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Throughout the story ofOne Piece, despite being a pirate, Luffy has always been a kind and caring individual. In fact, as the audience sees multiple times in the story, Luffy is the kind of person to overthrow a tyrannical kingdom simply because someone asked him to. Due to this, it seems pretty apparent that many fans would regard Luffy as the hero ofOne Piece.
However, at his core, many fans have wondered whether Luffy truly is a hero or not. Being a pirate, fundamentally, Luffy is a criminal, intentionally choosing to go against the established order of the world. Additionally, Luffy himself claims that he isn’t a hero, instead choosing to act simply for rewards and the well-being of himself and his crew. Still, even thoughthe story ofOne Pieceitself claims that Luffy isn’t a hero, is that truly enough to prevent him from being the heroic protagonist of the series?
What Is A Hero In One Piece?
It’s Both A Title And Something More
Although being a hero in the real world is a fairly straightforward concept, being a hero inOne Pieceisn’t as cut and dry. For example, while someone like Luffy may viewthe former Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, as a hero, in reality, he was a pirate who frequently fought and murdered those who stood in his way. A Marine, on the other hand, may view Roger as an awful criminal, instead choosing Garp, the legendary Vice Admiral, as their own personal hero.
Captain Koby, the Hero of the Rocky Port Incident.
However, being a hero in general usually requires a few specific criteria, especially in theOne Pieceworld, as we’ve seen withcharacters like Garp and Koby. Mainly, this is a title bestowed upon someone for acting especially bravely in a dangerous or potentially world-changing event. Additionally, overall, a qualifier for being a hero in general could relate to being a morally upstanding individual, especially when faced with a majority of people who believe the opposite.
Luffy Has Saved Countless Kingdoms From Oppression
He’s Also Performed Admirably In Wartime Scenarios
Firstly, when it comes to being a moral individual, Luffy is by far one of the most heroic individuals in the series. Always willing to assist those in need, Luffy has done plenty of heroic actions, like freeingthe kingdoms of Dressrosa, Alabasta, and Fishman Island. This is especially true for an arc like Wano. Although Luffy’s initial motivation started with his alliance with Law, one of Luffy’s main motivations that he gained throughout the arc was to help the citizens of Wano.
Additionally, in more straightforward terms, being a hero is a title awarded to someone for great actions in the face of adversity, like howKoby earned his title in the Navy. For Luffy, the brave captain of the Straw Hats has performed plenty of heroic actions, with the stand-out being during the Marineford War. While the World Government may not have been keen on Luffy fighting desperately to save his brother, among pirates, Luffy’s role in Marineford could have easily earned him the title of hero.
Luffy Doesn’t Want To Be A Hero
Newer Pirates Would Describe Him As Their Hero
Although he claims that he doesn’t want to be a hero, and is simply adventuring for meat and freedom, this doesn’t mean that Luffy isn’t a hero. However, of course, in the eyes of the average citizens ofthe world ofOne Piece, since Luffy is a criminal based on the laws of the World Government, even if the system is corrupt, he may still be viewed as the villain of the adventure. Despite this, on the flip side, young pirates or future pirates, like Bartolomeo, view Luffy as a legendary hero inOne Piece.
I like heroes a lot, but I don’t want to be one! - Luffy
In the end, it’s fairly clear thatLuffy is a hero throughoutOne Piece. Although he isn’t what many fans would describe as a traditional hero, with his motivations often being fairly selfish, when push comes to shove, Luffy will always do what’s important for those who are oppressed by society. Hopefully, fans will have a chance to see Luffy’s heroics in action once again, asOne Piecedelves deeper into its Elbaf Arc.
One Piece
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One Piece is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. The series follows protagonist Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat Pirate crew as they explore the Grand Line to find the King of the Pirates' ultimate treasure, the One Piece, in order to become the next king. The manga’s popularity helped it spin off into a larger media franchise, including an anime with more than 1,000 episodes.
