George Joestar I
George Joestar (ジョージ・ジョースター, Jōji Jōsutā) is a minor character featured in the seventh part of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Steel Ball Run.
George is the father of Johnny Joestar and Nicholas Joestar, the former with whom he maintains a difficult relationship. He is a horse breeder by trade.
Appearance
George Joestar is a mature then old man of average height but slightly overweight, having dark hair into a regular cut and a small mustache.
His hair eventually greyed with age.
Personality
George is an acclaimed horse trainer.
In the past, he was a strict father to his son, not only having forbidden a young Johnny from bringing an adopted mouse to the table, but then ordering that the mouse was drowned and shown to him. Because he was mindful of his reputation among the British, George was particularly severe when it came to gentlemany manners. George is was shown to be extremely sad and bitter over Nicholas' death.
According to Johnny, George would spend the next seven years reminiscing on Nicholas' immense talent while downplaying Johnny's own achievements. It culminated into a fight over Nicholas' old riding boots: when Johnny sought to use them, George refused to hand them over and "insult Nicholas' memory"; when he tripped into a glass cabinet and injured his neck on the glass, he then declared that God took the wrong son, disavowing Johnny and breaking his heart.
George ultimately changed his mind over time. He met his son Johnny in New York during the final stage of the Steel Ball Run, waving Nicholas' boots as a silent gesture of reconciliation. Finally, he publicly declared his shame over letting his son suffer and then his pride in his achievement of having crossed the United States.
History
Background
George Joestar I was born of a family with ties to the aristocracy which fell on hard times. However, George himself was famous and rich as a horseracer and then breeder, having won the Triple Crown seven times and owning several farms with the facilities to breed racing horses. Although he settled in Danville, Kentucky, he made journeys to England with his family.
George was strict with his sons. When Johnny was five and first rode a horse, George is seen declaring that his son was a genius. However, the rest of Johnny's childhood was marked by a strained relationship as George was unnecessarily severe and overtly favored Nicholas. After Nicholas' death, George was convinced that God had taken the wrong son and took out his sadness and rage on Johnny.
It is revealed in flashbacks that he and Johnny had an intense argument over what should be done with the racing boots of the deceased Nicholas. During this fight, Johnny ends up dealing a severe injury to his father’s head while complaining about the pain and feeling of inferiority that George’s cruel behavior left with him.
George would then disappear from Johnny's life, not even deigning visiting him when his spine was broken.
Steel Ball Run
High Voltage
George reconciles with Johnny, presenting Nicholas' boots to him as he watches the final stage of the Steel Ball Run race in New York. He speaks to the surrounding crowd with passion, confessing his mistreatment of his son. He goes on to mention his current pride regarding Johnny’s ability to traverse the entire continent. This results in an applause from the crowd while George grows tearful and Johnny rides onwards.
Chapters
Manga Appearances- Steel Ball Run Chapter 3: Johnny Joestar (Flashback)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 42: Silent Way, Part 3 (Flashback)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 57: Civil War, Part 2 (Flashback)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 58: Civil War, Part 3 (Civil War's ability)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 79: D4C, Part 12 -Love Train- (Flashback)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 88: Break My Heart, Break Your Heart, Part 1 (Flashback)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 89: Break My Heart, Break Your Heart, Part 2 (Flashback)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 91: High Voltage, Part 2
Quotes
Quotes- “Listen, Jonathan. Not limited to dining, manners are an indication of reverence towards the people around you. Englishmen especially value table manners. Do you want everybody to think that we are a group of uneducated, uncultured American countrymen?”—George Joestar , Steel Ball Run Chapter 42 : Silent Way, Part 3
- “Win? That's strange, winning means you'll be number one. Dio won't be running in today's race. Even if you win, can that really be considered a victory...? Don't get so cocky. You've never even beaten Dio, have you?”—George Joestar , Steel Ball Run Chapter 42 : Silent Way, Part 3
- “I’ve come here because I’ve treated my own child horribly for years and years. And the whole time up until now, I never realized that cruelty. I know that apologizing isn’t enough to make up for scarring my child’s heart. But that… is something I finally now have come to realize. My child’s name is Johnny Joestar. He crossed from the far-off West coast all the way across the continent. All by himself. And now! Here! He’s finally made it to New York…”—George Joestar , Steel Ball Run Chapter 91 : High Voltage, Part 2
Gallery
George Joestar I's first appearance in Steel Ball Run
George greeting his only son
George admitting his cruelty
References
