Denji: Denji's recent breakdown in Chainsaw Man chapter 206 was not random, and his past experiences prove it

Chainsaw Man chapter 206 brought Denji face to face with the harsh reality of his actions. The very pain and trauma that he boxed himself in was from what he had unintentionally inflicted on someone else. This realization began when the Fire Devil revealed themself and presented the truth about their origins and deeds so far in the story.

Now this was further emphasized by the Falling Devil through her ability to make her target "fall" mentally. In this case, it was the orange-haired teen being compelled to realize what he had done. But more intriguingly, Denji's breakdown wasn't only due to what he had just learned, but it was also the result of what he had experienced so far.

Disclaimer: This article reflects the writer's opinion.

Chainsaw Man: Denji’s breakdown was built on all he has endured

Expand Tweet

Denji in Chainsaw Man seems to be viewing himself in a different light currently. The Fire Devil's words coupled with Falling's mental attack have presented a new dilemma before the boy: morality, or a lack of it. To begin with, the pair of brothers saw Chainsaw Man as a hero, the one battling the horder of Hell, i.e., they put him on a pedestal. Inspired by his actions, they began to emulate and save others.

However, when Denji aka "The Hero" allowed one of them die to save a cat, this view got distorted. Chainsaw Man became just another Devil who happened to hunt his own. Moreover, Denji's indifference and inability to recognize the Fire Devil's host added insult to injury. This entire incident is now occuring to Denji as him being akin to Makima or Barem.

Makima, once the source of Denji's fascination, became his worst nightmare. Similarly, the Hero of Hell became fuel for Fakesaw Man "justice" to save the world from pain. To add, the Denji-Pochita and Fire Devil-Brothers parallels are astounding and intentional. So, in this matter, Denji is akin to Makima or Barem in their capacities to be indifferent to the collateral damage of their actions.

True, the Aging Devil Arc taught Denji now to dwell on the uncontrollable. But as mentioned, the present situation brings out something else in him. Until now, he was only focused on fighting his foe regardless of the damage around him.

But looking at the flip side, Denji is in fact unlike Makima or Barem. The latter pair was highly manipulative and cunning, not concerned about anything but their ultimate respective goals. This led to use those around them like tools, calling upon them when necessary and then tossing them aside once their purpose was served.

The suffering Denji went through was different entirely. He was the target of the mentioned manipulation, unware of it himself. Each of them was delibrate in their actions to toy with the boy. But here, Denji wasn't intending on causing the siblings pain. He gave what he thought was best for the situation. Granted, he could have given priority to the civilians, but he cannot save everyone.

All things considered, Denji himself is a survivor. But he too views Chainsaw Man as a Hero. At the time, the onus was on besting the Cockroach Devil instead of jumping aisde to aid civilians. He made a call and there was a casualty, which does not translate to Denji not wishing to save them or caring less. The present events are results of this decision, an eye-opening lesson on responsibility.

In Conclusion

Chainsaw Man chapter 206 showcasing Denji breaking down was less a weak moment and more of a long-overdue reckoning. Thus far, Denji has survived on basic instinct and blocked out his trauma behind superficial desires and raw action. However, triggered by the Fire Devil and Falling's attack, he is compelled to confront the consequences of his decisions and has cracked.

This is now staggering to the boy as, on the inside, he may be viewing himself as no different from those who once exploited him. The idea draws haunting paralles between Denji, and Makima and Barem, putting forth that heroism that can fall into cruelty without accountability. Yet, Denji wasn't ever malicious nor manipulative. He is simply lost and attempting to subsist.

Chapter 206 questions the cost of heroism in a world where even saving others comes with a loss elsewhere, a potentially haunting one.

Related links:

About the author

Casey has been an anime writer at Sportskeeda since almost a year. Being drawn into the world of animanga after watching the Dragon Ball series almost a decade ago, Casey's interest in the genre, along with his love of crafting plot theories influenced his writerly endeavors. Presently pursuing a Master's degree in International Business, Casey worked for Uneake and FootballExpress for 1.3 years before joining Sportskeeda.

Casey's writings reflect his commitment to producing the most reliable content, evidenced by his flair for in-depth reporting. He places a high value on meticulous research and complete factual accuracy.

Although it was legendary Akira Toriyama’s magnum opus that influenced his love of animanga, Casey soon branched out and explored other titles. The unique ways in which mangakas express ideas, as well as their far-reaching effects, have inspired Casey in his creative pursuits.

When not busy writing, Casey enjoys working out, listening to music, strumming the guitar, and playing football.

Know More

Edited by Casey Mendez