#csm 185

I’m countin’ on ya, pochita! ⛓️💥

This reveal is probably the craziest thing to come from this chapter. Not only is it an interesting call-back to Makima's speech back in chapter 84 (with the four possible conclussions other than death), but also raises some questions.

The birth related symbology around Chainsaw Man is undeniable: chainsaws were originally created for Symphysiotomy (the predecessor of the C-section), Hero of Hell Pochita has his umbilical cord around the neck like a rope, and the motherhood symbolisms in both Makima and Yoru. Because of this, people have speculated that Pochita is actually the Birth Devil. Plus, it would make sense thematically for the strongest devil to represent the fear of being born into this world (kinda similar to the shtick Fire Punch had going on, in a way).

However, this reveal makes things a little more complicated, as it allows new speculation points to be discussed. Humans turn into trees when they reach the culmination of thought (a process Pochita erased and is only possible in Aging's pocket reality where death doesn't exist), and chainsaws are meant to cut trees.

Is this what Barem meant with Chainsaw Man's original purpose? To bring an end to those stuck in these state? Chainsaw Man is a force of motion: he always gets up, and his chainsaws need to revolve around themselves in order to cut. Is he like this because his original purpose was also to make sure the world doesn't stagnate, granting an ending to these people who already reached their conclusion, thus providing space for new life to exist and giving motion to the world?

At first I thought Aging's world was a reference to Dante's Seventh Circle of Hell, "The Wood of the Self-Murderers". I still don't discard it, but now I'm not so sure of where is Fujimoto trying to get to with this.

But don't you wonder why Denji made Pochita hungry? I mean, does he need to be especially hungry to eat and regenerate in this state?

Hunger bound Pochita and Denji together, and as they ran, symbolically, Denji drew closer to Pochita as if to reach him.

Starving to death, escaping with human flesh - that was how they met.

And the best way for them to reconnect

The only one who shares your dreams, the only one who can save you when your heart is too heavy

It's your body

It's you

become who you are again, man and instrument, chainsaw man

Which means those trees are basically a physical manifestation of our thoughts.

Standing here