Ask John: Why is Gaara Such a Polarizing Character?

Question:
Gaara seems to be a love-him-or-hate-him character in the Naruto fan community. His fans seem to like his cold, almost inhuman attitude, his perfect defense, and his arsenal of instant kill attacks. But other fans seem to hate him with all of their being and wish him death every time he appears on screen. Why do you think he’s such a polarizing character?

Answer:
I seem to be one of the few exceptions to the standard because I don’t have a particular interest in, or distaste for, the character Gaara from the Naruto anime. But I do also perceive his status as a seeming “love-him-or-hate-him character.” Since I don’t have a strong opinion either way, I may not be able to comprehend or express the exact sentiments of either side of the debate. However, a lack of bias may also enable me to view the character objectively. I can’t say that Gaara represents the polarity of American anime fandom, but I do think that his character reflects the opposing expectations of anime held by average American fans.

Although when he’s first introduced Gaara is a very antagonistic and cruel character, he’s never portrayed as actually evil. Gaara is cold-hearted, ruthless, and vindictive, but his character is motivated by emotional pain, loneliness, and regret; not by greed, lust, or ambition. He’s not an evil character seeking to be malicious; he’s a wounded character that deals with his frustration by channeling it through disciplined, judicial cruelty. Making Gaara a tortured, empathetic character makes him sympathetic. Viewers that expect or wish for catharsis from anime may appreciate Gaara’s aggressive and uncompromising attitude. Gaara is the ultimate realization of the popular character type introduced by Gundam Wing’s Hiro Yui; angst-ridden, snappish, fiercely independent, highly capable, and coldly impersonal outwardly with a tortured, lonely soul inside. Gaara’s ability and eagerness to unstoppably exert his will through absolute, unhesitating, crushing force gives him the same satisfying character as an Arnold Schwarzenegger Terminator. There’s an undeniable temptation in the image of unrivaled dominance and exertion of unstoppable strength. Gaara represents the sort of empowerment and control that viewers, especially young viewers, wish for in their own lives.

The fact that Gaara matures and develops more control over his unfocused rage in the Naruto Shippuden series further makes him a sympathetic and respectable character. Gaara is a character that viewers want to be. During his youth, his passionate anger, sense of persecution, and physical ability to exert his will on others are a seductive, vicarious personality. He represents the individualism and rebellion of youth, and the fierce desire to exert one’s own authority by striking out at others. As a young man, Gaara comes to represent respectful authority. He’s respected and admired because he has strength and the wisdom to use it properly.

While certain viewers may find Gaara’s aloof and vicious personality seductive and admirable, others may find Gaara to be the antithesis of their ideals. Viewers that admire positive, cheerful, pro-active characters in anime may find Gaara’s self-loathing and undisciplined aggression distasteful. The young Gaara is like a spoiled child whose selfish behavior is indulged ceaselessly. So, for many viewers, the young Gaara may seem more like a maladjusted child than an admirable and empowered individual.