Tite Kubo's hit series Bleach was one of shonen's big three of its day thanks to its excellent combat system and cast of memorable characters, some of whom are downright tragic or heartbreaking to watch. But while the Espada Coyote Starrk is sympathetic and Ichigo's dear friend Orihime has had a tough life, the villain Wonderweiss Margela has suffered the most.
Wonderweiss is a minor but distinct character in the "Arrancar" story arc -- a bizarre blond Arrancar who serves a unique and disturbing role in Aize's Arrancar army. The implications of this are grim, and even Captain-General Yamamoto commented on it. There's no Bleach character quite like Wonderweiss, not even in 600+ chapters of the manga.
The Singular Role Of Wonderweiss Margela
The Arrancar known as Wonderweiss Margela had Espada-level spiritual power, although he didn't actually rank among the Espada since he wasn't a general-purpose fighter like them, nor did he have their leadership skills. Instead, Wondereiss was an independent Arrancar who was only rarely called upon to fight, and Aizen Sosuke cunningly modified him for one purpose -- to counter Captain-General Yamamoto's flame-based zanpakuto. Even Aizen feared Yamamoto's vast power, so he designed Wonderweiss as the perfect tool to neutralize him, and Wonderweiss is the one who paid the price for it. In fact, Wonderweiss didn't agree to this plan, much less volunteer it. This was forced upon him.
Aizen cruelly stripped Wondereiss of all logic and reasoning, leaving him only with his instincts and the emotion of fear. This allowed Wonderweiss to focus solely on his anti-Yamamoto mission and not get preoccupied with other desires. Doing this also allowed Aizen to enhance Wonderweiss's powers even more, making his released form that much more potent.
In his sealed form, Wonderweiss relied on his bare hands and the bala technique to fight, as shown when he attacked Urahara Kisuke, but his zanpakuto release, Extinguir, was his true form. In this state, Wonderweiss confronted Yamamoto during the "Fake Karakura Town" story arc and sealed away his flame-based powers, leaving Yamamoto with fewer options. Wonderweiss mindlessly carried out his purpose as intended, and Aizen watched coldly as Wonderweiss fought Yamamoto in a fierce melee duel, only for Yamamoto to defeat and slay him with his bare hands.
To Aizen, this was a disappointment, not a tragedy, and that's what makes Wonderweiss tragic in everyone else's eyes. Even a scarred veteran like Yamamoto who always put duty first found this horrifying, and he saw killing Wonderweiss as an act of mercy. Wonderweiss had been twisted into a grotesque weapon against his will, leaving just one escape: death. And even then, Wonderweiss experienced true fear right before his demise -- a fact that Yamamoto did not appreciate.
How Wonderweiss Embodies All Arrancars
Wonderweiss Margela's specific role in Aizen's Arrancar army was a unique one. No other Arrancar was designed with a specific opponent in mind, and nor did Aizen rob any other Arrancar of their upper mental facilities in exchange for power. Then again, despite being an anomaly, Wonderweiss perfectly represents everything that is wrong with the Espadas and Aizen's army.
Ultimately, every single Arrancar was a disposable tool for Aizen; he was simply more open about this fact with Wonderweiss than he was with the other Arrancars. Aizen recruited Wonderweiss and turned him into an Arrancar with the Hogyoku for the sole purpose of serving in Aizen's army, and the same is true for all Arrancar, who had little choice in the matter. During a strategy meeting, Aizen claimed to have faith in the Espadas' power to motivate them, but that was practically a lie, and Aizen would kill any or all of them if it meant getting what he wanted. They were all a means to an end, although only Wonderweiss embodied that fact with his extensive modifications and anti-Yamamoto nature.
All Hollows and Arrancar live in a state of constant despair, trying in vain to fill the empty hole in their hearts and find a purpose or goal in their lives when they have none. Hollows have no salvation, no matter how much power they gain, and that's a theme that even Szayelaporro Grantz and Barragan Luisenbarn had to contend with. They tried and failed to become something more and gain a new purpose, but in the end, they were disposable dogs of war for Aizen, which was the closest they came to having a life's mission.
Aizen took this to the next level with Wonderweiss, taking a pitiful and despairing Hollow and reforging him into a cunning weapon with a singular goal. Wonderweiss now had a clear goal to achieve, but that didn't make him any happier. In fact, his fate was the worst of all, even when he got what all Hollows wanted: something to fight for.
