Summary
- Grandpa Gohan's teachings shaped Goku into the kind-hearted hero he is known as today in the Dragon Ball series.
- Despite his short appearance, Grandpa Gohan instilled in Goku the value of life and mercy towards enemies.
- Goku honored his Grandpa Gohan by naming his son after him, showcasing the lasting impact of his teachings on Goku's actions and character.
When people think of Goku's father in Dragon Ball, a lot of people immediately think of Bardock from the TV special and his continued appearances. The Saiyan father of Goku is to be applauded for sure, especially as a favorite character for many fans. However, when fans of the original first chapters think about whose influence made Goku into the kid he was, and the adult he is today, then they'd say that it was Grandpa Gohan. After all, despite his short appearance in the story, it is implied that Grandpa Gohan is the one who taught Goku to value life, as the core Dragon Ball.
However, due to Grandpa Gohan's untimely demise, he isn't given a lot of spotlight even in the late chapters, considering how far the story has come. In what ways did Grandpa Gohan influence the young Son Goku into his adult years?
Dragon Ball: Goku's Influence On Modern Shonen Protagonists
Goku is often seen as one of the most iconic anime characters in history, so let's see how he has influenced many Shonen protagonists.
Grandpa Gohan's Teachings To Goku
Why This Mattered
While there are currently two versions of Goku's backstory, one from the original and the other from Dragon Ball: Minus, the consensus is that through a head injury, Goku forgot the mission and his purpose as a Saiyan on Earth. Grandpa Gohan, in both iterations, never fails to raise Goku as a kind young boy, with a nature that is at times goodhearted if also somewhat rambunctious due to being a wild child living in the forest. Before Goku refined his strength and martial arts with Master Roshi, it was Grandpa Gohan who taught him the basics and eventually helped Goku live a fulfilling life. Grandpa Gohan also taught Goku the value of life, a character trait that Goku would go on to consistently show even to his enemies whenever he could, even if the strategic advantage was to eliminate them.
Even if Grandpa Gohan taught all this to Goku, which is a very important detail in the story, it wasn't enough to save Grandpa Gohan from an ironic demise that he never quite resented. Goku's Great Ape transformation ended Grandpa Gohan short, and for the rest of the original Dragon Ball, Goku would never find out the truth until his fight with Vegeta. At that point, not only did Goku finally learn the truth, but he also found out that he effectively killed his Grandpa unknowingly. An event that affects Goku more than it lets on, and especially in the future of the story, Grandpa Gohan's teachings remain with Goku. Of course, there is another event that particularly solidifies Goku's growth into the man he is today, and it all happens during the Baba Yaga arc, where Grandpa Gohan makes a return to the story.
How Grandpa Gohan Changed Goku
How Goku honored Grandpa Gohan
Knowing about Grandpa Gohan's influence on Goku, there are many examples of Grandpa Gohan's teachings affecting Goku and dictating a lot of his actions. In early Dragon Ball, many characters like Tienshinhan, and Piccolo Jr. Were spared and eventually turned over to Goku's side because of the kindness and mercy that Goku showed them. Even during the Z-Saga, Goku named his son after his Grandfather in his honor, giving the fans the Son Gohan many are familiar with. Of course, Goku also sought out different masters with the intention of growing stronger thanks to the basics that Grandpa Gohan taught him, leading him to develop bonds with Master Roshi, King Kai, and many other masters over the course of the years.
Grandpa Gohan as a character is important to not just fans of the original show, but also to Son Goku as a source of fatherhood and inspiration. Of course, we haven't heard much from Grandpa Gohan in the story or even at all, because his time has passed, and he's in Heaven as well. There's not much of a reason to bring him back and force a lovely moment, however sweet it could be. Even so, Son Goku as a character is shaped by the masters and friends he made, as well as shaped by his own determination and kindness. The kindness that he would not have learned to share with others or exhibited to many people if it weren't for the help of a father figure who also served as his Grandpa. Dragon Ball has given Grandpa Gohan an end to his part, but he played an important one nevertheless.
- Created by
- Akira Toriyama
- First TV Show
- Dragon Ball
- Latest TV Show
- Dragon Ball DAIMA
- Upcoming TV Shows
- Dragon Ball DAIMA
- First Episode Air Date
- February 26, 1986
- TV Show(s)
- Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, Dragon Ball Super, Dragon Ball DAIMA
Dragon Ball is a franchise by Akira Toriyama which follows the adventures of Goku, a powerful warrior who protects the earth with his group of  friends. A recent title from the series is Dragon Ball: The Breakers, an action style game where 7 players have to survive being hunted by the Raider.
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