Moral Values Reflected in the Protagonist’s Struggle in Koyoharu Gotouge’s Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba

Abstract

This study deals with an analysis of moral values reflected in Koyoharu Gotouge's Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba. The primary objective of this research is to explore the types of moral values demonstrated by the protagonist, Tanjiro Kamado, during his journey. This study uses the theory of moral value proposed by Sjarkawi and the theory of Thomas Lickona to classify the types of moral value. By applying a descriptive qualitative method proposed by Sukmadinata, the study focuses on determining the values of the independent variable. The method applied is to describe the types of moral value through the story of the manga, utilizing dialogue and narrative excerpts as the primary data. The results of this study show that the protagonist's struggle in this manga chooses to maintain several points of moral values in his life, such as moral feeling, moral knowing, and moral action. Specifically, the findings reveal that Tanjiro exhibits moral knowing through his deep sense of responsibility and justice toward his sister, Nezuko. Furthermore, his moral feeling is strongly reflected in his altruism, love, and loyalty, while his moral actions are evident in his courage, cooperation with allies, and an unwavering never-give-up attitude against demons. Ultimately, these findings highlight that the protagonist's moral struggles not only drive the narrative forward but also serve as a reflection of profound ethical values that can be learned and applied in real life.