In universe, she says demons behave like animals and are made out of magic. It could be she is forcing an extinction of a different species whose only purpose is preying on humans
It could also be that I am falling for elf propaganda but I can’t talk to the demons to know their opinion
People: “We’re tired of all these ‘misunderstood villains’ we want unapologetically evil for the sake of evil.”
Frieren: “Okay here’s monsters that learned to imitate human language and emotion solely to manipulate and kill humans.”
The same people: “No! You’re wrong! They’re just misunderstood and you’re doing a genocide!”
Yeah, any media that depicts something human like being an irredeemable monster that the only solution is destruction is inherently tricky because dehumanizing is pretty much always the first step in mass atrocities irl. But my God I’ve seen so many people tie themselves in knots trying to give the benefit of the doubt to demons in Frieren.
Demons in Frieren were shown to be irredeemable monsters so many times, people arguing they aren’t are idiots. There’s no benefit of the doubt to be given to them.
It’s hilarious too since one of the plotlines in the damn story is “Nobody listened to Frieren when she said monsters are only out to manipulate you with your words again” so it’s crazy to miss the fact that the story very strongly proves monsters are NOT intended to be at all likable or deserving of empathy.
I appreciate the point you are making, but I strongly disagree with it. Kanehito has been very clear, Demons may have free will and feel emotions, but so too does a leopard in the jungle. You might be able to tame them, you might even be able to coexist with them for a time, but don’t think for even a moment that either wouldn’t immediately eat your face if given the opportunity.
The most I have seen in the anime of emotions is surprise and fear of death for Aura. I don’t think this makes them any more human, as other commenter said, they are lime leopards and unless you are willing to breed them for domestication, if that is even possible, there is no way to make them harmless
In universe, she says demons behave like animals and are made out of magic. It could be she is forcing an extinction of a different species whose only purpose is preying on humans
It could also be that I am falling for elf propaganda but I can’t talk to the demons to know their opinion
You cant directly talk to them, but if you can hide your mana well enough, you can hear their monolog about how evil their species is
Also, werent elfs killed on sight by them, following their kings orders?
People: “We’re tired of all these ‘misunderstood villains’ we want unapologetically evil for the sake of evil.”
Frieren: “Okay here’s monsters that learned to imitate human language and emotion solely to manipulate and kill humans.”
The same people: “No! You’re wrong! They’re just misunderstood and you’re doing a genocide!”
Yeah, any media that depicts something human like being an irredeemable monster that the only solution is destruction is inherently tricky because dehumanizing is pretty much always the first step in mass atrocities irl. But my God I’ve seen so many people tie themselves in knots trying to give the benefit of the doubt to demons in Frieren.
Demons in Frieren were shown to be irredeemable monsters so many times, people arguing they aren’t are idiots. There’s no benefit of the doubt to be given to them.
It’s hilarious too since one of the plotlines in the damn story is “Nobody listened to Frieren when she said monsters are only out to manipulate you with your words again” so it’s crazy to miss the fact that the story very strongly proves monsters are NOT intended to be at all likable or deserving of empathy.
I think that either the writer is stupid, writing clear contradictions into the manga, or he’s smart and think that demons are more complex.
If their only purpose is to kill humans why do they have free will? Why do they have emotions and feel fear and sadness?
I appreciate the point you are making, but I strongly disagree with it. Kanehito has been very clear, Demons may have free will and feel emotions, but so too does a leopard in the jungle. You might be able to tame them, you might even be able to coexist with them for a time, but don’t think for even a moment that either wouldn’t immediately eat your face if given the opportunity.
They display fear and sadness only as a means to manipulate and kill humans.
The most I have seen in the anime of emotions is surprise and fear of death for Aura. I don’t think this makes them any more human, as other commenter said, they are lime leopards and unless you are willing to breed them for domestication, if that is even possible, there is no way to make them harmless