Imperfect Cell
1st Form - In this form, we can almost see the dependence. Even though most of us don't like to admit it, Cell in this form was more childlike than he seems at first glance. Babies need to depend on other people, correct? Well, Imperfect Cell (1st form) was no different. He absorbed people. He NEEDED them to survive. They gave him nourishment so to speak. They acted as surrogate parents in a way, (Symbolically speaking) in that they provided him with that extra boost...that energy to go out and grow and get stronger. Without all these people, Cell definately wouldn't have had what it took to take on #16 (and survive) and to finally absorb #17.
Another thing that made him childlike? His confidence in himself. Young children believe that they can do anything when they grow up, and Cell was no different. At this point, for him, there WAS no, 'if' I become perfect; it was 'when' all the way. And it was only a matter of time before he acheived his goal.