a terrible person despite his reasoning for doing what he does. He is cruel not only to humans, but also to other demons — and he is quick to kill both them and any slayers he crosses paths with.
Muzan is also sadistic, turning humans into demons both to bolster his forces and put them in deep moments of pain. He manipulatively convinced Rui to be a demon, and thus pulled the strings that led to Rui killing his family. He turned Nezuko into a demon for seemingly no reason other than to be a villain.
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