Denji became the titular Chainsaw Man after he entered into a contract with Pochita, the Chainsaw Devil. He was eventually recruited under Makima’s special division along with Power and Aki to annihilate devils of all kinds. Spoiler Warning: There are spoilers for the Chainsaw Man manga below.
What’s Up With the Door in Chainsaw Man?
The door represents an intriguing plot point in Chainsaw Man for Denji. It first appears at the start of the series and continues throughout Chainsaw Man Part 1. Understandably, a lot of manga readers wonder what is going on with the strange door that Denji keeps seeing in his dreams. In real life, doors in dreams represent a portal, serving as an entrance or exit depending on the individual’s preference. Metaphorically, doors can represent either a dead end or a new beginning that has a direct impact on one’s life. In Denji’s case, the door in front of him represents imprisonment caused by his past memories of violence, trauma, and abuse. Most importantly, if Denji cannot get past that door, he will be unable to move on and accept who he truly is. RELATED: Does Denji Ever Touch Boobs in Chainsaw Man?
What Is Behind the Door?
In Chainsaw Man, Denji’s worst childhood secret is hidden behind the door. It reveals the truth about his past and how he became an orphan. He went rogue before joining Power and Aki as a devil hunter to settle his father’s debts with the yakuza. When his father died, Denji was said to be saddled with a massive debt of 38,040,000 yen. Furthermore, Denji was forced to work as a civilian devil hunter to repay his father’s debt because the job pays at least 300,000 yen per devil. However, it is not enough for him to continue living a decent life. To pay off his debt, Denji had to sell his kidney for 1.2 million yen, one of his balls for 100,000 yen, and his right eye for 300 yen. Unfortunately, the yakuza Denji was working for only saw him as a mutt who will do whatever he is told. They also reduced Denji’s fee below the minimum because of his loan, interest, payments, and commission referrals. As a result, Denji was forced to continue living in the slums, eating only one slice of bread per day. He’s become so impoverished that he can’t afford to buy jam for his bread. Worse, he lacks the funds to pay for dates. This way of life influenced him over time. So, when Denji was given a chance to change his life, he took it immediately without giving it any second thought. READ MORE: Is Chainsaw Man on Netflix? Chainsaw Man Netflix Release Date
Will Denji Ever Open the Door?
In Chainsaw Man, Denji opened the door after Makima persuaded him to do so. The door leads Denji to his unwanted memories; those he has kept hidden for so long in order to continue living. It was revealed that Denji’s father died not because he took his own life, but because he was murdered. His father had become a drunk and an alcoholic who was on the verge of murdering Denji, leaving Denji with no choice but to kill his father in self-defense. As a result, the yakuza covered up his father’s death as a suicide for their personal gain. They wouldn’t have been able to collect the debt of Denji’s father if his death hadn’t been ruled a suicide. Makima also contributed to Denji’s guilt by including the deaths of Aki and Power on the list. After all, it was Denji who killed Aki. Not to mention that Denji opened the door for Power, which cost Power her life in Makima’s hands. Throughout his life, Denji had locked the door so tight that he had forgotten what was real and what was not. To keep on living, Denji pushed his memories behind the door in Chainsaw Man. Discover more of our insights and the latest Chainsaw Man anime news by following us on Twitter @epicstreamanime. READ NEXT: Where to Start Reading Chainsaw Man After the Anime
