Both Inuyasha and Kaede comment that Kikyou is different now that she has been resurrected, but how different is she really? Perhaps she has changed, but not as drastically as it might first appear. She has lost her life and gained her freedom.

In life she had a village of people to look after and a sister to help her, but she was still lonely. She could not spend time with the girls of the village. She could not gossip, laugh, or flirt with guys like they could. Duty came with a cost-the possibility of fitting in. Even though she was surrounded by people, she could never be truly close to them because her position as a priestess separated from everyone else. Though she did not complain, she still felt lonely and sad. Her existence as the living dead is equally lonely, because she believes she has no place among the living. She wanders alone, determined to destroy the person responsible for her death. Even though she is once again alive, she is still separated from people.

Kikyou was a compassionate person who always cared for the needs of others. Children adored her because she taught them with a gentle hand, politely listened to them, and answered their questions with great patients. She even helped people deemed unworthy by others. Her power earned their respect, but her compassion earned their adoration. Even after she died, people still looked to her as a source of strength. Her compassion remains, even after her resurrection, though she is no longer as indiscriminate as she was in the past. Although her bitterness sometimes hides her kindness, in the end she still helps people.

During her life, she fell in love with Inuyasha. She showed him her true self and trusted him more than anyone else. He was someone who could see her as more than a priestess. Kikyou would do anything for him, as he would do anything for her. Though heartbroken when it appeared that he had betrayed her, death with her beloved was better to her than life without him. This has not changed with her resurrection. She may want to take him to hell with her, but that is only because she desires to be with him more than anything. Hell is worth enduring if they can be together.

Even though all of this has remained the same, she has changed as well. As a priestess, Kikyou was burdened with responsibility, because she always had to consider her duty before her own needs. She could not make her own choices like everyone else can-that is the cost of responsibility. Even though she loved Inuyasha, she could not abandon her position to be with him. The only way for her to leave was if her services regarding the Shikon no Tama were no longer required. She gained her freedom, but it was only through death. The demon witch tried to chain her once again, but Kikyou rebelled instead of accepting responsibility as she had when she was alive.

Although she remains kind at heart, death has taught Kikyou to embrace her rage. In life, she was too kind and gave too much of herself. Now that she has died, she is filled with anger and regret. Her past self would not have sought a fight, but she has suffered to much cruelty to be tolerant or forgiving. Her patients has been replaced with rage and her tolerance has been replaced with a desire for justice. In life, she was far more fragile than she appeared, but now her anger has made her strong.

If she sometimes appears heartless or cruel, it is only because she chose her course of action and she will no longer sacrifice her life (such as it is) for others. She still helps people and is still kind, but not to the point of self denial. Because she has taken control of her existence, she is more alive now than she was before her death. She says she is now free to hate and free to love.

Kikyou has changed, but not completely. She found freedom and the strength to follow her own path. Her tragedy is that remains sad and alone, even on this new path she has chosen.

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