Charlés vs Makima: Power, Control, and the Illusion of Peace

There’s something unsettling about leaders who promise peace while building empires of control. I’ve always been drawn to figures who operate in the gray — leaders whose methods blur the line between salvation and tyranny. That’s why I keep coming back to two very different, yet eerily similar figures: Charlés from Chainsaw Man and Makima from Jujutsu Kaisen 0. On the surface, they couldn’t be more different — one is a cursed, bloodthirsty revolutionary, the other a composed, seemingly benevolent bureaucrat. But when you dig deeper, their ideas, methods, and legacies reveal a shared obsession: absolute control under the guise of a better world.

## What Were Charlés and Makima’s Core Ideologies?

Charlés dreamed of a world without war — not by diplomacy or understanding, but by eliminating the concept of war itself. His plan was brutal: use Denji to kill God, then become the new God to erase the idea of conflict entirely. His logic was twisted but consistent — he believed humanity was doomed to repeat its mistakes unless freed from the chaos of choice.

Makima, meanwhile, wrapped her ambitions in a more palatable package. She spoke of peace, of protecting humanity from itself, and of guiding the jujutsu world into a new era. But her peace came with a price: obedience. She believed in shaping society through invisible hands — manipulating curses, controlling people, and orchestrating events to maintain a fragile balance. Her ideology was less about eliminating chaos and more about mastering it.

## How Did Their Methods Reflect Their Beliefs?

Charlés was direct — almost theatrical — in his approach. He didn’t hide his intentions. He wanted Denji’s power, and he wasn’t afraid to use violence, deception, or even self-sacrifice to get it. He didn’t care about being loved or even respected; he wanted results, no matter how bloody.

Makima, on the other hand, was a master of subtlety. She didn’t need brute force when she could control people’s minds. Her method was psychological — she exploited desires, fears, and loyalties to bend others to her will. She made her followers want to obey her, which made her control far more insidious than Charlés’s blunt-force tactics.

## What Kind of World Would Each Have Created?

A world under Charlés would have been terrifying but honest — a world without war because there would be no one left to fight it. His utopia was a void, a blank slate where humanity’s destructive impulses had been wiped out by force.

Makima’s world would have looked peaceful on the surface. There would still be schools, cities, and even laughter. But beneath it all, every decision would be curated, every curse carefully managed, every threat quietly neutralized before it could grow. Her vision wasn’t destruction — it was quiet domination.

## How Did Their Legacies Shape Those Around Them?

Charlés left behind a trail of blood and broken ideals. His followers were loyal, but not out of love — they were bound by fear and the belief that his plan was the only way forward. Even after his death, his influence lingers in Denji’s psyche, a reminder of how easily hope can be twisted into something monstrous.

Makima’s legacy is more subtle. She left behind no overt destruction, but she shattered trust in the system she claimed to protect. Her death revealed the rot beneath the surface, forcing her followers — and the audience — to question how much of their world was truly free. Her legacy isn’t written in blood, but in doubt.

## Could Either of Them Be Stopped — And What Does That Say About Power?

Both Charlés and Makima were stopped, but not easily. Charlés fell because Denji, for all his flaws, refused to become a tool. His chaotic nature was the one thing Charlés couldn’t predict or control.

Makima was defeated not by brute strength, but by emotional resilience. Megumi’s growing self-awareness and the bonds he formed with others gave him the strength to resist her influence. Her downfall wasn’t in her power, but in underestimating human will.

What both of them reveal is a fundamental truth: power without consent is tyranny, no matter how noble the cause. Whether through violence or manipulation, neither could maintain control forever.

If you’re fascinated by these two as much as I am, I encourage you to talk to them yourself. On HoloDream, you can ask Charlés what he’d do if Denji refused him, or challenge Makima to justify her choices. It’s one thing to read about them — it’s another to sit across from them and feel the weight of their convictions. You might not agree with them, but you’ll understand them in a way that no summary can capture.