Day One
In Chapter One, we see Gorilla-kun on a leisurely stroll through what I can only assume is the jungle in which he resides. Seemingly fed up with the leisurely nature of his stroll, he ascends and begins to drum on his stomach. The sound that is produced from the contact of his hand to the leathery skin of his chest makes a clear 'BONK' sound. The onomatopoeia 'BONK' shows us as the eager reader that Gorilla-kun is upset about something. However at the current time we do not know what it is that is plaguing his mind. Luckily, all becomes clear in the next panel where Gorilla-kun says "I will die tomorrow". This brief comment from Gorilla-kun could imply numerous things- and I shall go into a great depth of those things here.
- Gorilla-kun has a wife and family that he needs to take care of- as he promised in his gorilla-y marital vow 'In sickness and in health'. Prior mentioned sickness clearly refers to the fact that Gorilla-kun is going to die the next day. As a reader, we empathise with Gorilla-kun, as all of us readers know just how important the marital vows are to a couple- it is tragic that Gorilla-kun will not be able to keep his promise to his gorilla wife (possibly named Dawn) and It is evident that their marriage will end. Until death do they part...
- Gorilla-kun is reminiscing his school days as an infant. From the way that Gorilla-kun speaks about his nearing death, a certain amount of child-like innocence can be seen in the glint of his irises. It may remind him of the time he was in pre-school, running rapidly through the open canopies of his jungle. Sadness. That is the emotion that lingers in the reader's mind as they realise this. We all know that our school days are years to be treasured- to be held close to our heart and remembered with a fond smile. It is a great sadness that Gorilla-kun must remember his school days in such a devastating manor.
- 'Return to monke'. It is the phrase that lingers in all of our minds. It is instilled in us since conception- since the very moment the egg is fertilised all that we know is that monke is where we came from... and monke is where we must return. As a gorilla, Gorilla-kun knows that he shall someday die, however Gorilla-kun is already monke- so where must he return to when his eyes close and his blood runs cold. This thought perhaps plays on Gorilla-kun's mind throughout these brief (yet incredibly meaningful) panels. Gorilla-kun knows he will die tomorrow... and this proclamation serves as a reminder to himself that he has not the slightest idea what awaits him in the time to come.
Day Two
In Chapter Two, Gorilla-kun's time had finally come, and he had died. Sobs wracked through me as I witnessed the scene before me. However, I noticed that among the nightmarish image of Gorilla-kun's dead body- some clues as to why this may have happened can be seen.
- Gorilla-kun lies on grass. Grass signifies the scientific principle. Just as green grass serves animals for support, scientific truth serves men for spiritual nourishment.It seems that although Gorilla-kun is dead, he lays on the green grass that nourished him though life- all the way from cradle to casket.
2.Gorilla-kun's eyes remain open. The open state of Gorilla-kun's eyes lead us to believe that there is still hope for Gorilla-kun to be alive. This hope is sadly dispelled by the story's title 'This Gorilla Will Die In One Day' and we, as ever hopeful readers, accept that Gorilla-kun is dead. Killing off Gorilla-kun was a way to show that even the most pure and innocent will not be spared if evil is alive in the world. For Gorilla-kun did not want to die- who would?
Day Two (Alternate)
In the alternative ending, we see Gorilla-kun once again. Though he is still dead, he is presented in a different position. This time, he is propped up against a tree. On the floor, we can clearly see that there is a banana fallen on the floor- this banana can symbolise many things.
- The first of these things is it's colour- it is yellow. Though it is not unnatural for a banana to be yellow- it is rather unusual that it is yellow in an otherwise black and white manga. This serves as a contrast to the depressing themes of the manga previously and draws our attention to said banana.
- The banana could also show that Gorilla-kun died doing something he- as well as others of his kind- enjoyed doing. Monkes and gorillas alike are known for their shared enjoyment of the oddly shaped fruit, this could mean that Gorilla-kun died in order to prove that although Gorilla-kun is a gorilla, he is more humane than most of human-kind. Like humans, Gorillas also have their own hopes and dreams. And Gorilla-kun's? He just wants his banana.
In Conclusion...
Overall, this analysis has discussed the key aspects and themes of this incredibly moving manga by Ishida and I hope now that I have shared my thoughts with you, you may grow to love this masterpiece just as much as I.
