meliswriting

[meliswriting]

An Amateur Psychoanalysis on Gon Freecss Through a Freudian Lens - Part 2

* (Spoilers, of course)*

Freud devised a theory to further interpret how the human psyche works by dividing the mind into three components: the id, the ego, and the superego. The id is representative of our most primitive desires for instant gratification, while the superego serves as our conscience in compliance with moral and ethical standards. The ego acts as a bridge between the two by devising a way to help satisfy the id while complying with the superego. I would argue that Gon’s “id’ is more powerful than his “ego”. In other words, Gon’s primitive impulses are stronger than his ability to reason or control his urges which causes him to repeatedly engage in risky behaviors. Some examples of this can be seen in his fight with Hisoka Morow (apparently there’s a bunch of discourse surrounding the spelling of his last name, tmyk…🌈⭐) during the Heaven’s Arena arc in which we see Gon risk his life against a superior opponent, yet again!!! 

This is the fight that made me question the sanity of this twelve year old boy. He had just learned the basics of Nen with his master Wing. He has to have known that he had little to no chance of actually winning the fight. And yes, Gon never did say he wanted to win but if his goal was just to punch Hisoka, that makes him even more reckless and idiotic. I swear, sometimes I feel like Killua is the only sane character in this series (…and that’s why he’s my favorite, haha.) This occurrence is presented throughout Gon’s journey time and time again like in the dodgeball game against Razor or his fight against the bomber during the Greed Island arc. Countless times we see Gon partake in risky behaviors. So I guess the obvious question to ask next is why? Why does Gon repeatedly put himself through these dangerous situations?

Freud would likely assume that Gon experiences extreme levels of stress and anxiety as the arcs continue to unravel. And as a result of this he has taken some serious blows to his self-esteem. Gon has an unhealthy relationship with proving himself worthy. In his fight against Razor, he is willing to put not only his own physical well being at risk but also those he recruited to win. He knew that Killua’s hands were being destroyed by Gon’s jajanken but still believed that this was a justifiable risk in order to win the game. His innate impulses have given him tunnel vision and his superego must be called into question. 

To be continued…

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[meliswriting]

An Amateur Psychoanalysis on Gon Freecss Through a Freudian Lens - Part 1

*(Spoilers, of course...)*

Now, I am not here to debate the validity of Sigmund Freud’s theories on psychoanalysis, however, I do believe that his teachings serve as a decent template to better understand a person’s psychological standing. Let me start by saying that Gon Freecss is, without a doubt, one of the most complex and dynamic anime characters I have ever encountered. I can confidently say that he captures the four I’s: intuitive, impulsive, intelligent, and most importantly… he’s an idiot. He has all the ingredients necessary to create a character that, despite his flaws, you can't help but root for him. I have rewatched Hunter X Hunter (2011) about 3 times in my life so far, and every single time I do, I find myself being captivated by the way Yoshihiro Togashi unravels Gon’s journey.

We should probably go over what we know about Gon’s childhood as portrayed in the 2011 adaptation. On the surface, Gon is depicted as a happy and optimistic child. He spends most of his time exploring the outdoors by interacting with the animals and nature surrounding his hometown on Whale Island.  At the age of 2, Gon was abandoned by his father, Ging Freecss. Ging left Gon in the care of his cousin, Mito, so that he may continue his pursuit of exploring The Dark Continent as a hunter without the responsibilities that come with being a father. Knowing all of this, one would anticipate that Gon would have issues forming interpersonal relationships, or clear indications of depression, anxiety, or even recurrent bursts of rage, and yet he shows no superficial signs of this (at least not in the earlier arcs imo…) Of course, I am not saying that every person who has been abandoned by a parent shows some sort of psychological condition, but it’s pretty odd to see. 

According to Freud’s theory of psychosexual development (I know, I know… don’t call the cops on me…), at age 12, Gon would be categorized as being on the cusp of the latency stage and entering the g*nital stage. Simply put, the latency stage is defined as the time in which a child’s sexual impulses are repressed, and they focus on building their identities through their social relationships and hobbies. Assuming that Gon is a product of the environment in which he grew up, I would classify Gon as a well-acclimated child who can form meaningful relationships with those around him. During the latency stage, Freud believed that children will begin to repress traumatic experiences from their childhood. In Gon’s case, he doesn’t deny that his father abandoned him, however, he does use this to justify his decision to become a hunter. I would argue that rather than unconsciously repressing the memory of his father’s abandonment, he consciously suppresses it.  He willingly puts his life at risk multiple times throughout the hunter exam just to find out why his father would choose being a hunter over being in his life.

This is best shown in his fight with Hanzo in episode 19, where Gon has just suffered a broken arm and Hanzo holds a sword between his eyes. Hanzo desperately pleads, “Are you truly willing to die for your pride?” Gon’s response is simple but firm, “I am going to find my dad. […] But I have a feeling that if I give up now, I’ll never find him.” At first, I saw this as an excellent example of Gon’s resolve. He knew what he wanted and didn’t let anyone get in his way. However, as I pondered more about his methods, I began to question whether his actions were fueled by desperation rather than perseverance. It seems as though Gon holds little regard for his life. He has allowed this goal to consume all his rationality, going as far as to die to achieve it.

To be continued…

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