Maturity of Goku

ulisa · Post by **ulisa** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 7:42 am

This topic has been a very involved topic for me and my friend who also loves Dragonball Z. As you follow the series from Dragonball to Dragonball Z and even GT, I love the maturity and development of all the characters but mainly Goku.

In my opinion I think he changed a lot from the end of Dragonball to the beginning of Dragonball Z. I saw a lot of aging both physically and mentally throughout Dragonball Z but I think the most maturity in the least amount of time was from the finale of Dragonball to the opening of Dragonball Z.

The question between my friend and I has always been: why? I see two types of maturity: as a warrior and as a person. We both are in agreement for the most part on that. The two battles I really think that defined his character were the battles with King Piccolo and in Dragonball Z, the battle with Freeza.

The battle with King Piccolo really opened his eyes I believe. Here was an enemy that was probably the most ruthless enemy he had yet to encounter. It was the first opponent to take things from him that he greatly treasured (Kuririn, Roshi, etc.) That battle destroyed a lot of Goku's innocence although not entirely as he still managed to keep that kind heart. He still kept a lot of that forgiving nature although after that battle, it wasn't as apparent. As a person, he got the eye opening most teenagers get: the realization that they aren't invincible. He really had to struggle and work for that victory.

Despite this though, I still see two entirely different people at the end of Dragonball and the first of Z. Above all else, experiences in battles and elsewhere, I believe parenthood was the real maturing factor for Goku.

While Goku dedicated himself to defending his friends, when he received Gohan here was someone he had helped create, here was someone entirely dependent on him for every single one of his needs. Goku had already developed a strong bond with the boy as seen by the way Gohan clung to him when we first met him. Seemed to me that he called for Goku more right from the start, even before he was introduced to martial arts but that might just be me.

That aside, Goku seems to take on even more of a passion after he has a family. I believe Master Roshi stated it as something along the lines of him having gotten even stronger, not weaker, now that he had a family. That makes sense. When before he would train only to get stronger, in a sense for himself, he now has someone close to his heart to protect, even closer than any of his friends have ever gotten.

Overall, I think parenthood gave Goku a sense of purpose, a sense of responsibility, and overall a passion that everything else had failed to fill.

Anyone else noticed this kind of stuff or is this just me?

Ulisa:)

Leotaku · Post by **Leotaku** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 9:23 am

Well, I don't really have anything to add to it ( I'm not good at these types of discussions

), but I like your thoughts and view on this topic; I enjoyed reading this.

Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy for some reason.

Slickmasterfunk · Post by **Slickmasterfunk** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 12:16 pm

What I always thought was interesting is towards the beginning of Dragon Ball, Goku wasn't as forgiving. In Muscle Tower he was about to kill General White until #8 told him he would be just as bad as the General if he did. It was only after the General shot Goku point-blank that #8 lost his temper enough to knock him into next week (literally). I think that one moment changed Goku a lot and it showed even years later when he gave Freeza his energy and another chance on Namek.

Mr. Announcer · Post by **Mr. Announcer** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 3:59 pm

Yeah, I would agree with you pretty much. We touched on this in the other topic about Gokuh killing his grandfather. He definitely matured a lot in his views about fighting and later on we see that he tends to give out warnings before beating anyone up (even if they never take him seriously). He seemed a lot more patient with others and willing to find nonviolent solutions, at least until the cell saga.... Being a parent and husband could have contributed to that increased patience, especially since he had to get used to not having everything his way and not being able to do everything alone as he did in Dragonball. We see in Z that he seeks the help of others much more often.

ulisa · Post by **ulisa** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 9:59 pm

I think even the little details of things can sometimes be attributed to the way his life changed after getting married. good example of this, I think is his task of catching Bubbles on Kaio-sama's planet. Kaio-sama seemed shocked that it took Goku such a short amount of time to do it.

I usually joke with my friends that Goku caught him in such a short amount of time because he's used to chasing a toddler! Handling a baby and then a toddler probably gave Goku more training than years of other martial arts would have done...

Ulisa:)

Panda · Post by **Panda** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 11:56 pm

Monkeys and Toddlers are the same thing...

As I mentioned in the sister thread, I haven't seen a great deal of Dragonball. So any speculations I have will be based on the beginning up into the part where he meets the Indian child.

I believe Goku's liveingstyle may have changed his views on life and his general attitude towards people. Up until age 12 form however old he may have been during his Grandfathers death, he lived alone and fought for life. He wasn't forgiving because the wild wasn't forgiving. If you want to eat you must kill a fish (or a plant but that's not the point...) and thus this was Goku's second-main influencing factor as a child (next to his Grandfather).

When Goku met Bulma he learned to adapt to the rivaling personalities of others. Bu;ma and Goku's personalities, at the time, were polar opposites that really brung out an entirely new side of Goku, and as time went by and he met new people he naturally changed as he was constantly influenced by someone other than his deceased Grandfather and wild animals. (Kamesennin, Chichi, Kami, etc.)

Once Goku married and settled down to eventually have Gohan I believe he gained more peace-of-mind. Knowing that the world wasn't going to stop revolving if he sat down for one minute to enjoy life. I believe that for the first time in Goku's life their was someone willing to take care of him (Chichi) and assure him that their was something to stay put for. (Gohan)

Duo · Post by **Duo** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 2:33 am

From the begining until the end of the All Seeing Crone's Tournament, Goku didn't change much as a person, but you can see all the things that happened to him (Gathering the Dragonballs, training with Kame'Sen-nin, the 21th Tenka'ichi Budokai, destroying the RRA, and seeing Grandpa.) reflect in him a lot in the 22nd Tenka'ichi Budokai. He still has a sense of humor and freedom, but kind of gives off a whole new...aura. While some may say he didn't seem to change much (height wise, they're right) he really did change a lot. That development phase, I feel, is underrated.

And when he awoke from having drank the "Super Water of the Gods" he underwent yet another change in who he was...and yet still showed his child side when he broke into tears having finished Daimao off. He contrasted and reflected both his adult and child self in that period of time, I feel.

(Skips a ton)

I also like his development in the Cell Saga, believe it or not. He see's past his own desire to be the strongest and focuses on his son's hidden abilities. That, from the very begining, was his intention in the Room of Spirit and Time. He felt very...mature in that time. A lot of Fillers (sorry to bring this up) felt like they took away from this effect, but it was still cool how he was looking to a time when even he wouldn't be the best or may be gone.

Tis' all my thoughts.

Kanzenshuu

Maturity of Goku

Maturity of Goku

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