Nezuko is one of Demon Slayer’s most popular characters, adored by fans for her cuteness. However, despite being so renowned, Nezuko rarely ever speaks. Sure, it could simply be that Nezuko has a muzzle and it makes for a unique and cute character trait, what if it goes deeper?
It is an interesting decision by Demon Slayer's author Koyoharu Gotouge to have a mute main character and one fan theory suggests that it may have had far more meaning than most fans could have noticed on the surface.
Why Nezuko Doesn't Speak
Demon Slayer opens with the tragic massacre of Tanjiro’s entire family. As grief and horror overtake Tanjiro, he manages to find his sister, Nezuko, who is still alive. While Tanjiro is desperately trying to save his sister, she attacks him revealing that she has been transformed into a demon. Tajiro is saved by the demon-slayer Giyu, but stops him from killing Nezuko, promising that he will watch over her and ensure she will not kill any humans. Giyu doubts Tanjiro, but after Nezuko protects her brother he knocks them out and bestows Nezuko with her iconic muzzle.
In the world of Demon Slayer, demons live off eating humans, leading to the massive slaughter of innocent lives. The point of putting a muzzle on Nezuko is to prevent her from attacking and subsequently eating humans. However, it comes with the side effect of severely limiting her ability to speak. This makes Nezuko's primary form of communication grunts and gestures, rarely ever speaking. It’s an iconic part of Nezuko’s character and is what makes her so cute and a fan favorite.
Demon Slayer's Connection To Buddhism
According to a popular fan theory, there is a deeper reason as to why Nezuko does not speak in the show. The theory stems from the fact that Demon Slayer draws a ton of inspiration from Buddhism. While there is already a ton of work connecting dots between Demon Slayer and Buddhism, this theory explains why Nezuko does not speak by drawing a connection to Buddhist monks.
For some background, Buddhist monks are known for their ascetic lifestyle, training themselves to abandon worldly pleasures and desires. This is done through extremely long periods of meditation, suppressing hunger, and vows of silence. For Nezuko, she vows to not consume humans, committing to a permanent fast. For the first two years in the show, Nezuko is in a deep slumber to help suppress the desire for human flesh, very much similar to the extended meditation monks undergo. Most importantly, Nezuko upholds a vow of silence by remaining mute throughout the series.
The muzzle serves as a representation of Buddhist practices. First, it gags Nezuko, preventing her from speaking like a Buddhist monk's vow of silence, but it also is there to suppress her desire to eat humans. Through a Buddhist lens, Nezuko's muzzle is the symbol of a Buddhist monk.
The Meaning Behind Nezuko's Silence
According to the fan theory, the Buddhist-like endurance that Nezuko undergoes is representative of her growth in the show. Tanjiro physically trains his body to be able to overpower the demons that prey on innocent people, and defeat the king demon, Muzan. On the flip side, Nezuko trains her mind and spirit to be able to resist the temptations that come with the curse of being a demon, also caused by Muzan. It is a reflection of the strong bond and willpower the two siblings share.
Interestingly enough, during Demon Slayer's Entertainment District Arc, Nezuko powers up into her awakened form, breaking her muzzle in the process. While strong enough to hold her own against Daki, she nearly consumes a human in the process. Luckily, Tanjiro restrains her until she calms down and then falls asleep, reverting to her previous form. The loss of Nezuko's muzzle is symbolic of her abandoning the monk-like restraint she typically upholds.
How It Fits In The Demon Slayer Universe
This theory also helps explain why Nezuko was so powerful in the Entertainment District Arc, standing toe to toe with Daki. For demons, eating humans is directly correlated to their strength. However, because Nezuko has never eaten a human, the reason why she is so powerful is a mystery. According to the theory, it’s likely the result of Nezuko's constant spiritual and mental training, granting her strength in other ways besides raw power.
The connection made between Nezuko and Buddhist monks explains why she is different from other Demons. Typically, a demon is infected with Muzan’s blood and falls under his control, developing an instinct to consume humans. One of the sole exceptions to this is Nezuko. Her kindness and affinity to helping humans instead of eating them go against the very nature of demons in Demon Slayer. As the allegories to Buddhism would suggest, these differences Nezuko possesses are likely the result of her hardened spirit.
Demon Slayer is not shy about referencing Buddhism, so there is a good chance that this fan theory may end up being correct. However, it will depend on how the story progresses and what is in store for Nezuko. With the Swordsman Village Arc already announced, we may see even more development for Nezuko that may support this theory.
Source: Reddit/DoctuhD