When it comes toDragon Ballcharacters, Goku generally isn’t considered to be one of the more interesting ones. His personality doesn’t change too much over the course of the series, making him rather flat—but that’s also what allows everyone else to shine.
Goku is ultimately a pretty good guy, someone who’s very friendly and quick to trust. His genial personality strikes a massive difference between himself and many of the other characters, though, which tends to give their relationships a distinct feel to them. Because Goku is so easygoing, the other character in the relationship often dictates how things go, allowing their personalities to be easily seen, and in some cases, forcing them to grow as characters. Goku is like a catalyst, forcing reactions from his friends that may even surprise them.
Goku is the Kind of Character That Allows Others to Define Themselves
Goku’s Flat Nature Puts the Onus on Other Characters
While Goku definitely sees less character development as an adult, he was still relatively flat even as a child. Krillin is the first character who really plays off this aspect of Goku, as their young rivalry heats up. Krillin was known for his selfish personality and being prone to jealousy when he was first introduced, resenting Goku as a fellow student of Roshi. However, being forced to work together and going through experiences together brought them much closer, to the point of becoming true friends.
By seeing Goku’s kindness and selflessness, Krillin began to grow past his initial selfishness, becoming a more compassionate characterwho would eventually be seen as the heart ofDragon Ball’s cast. The original Krillin would never have even considered sparing Vegeta, or trying to save Android 18. These ended up being major character moments for Krillin, but it’s ultimately all due to Goku’s influence that they happened at all. His relationship with Goku also highlights where they still differ, with Krillin’s pragmatism often helping the naive Goku realize problems.
The same is true for many other characters. Vegeta is similarly impacted by his relationship with Goku, becoming less hostile. Goku’s relative innocence makes for a massive contrast with Vegeta, emphasizing how much Vegeta’s past begins to weigh on him and helping him to realize he’s not the same man he was. Even his son Gohan is largely defined by his contrasts with his father, such as Gohan’s scholastic aptitude and responsible nature.
Goku’s Consistent Characterization Keeps the Series Stable
Goku’s Stability Becomes the Story’s Foundation for Other Characters
Goku’s rock-solid characterization makes him extremely consistent—that’s why inDragon Ball Daimait didn’t feel strange to have Goku de-age back into a child. While Goku isn’t all positive traits, he does embody many good qualities, such as forgiveness and mercy toward his foes and a kind nature. In many ways, Goku’s stability helps to emphasize just how much the other characters have grown, and in a sense, become more like him. Goku may be static as a character, but he provokes growth in others, and that makes him interesting.
Goku’s stability as a character also makes him the anchor that helps to define the series.Because Goku is relatively simple, he can easily be understood by almost anyone with just a little effort, something that’s almost certainly contributed toDragon Ball’s immense popularity around the world. A character this simple and easy to understand can cross cultural divides and make a story accessible to anyone, regardless of their own experiences. Fans know what they’re getting when they watchDragon Ballbecause they know Goku and know how he decides things, giving a certain degree of comfort and familiarity.
Goku may not have the kind of character-defining moments that some other shonen protagonists get as a result, but that actually allows the other characters to have their own significant moments without Goku taking too much of the spotlight. Goku already features heavily in most fights, so getting a lot of character focus as well could risk being too much of a good thing. That’s not to say Goku’s character hasn’t changed or expanded over the course of the series at all, but it must be used sparingly, such aswhen he goes Super Saiyan for the first time.
In the end, Goku’s static characterization actually works for the series, despite static characters usually being discouraged in writing advice. Goku acts as a sounding board which other characters can reflect off of, allowing them to grow. He also provides a solid constant in a series that’s constantly evolving, and that’s part of what madeDragon Balla household name.
