09/03/2024
WHY WAS GOKU SUCH A GOOD ROLE MODEL TO US AS BOYS?
As a thank you to Akira Toriyama for creating such a character. I'm going to write about what Goku portrayed for us as young boys. Yes you, I'm guessing you're a 90's kid and a millennial.
This is helpful for those of us who want to embrace our Inner Goku. And for those who're trying to be a good role model to someone - father or leaders, etc.
There are four archetypes of the mature masculine, from the work of Robert Moore & Douglas Gillette.
The King, The Warrior, The Magician, and the Lover.
Goku embodied all four of these.
Let's start with the most obvious, Goku was a warrior. He has dedication for his skills and he lives by a code. Like a true warrior he is honorable towards his foes. He respects and he's sometimes even shows gratituted for great foes who push him to his limit.
But he's also embodies the heart of a king, one who protects. Earth was in his protection. And he was also a husband and a father. A king not only protects but a king affirms. He also encourages and believes in the best in his friends and children.
He was a magician. The magician archetype knows a special knowledge of the inner world so that they show mastery of the outer world. When Goku trains mind, body, and spirit, he shows a special kind of mastery that he transcends and transforms his current form. And it looks like magic to one who witnesses it.
And lastly he was a lover. In the words of Vegeta, "I can't believe a battle loving kind-hearted saiyan like you existed." (From Kakarot Game). Even if he had all other qualities, a warrior who doesn't possess love will fall short of embodying the true masculine.
Embrace your King, protect, bring order, and affirm. Embrace your Warrior, face your challenges and realize your potential. Embrace your Magician, gain mastery of both your inner and outer world. And above all love. Be a lover amidst all of these and become a true man.
Thank you and R.I.P. Akira Toriyama
