Saiyuki, Gojyo, Child Abuse and Battered Wife Syndrome
I don't know if there are enough of anyone watching me for this post to have much impact, BUT that being said: I've been having a series of discussions with various friends both on and off various lists and journals regarding Gojyo.
With permission from Michele aka Moondrake best known for her fabulous original artworks and a wonderful WK story, Desert Island, I am posting her portion of the discussion as not only does it contribute wonderful insights into Gojyo's persona, but it is almost a complete storyline for any writer who would like to take up the challenge:
Cheyenne:
----- Original Message ----
From: Cheyenne
To: saiyuki_yaoi@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, March 24, 2008 2:54:37 AM
Subject: [saiyuki_yaoi] [Discussion Topic]- Battered Wife Syndrome, Child Abuse,
and Saiyuki
So, a friend and I were discussing Saiyuki and Gojyo the other day
via yahoo!messenger and live journal and during the discussion, I
couldn't help thinking (as I have before and as many others no doubt
have in the past) that Gojyo shows a fairly classic case of child
abuse symptoms, completely with believing he's responsible for the
other person's happiness and that somehow he deserves everything he
gets.
This is reinforced in a couple different episodes where Gojyo has to
face his stepmother to be able to go on [Homura arc, Kami-sama arc
and maybe even one or two more].
In a couple of the episodes, Gojyo admits that he would have let her
kill him because he didn't want her to cry.
So, yeah, I picture Gojyo as someone who would be liable to fall into
a bad relationship and not leave because it's his fault one way or
another.
Then there is Sanzou... or Hakkai. Sanzou with his very brittle
temper and poisonous tongue and one hand on a gun.
And Hakkai, seemingly quiet and complacent, but just how sane is he
now? I've always pictured Hakkai as the scariest of the Ikkou.
You know when Sanzou's pissed. You know to run like hell if Goku's
limiter breaks, but Hakkai?
That smile hides a plethora of pain, guilt and sin. Hakkai kills so
very politely these days... and if he should ever lose it again...
will another thousand die? Or just whoever happens to be closest?
[Please don't kill me, I *love* all the characters to bits,and in
spite of my pairing cravings Hakkai is the one I adore the most for
various reasons... but part of what we love is their pain and their
pasts, yes?]
Anyway, just a few strangled thoughts thrown out there to see what
kinds of thoughts some of you might have... or even maybe jog
someone's muse.
G'nite!
Cheyenne
re: [saiyuki_yaoi] [Discussion Topic]- Battered Wife Syndrome, Child Abuse, and Saiyuki
Michele: I agree completely with this assessment of Gojyo. He shows many of the traits of someone whose idea of love and affection were formed in an abusive relationship. Also, his craving for a mother to love him is evident in his bed-hopping.
It's one of the reasons why I tend to see Hakkai as the more likely pairing for him, gender issues aside, Hakkai is often referred to as the
"mother" of the group.
I also like all the guys, but it would be very interesting to see a story with Gojyo emotionally trapped in what seems to outsiders to be a loving relationship with Hakkai, but suffering closed doors abuse as Hakkai is unable to keep all that rage under the civil veneer in private.
Sanzo slowly coming to realize what's going on, and fueled about equally by his underlying sense of decency and his attraction to the annoying
but endearing kappa, steps in to break the cycle and claim Gojyo for his own
prickly self.
Climax when there is a final confrontation with Hakkai, resolution when Hakkai, no slouch at underlying decency himself, accepts that he really does love Gojyo and that means letting him go. One well-groomed plot bunny free to good home.
Michele Ellington
visit my web page to see my art and other interests
http://fantasyworks.us
Cheyenne: This is exactly what I see when I watch the Gojyo eps and think about
what it is like to be abused.
I had a friend who suffered battered wife syndrome and I myself went
through child abuse so a lot of these issues really stand out for me
when I watch what is happening on screen.
It's also been shown that abused children tend to want to protect the
parent who does the abusing and that they desire the abuser's love
and affection above all. And that, too, I think fits very well with
Gojyo's past and is even a workable explanation for his current
womanizing as he seeks for the affection and approval that
his 'mother' withheld in his childhood in a line of surrogates.
Of course, I'm sure that our handsome and oh-so-masculine dandy
doesn't think of it in that way.
Thank-you for that well-thought out and interesting contribution.
Since I agree wholeheartedly with your statements, I'm not sure how
to embellish.
Perhaps if someone takes up the challenge to write such a story,it
might be Goku who starts the ball rolling.
