For many months I've wanted to write about why I love Gon, and as I progress into the Chimera Ant Arc, I feel like I should write about Gon now. People keep on telling me that things are going to crash and burn and my views on Gon might change, so before that happens, I want to capture my thoughts on him at this moment in time.
Gon has a lot of traits that I admire - so much so that in the beginning of the anime i wanted to be Gon. He's got all those Shounen Protagonist traits so he's optimistic and compassionate and persevering, but he's also confident and clever. Gon is really clever. He is also particularly compassionate. He won't say anything offensive, and he genuinely cares about people and spends time getting to know them, even if he can tell he might not get along with someone at first. It just blows my mind that he doesn't judge people based on first impressions - like no matter how the person looks or behaves, he gives them a chance. Also, Gon is really big on fairness, and he doesn't like to kill people, even if they deserve to die. Gon is just really gentle. Brightly shining, full of hope. I agree with Killua... Gon is like light. Mito took care of him and loved him so well because Gon loves. He loves and loves, even though he's not sure if his dad loves him, but he won’t know until he sees him, and there's no use thinking about it before then. That sort of quiet confidence and peace of mind is just. wow. I like Gon so much more than other shounen protagonists - he just gives off this sort of bright shining light that is so soft, and I’m just so attracted to certain traits that he has.
As I've gone into the Chimera Ant Arc, I've noticed that Gon has some exceptions to those traits/behavior patterns - like he doesn't like to kill, but if the enemy hurts someone that he cares about, he will give them hell. Also, Gon is developing a pride problem. Initially I would have called him humble because he doesn't flaunt his abilities, but he is prideful under the surface, and his pride has become morbid. Togashi is also giving him more flaws, like how he will say something but not follow through on it, or how he feels like hurting himself when he can't forgive himself.
Even so, I can't bring myself to dislike him, especially since we share a lot of the same flaws, just to varying degrees. As Gon is changing in Chimera Ant Arc, he just starts to look even more like me when I was younger. I will admit that my huge love for Gon isn't the same as it was when I first started the series. I think in the beginning I had such a crazy love for Gon because I started watching Hunter x Hunter in the middle of when I was recovering from depression. He was similar to me, but also a shining example of everything I wish I was. I've completely recovered from depression now, and I'm leaning completely on God for support, so I stopped being so fixiated on Gon. Maybe my 10 months at art college also played a part in this, as well as the fact that Gon is becoming more like me. My previous adoration type of love is turning into another kind of love.
Yesterday I told my friend that Gon is kind of who I am but also who I want to be and who I don't want to be. I'm curious to see how my impression of him will change, but I'm also kind of sad and nervous. I don't think I've ever connected to a character so deeply.
