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Deku helped turn a gentle criminal into a great hero Deku's philosophy could prevent the rise of another All for one
In the final battle between Deku and Shigaraki IN My Hero AcademiaIzuku perfectly embodies his philosophy of showing kindness to villains. Despite the terrible crimes Tenko committed, Midoriya still risked his life to end the Villain's intense hatred for Heroes.
While this may be the most iconic example of Deku helping to reform a bad guy, a former criminal is a prime example of how effective the young man can be. The salvation of Gentle Criminal, one of the first criminals Midoriya helps, proves that Deku's philosophy is that showing kindness and understanding to criminals can help them improve.
Deku helped turn a gentle criminal into a great hero
Izuku sees the villain as more than just a criminal
As a young man, Gentle Criminal dreamed of becoming a hero who would be remembered for his bravery and skill. Despite his efforts, he often got poor grades in school, had mediocre results in training, and even failed the Provisional Licensing Exam four times. His dream was destroyed the day he attempted to use his Elastic Quirk, which turns anything he touches into a stretchable substance, to save a man. His rescue, though brave, ended with the victim being severely injured and preventing a Pro-Hero from rescuing them. Gentle was disowned and abandoned by his family.
His fear of being forgotten push him to become a criminal and an internet influencer who films his robberies to gain followers. Deku is the one who finally ends his short but successful criminal career in an incredible fight. He is also the first person in decades to treat Danjuro with respect and kindness. Izuku understands the pain of being told he isn't good enough to be a hero and wants to help Gentle overcome that pain. When their battle is over, Danjuro surrenders, to pay for his crimes and save his lover, La Brava.
However, when Shigaraki and All For One attempt to take over Japan, Gentle Criminal has returned gloriously as a hero.was the one who stopped UA High from falling. Deku's kindness and words of encouragement motivated Danjuro to once again try and become a better person, leaving his life of crime behind for good. By looking beyond the terrible actions Gentle had committed and letting him know that he could become better, Izuku successfully rehabilitated him. In chapter #426, Danjuro was released from prison, and the police officer even thanked him for his contributions in fighting the bad guys.
Deku's Philosophy Can Stop Another's Rise All for One
By helping and understanding the villains, heroic society can prevent another tragedy.
Most of the members of the League of Villains were once ordinary civilians who were misjudged or made serious mistakes in their lives. Toga and Twice are perfect examples of this phenomenon. Toga was branded a villain after her parents refused to help her control her blood-drinking urges, forcing her to attack animals and even her classmates. Twice, on the other hand, had a similar life to Gentle, once a kind man who became a villain after losing everything.
If either of them gets help before it's too late, they can also be resurrected. While it's not explicitly stated, the series heavily implies that many other villains have similar origin stories, such as Toga, Twice, and Gentle. At some point in the past, The Heroes' Guild Decides to Label All Criminals as Incorrigible and stop trying to help them. By refusing to help them, the bad guys are not only forced to continue their illegal activities to survive, but their hatred towards society is also increased.
Gentle Criminal is living proof that Hero Society needs to change the way it treats criminals.
The fact that Gentle turned his life around and became a great hero proves that Deku's philosophy is superior and better for society as a whole. If even a small portion of the League of Villains had received proper support and understanding, the final battle against All For One's forces would not have been so devastating. Gentle Criminal is living proof that the Hero Society needs to change the way it treats criminals. By addressing the causes that make people become villains, another entity like All For One could be prevented from rising to power.
Izuku Midoriya is definitely one of the most heroic and kind characters in My Hero Academia franchise. His methods of helping and preventing criminals from reoffending should be adopted by other public officials. If this philosophy is successfully implemented, many potential villains could become great heroes.