Death Note: The Sinister Manipulation Behind Light's Use of Misa

Highlights

Death Note's Light Yagami is a criminal mastermind with a Robin Hood mentality, using the Death Note to kill criminals for the greater good.

Misa Amane is a devoted supporter of Kira, playing a crucial role in Light's scheme to kill L and safeguard his true identity. With the power of the Shinigami Eyes at her disposal, Misa possesses the remarkable capability to perceive the lifespan and identities of individuals, rendering her an invaluable advantage in Light's mission.

Light Yagami from Death Note is widely regarded as one of anime's most prominent antiheroes. With his exceptional intelligence and unwavering composure in the face of adversity, Light seamlessly transforms into a criminal mastermind known as "Kira". His conviction to use the Death Note to murder criminals, following a Robin Hood-like mentality, has earned him a devoted global following.

To his supporters, Light is revered as a god who champions the fight against crime. However, there is one particular follower of Kira who possesses more knowledge than meets the eye and is even known as the Second Kira. Misa Amane, the individual in question, conveniently enters Light's life and proves to be a valuable asset to him.

What is Death Note About?

Who is Misa Amane?

In the captivating realm of this anime and manga, a restless prodigy named Light Yagami stumbles upon a peculiar black-covered book titled "Death Note". This enigmatic notebook, adorned with a set of intriguing regulations, is the possession of Ryuk, a whimsical death god or shinigami, who carelessly discarded it onto Earth due to his sheer boredom. Ordinarily, shinigamis employ Death Notes to terminate human lives by inscribing their names within the pages. However, when these potent artifacts fall into the hands of mortals like Light, the consequences turn perilous. Inspired by his newfound power, Light, concealed under the alias "Kira", utilizes the book to eliminate criminals, relentlessly striving to construct a utopian society. Meanwhile, an astute detective known simply as L embarks on a relentless pursuit to unveil the elusive serial killer capable of executing individuals from a distance. The enthralling chase between Light and L, characterized by their adroit manipulation of not only the Death Note but also each other, solidifies this anime and manga as an absolute masterpiece.

Kira's controversial reputation rapidly spreads worldwide, with some hailing him as a vigilante hero while others condemn him as a cold-blooded killer. Irrespective of his unorthodox tactics, Kira's mere existence instills immense fear in criminals, leading to a significant decline in global crime rates. He garners a fervent following, worshipped like a deity, all drawn to his unique notion of justice. Among these devoted followers is Misa Amane, an impressionable young woman, who becomes enraptured by Kira's actions after he avenges her family's murder by eliminating the culprit. When Misa acquires her own Death Note and makes the fateful deal to obtain the Shinigami Eyes, she deliberately seeks out Kira to express her indebtedness. Equipped with her newfound abilities, Misa successfully identifies Light as Kira and willingly offers her assistance, even revealing the true identity of L.

Misa's Shinigami Eyes

Misa possesses the Shinigami Eyes, enabling her to perceive the life span and names of all individuals she encounters. Learning this, Light utilizes Misa as a crucial element in his plot to eliminate L and divert attention from himself as the Kira suspect.

Motivated to uncover Kira's true identity, Misa beseeches Rem, the shinigami who possesses her Death Note, to grant her the Eyes. Upon locating Kira, she willingly offers herself to him, including the possibility of killing L. Exploiting her newfound power, Light manipulates Misa to carry out this very act. Consequently, she relinquishes Rem's Death Note and suffers from memory loss, only to stumble upon Ryuk's Death Note, deliberately planted by Light in the forest for her to discover.

Light's Plan to Halve Misa's Life & Halve It Again

After obtaining Rem's Death Note, Misa willingly bargained with the Shinigami and accepted the terms of the Eye deal, knowing that it would cost her half of her remaining lifespan. However, her loyalty towards Kira led her to take another drastic step when she acquired Ryuk's Death Note at Light's direction.

Committed to advancing Light's cause, Misa decided to undergo the Shinigami Eye Deal once again, this time with Ryuk. It is important to note that she had already sacrificed half of her lifespan through her previous deal with Rem. As a result, Misa's life has now been reduced to a mere quarter, although Light views this consequence as insignificant. To him, Misa is a manipulable player in his game, possessing considerable power yet devoid of any questions. Observably, Light has leveraged this power over her, leading to the considerable shortening of her lifespan.

Misa's desire to be Light's girlfriend

Misa, with her Shinigami Eyes, sees that Light possesses a Death Note, as his life span is concealed from her. She concludes that he is Kira and instantly develops feelings for him. Upon visiting his home, Misa boldly expresses her desire to become his girlfriend. Aware of her prior involvement in creating tapes impersonating Kira and leaking them to the public, Light inquires about her partner's whereabouts, unveiling her true intentions. Misa discloses that she is willing to eliminate her partner if it proves her loyalty to him. Though Light intends to manipulate her for his own benefit, Misa remains unfazed. Driven by her admiration for him, she assures Light that she doesn't mind being used and only wishes to assist him in his cause as Kira. These words resonate with Light, filling him with delight.

Light Considers Betraying Misa

Light, the character motivated by justice, is willing to commit heinous acts, even considering killing his most loyal follower, Misa. It is ironic that in his mission to eliminate the evil individuals from the world, he contemplates harming someone who is close to him. Misa, a talkative and occasionally bothersome young lady, unintentionally prompts Light to contemplate her death.

However, Rem manages to persuade Light against killing Misa. Even though Misa willingly supports Light in his pursuit of a perfect world, she is regarded as expendable in his eyes, despite her unwavering devotion.