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This is an in-depth look at Goku's character throughout the entirely of Dragon Ball. Goku has been called the most static character in anime history and some considering him boring. While many would content Vegeta, Piccolo, or even Gohan for this title... I'm sticking my head out and mentioning Goku. They may inarguably develop more throughout the series but Goku is I feel is the most layered.
When we first saw Goku, he was wild and uncultured monkey boy who couldn't even tell the difference between male and female without feeling up their crotches, leading to marriage. On the surface he's an idiot savant but it's easy to see why he's like that. He was raised in seclusion with no formal education and no human interaction beyond his adoptive grandfather (who died when he was young) for most of his life, however he has moments of intuity that shows he is much smarter than he leads on as he managed to not only survive but thrived on his own and he managed to work Bulma's motorcycle in just a few seconds. He is also known to read characters quite well as he's the one helped boost Krillin's confidence thus becoming a much braver (and more honorable) fighter and he was the first to see the good on Piccolo which led to Gohan seeing it as well due to what his father said.
One thing about Goku is the change in his killer code. As a kid he would kill his enemies without hesitation as shown with his massacre on the Red Ribbon Army. This changed after training with Kami on Heavenly Room, his first major turning point as a character, where he became a far wiser martial artist and culminating in the laid-back demeanor he became more recognized for in DBZ. Goku from then on avoids killing his enemies if he could.
Then there's second major turning point and final character arc... his Saiyan heritage. Goku was always fanatical about fighting and he saw signs of his Saiyan ways during the fight with Piccolo where he refused Kami's help because he wanted to win the tournament legitimately (even though Piccolo clearly wants to kill him). Ever since the beginning of DBZ he was confirmed to be not human but an alien race consisting of intergalactic warriors who plunge planets and kill their inhabitants to sell them for profit. He becomes disgusted once he learns of their culture and refuses to embrace his heritage until Vegeta's death. This all comes full-circle once he fulfills the Super Saiyan prophecy.... he then fully accepts himself as a Saiyan.
Now onto the most controversial aspect of his character and his "lack of understand" on relationships, which in some regards is true. He regularly leaves his friends and family behind to train without second thought.... in fact, he never had feelings when they first proposed. This doesn't relationships hold no value to him.... he makes it clear he especially values his friendship with Krillin (almost being like a *real* brother to him) but that's secondary to family. Grandpa Gohan the man who raised him for most of his childhood before Goku killed him, Chi-Chi his long-suffering wife who barred their children pretty much on her own (especially Goten) for the most parts, and don't forget his precious children... especially Gohan the Golden Child. He would die for him... but in the end, there's no changing a true free spirit.
This doesn't even count his countless acts of selflessness, compassion, and benevolence which go in hand with his natural urge for combat at several points.
Now what do y'all think?
When we first saw Goku, he was wild and uncultured monkey boy who couldn't even tell the difference between male and female without feeling up their crotches, leading to marriage. On the surface he's an idiot savant but it's easy to see why he's like that. He was raised in seclusion with no formal education and no human interaction beyond his adoptive grandfather (who died when he was young) for most of his life, however he has moments of intuity that shows he is much smarter than he leads on as he managed to not only survive but thrived on his own and he managed to work Bulma's motorcycle in just a few seconds. He is also known to read characters quite well as he's the one helped boost Krillin's confidence thus becoming a much braver (and more honorable) fighter and he was the first to see the good on Piccolo which led to Gohan seeing it as well due to what his father said.
One thing about Goku is the change in his killer code. As a kid he would kill his enemies without hesitation as shown with his massacre on the Red Ribbon Army. This changed after training with Kami on Heavenly Room, his first major turning point as a character, where he became a far wiser martial artist and culminating in the laid-back demeanor he became more recognized for in DBZ. Goku from then on avoids killing his enemies if he could.
Then there's second major turning point and final character arc... his Saiyan heritage. Goku was always fanatical about fighting and he saw signs of his Saiyan ways during the fight with Piccolo where he refused Kami's help because he wanted to win the tournament legitimately (even though Piccolo clearly wants to kill him). Ever since the beginning of DBZ he was confirmed to be not human but an alien race consisting of intergalactic warriors who plunge planets and kill their inhabitants to sell them for profit. He becomes disgusted once he learns of their culture and refuses to embrace his heritage until Vegeta's death. This all comes full-circle once he fulfills the Super Saiyan prophecy.... he then fully accepts himself as a Saiyan.
Now onto the most controversial aspect of his character and his "lack of understand" on relationships, which in some regards is true. He regularly leaves his friends and family behind to train without second thought.... in fact, he never had feelings when they first proposed. This doesn't relationships hold no value to him.... he makes it clear he especially values his friendship with Krillin (almost being like a *real* brother to him) but that's secondary to family. Grandpa Gohan the man who raised him for most of his childhood before Goku killed him, Chi-Chi his long-suffering wife who barred their children pretty much on her own (especially Goten) for the most parts, and don't forget his precious children... especially Gohan the Golden Child. He would die for him... but in the end, there's no changing a true free spirit.
This doesn't even count his countless acts of selflessness, compassion, and benevolence which go in hand with his natural urge for combat at several points.
Now what do y'all think?