Kind of like... "Sanzo, is something wrong with Gojyo? He's stopped
visiting and he's not even coming into town anymore."
With permission from Michele aka Moondrake best known for her fabulous original artworks and a wonderful WK story, Desert Island, I am posting her portion of the discussion as not only does it contribute wonderful insights into Gojyo's persona, but it is almost a complete storyline for any writer who would like to take up the challenge:
Cheyenne:
----- Original Message ----
From: Cheyenne
To: saiyuki_yaoi@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, March 24, 2008 2:54:37 AM
Subject: [saiyuki_yaoi] [Discussion Topic]- Battered Wife Syndrome, Child Abuse,
and Saiyuki
So, a friend and I were discussing Saiyuki and Gojyo the other day
via yahoo!messenger and live journal and during the discussion, I
couldn't help thinking (as I have before and as many others no doubt
have in the past) that Gojyo shows a fairly classic case of child
abuse symptoms, completely with believing he's responsible for the
other person's happiness and that somehow he deserves everything he
gets.
This is reinforced in a couple different episodes where Gojyo has to
face his stepmother to be able to go on [Homura arc, Kami-sama arc
and maybe even one or two more].
In a couple of the episodes, Gojyo admits that he would have let her
kill him because he didn't want her to cry.
So, yeah, I picture Gojyo as someone who would be liable to fall into
a bad relationship and not leave because it's his fault one way or
another.
Then there is Sanzou... or Hakkai. Sanzou with his very brittle
temper and poisonous tongue and one hand on a gun.
And Hakkai, seemingly quiet and complacent, but just how sane is he
now? I've always pictured Hakkai as the scariest of the Ikkou.
You know when Sanzou's pissed. You know to run like hell if Goku's
limiter breaks, but Hakkai?
That smile hides a plethora of pain, guilt and sin. Hakkai kills so
very politely these days... and if he should ever lose it again...
will another thousand die? Or just whoever happens to be closest?
[Please don't kill me, I *love* all the characters to bits,and in
spite of my pairing cravings Hakkai is the one I adore the most for
various reasons... but part of what we love is their pain and their
pasts, yes?]
Anyway, just a few strangled thoughts thrown out there to see what
kinds of thoughts some of you might have... or even maybe jog
someone's muse.
G'nite!
Cheyenne
re: [saiyuki_yaoi] [Discussion Topic]- Battered Wife Syndrome, Child Abuse, and Saiyuki
Michele: I agree completely with this assessment of Gojyo. He shows many of the traits of someone whose idea of love and affection were formed in an abusive relationship. Also, his craving for a mother to love him is evident in his bed-hopping.
It's one of the reasons why I tend to see Hakkai as the more likely pairing for him, gender issues aside, Hakkai is often referred to as the
"mother" of the group.
I also like all the guys, but it would be very interesting to see a story with Gojyo emotionally trapped in what seems to outsiders to be a loving relationship with Hakkai, but suffering closed doors abuse as Hakkai is unable to keep all that rage under the civil veneer in private.
Sanzo slowly coming to realize what's going on, and fueled about equally by his underlying sense of decency and his attraction to the annoying
but endearing kappa, steps in to break the cycle and claim Gojyo for his own
prickly self.
Climax when there is a final confrontation with Hakkai, resolution when Hakkai, no slouch at underlying decency himself, accepts that he really does love Gojyo and that means letting him go. One well-groomed plot bunny free to good home.
Michele Ellington
visit my web page to see my art and other interests
http://fantasyworks.us
Cheyenne: This is exactly what I see when I watch the Gojyo eps and think about
what it is like to be abused.
I had a friend who suffered battered wife syndrome and I myself went
through child abuse so a lot of these issues really stand out for me
when I watch what is happening on screen.
It's also been shown that abused children tend to want to protect the
parent who does the abusing and that they desire the abuser's love
and affection above all. And that, too, I think fits very well with
Gojyo's past and is even a workable explanation for his current
womanizing as he seeks for the affection and approval that
his 'mother' withheld in his childhood in a line of surrogates.
Of course, I'm sure that our handsome and oh-so-masculine dandy
doesn't think of it in that way.
Thank-you for that well-thought out and interesting contribution.
Since I agree wholeheartedly with your statements, I'm not sure how
to embellish.
Perhaps if someone takes up the challenge to write such a story,it
might be Goku who starts the ball rolling.
Kind of like... "Sanzo, is something wrong with Gojyo? He's stopped
visiting and he's not even coming into town anymore."