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I've seen a lot of Luffy slander on the TL lately, and I wanted to give my take on it, so here is a thread:
"Is Luffy a bad character and MC?"
I see this point made about Luffy a lot, but I couldn't disagree more...
"Is Luffy a bad character and MC?"
I see this point made about Luffy a lot, but I couldn't disagree more...
...And the main reason people have this idea is that Luffy " has no character development."
First, I want to dispel some misconceptions that most people have regarding character development. More often than not, when people refer to character development, they confuse...
First, I want to dispel some misconceptions that most people have regarding character development. More often than not, when people refer to character development, they confuse...
...it with character progression. So, what is the difference between the two?
Character progression is about change, and it can be negative or positive. It is a fundamental change in a character's personality. Thorfinn is a great example for both.; he goes...
Character progression is about change, and it can be negative or positive. It is a fundamental change in a character's personality. Thorfinn is a great example for both.; he goes...
...from a playful and innocent kid to a hatred-filled and revenge-seeking kid, which is a negative change. Following Askladd's death, he changes from this state to someone who wants peace and hates violence; that is a positive character change.
On the other hand, character development is about fleshing out already existing character traits and giving a character more depth and believability; even expanding on a character's taste in food could be considered character development...
...We see this with Luffy throughout the series; on Drum Island, when the villagers shot Vivi, Luffy wanted to punch them, but Vivi told him to hold back for the sake of Nami. So, they bowed together; this taught Luffy that violence isn't always the right answer...
...Another time was when he lost Ace. Jimbei taught him to keep Ace in his memory and stop grieving for the sake of his crew; Jembei taught him to appreciate what he still has rather than what he lost. This was clear when Luffy didn't hesitate to tell Tama that Ace passed away..
...This was clear when Luffy didn't hesitate to tell Tama that Ace passed away. This shows that Luffy got over his trauma. These are just a few examples. So, does Luffy develop? Yes, he does.
So why doesn't Luffy change? This is a conscious choice by Oda; because of the type...
So why doesn't Luffy change? This is a conscious choice by Oda; because of the type...
...So why doesn't Luffy change? This is a conscious choice by Oda; because of the type of story, One Piece is; One Piece is about change; changing the world and its people. And that is the purpose of a static protagonist. Every time Luffy arrives at a new island,...
...he brings change with him. Dresserosa is a solid example of this; by the time Luffy left the island, the country made a tremendous leap forward; Doflamingo was no longer ruling, and King Riku took to the throne. Also, Luffy's fight convinced Fujitora that the...
...Warlords system needs to be abolished. This is not just limited to One Piece; other manga and even movies do the same. Black Clover, Gladiator, and Emma (manga) are a few examples.
Another complaint is how Luffy didn't change after Ace's death. People wanted him to...
Another complaint is how Luffy didn't change after Ace's death. People wanted him to...
...become an edge lord and revenge-driven. . But this contradicts what a good protagonist represents. Every good protagonist needs to reflect the ideals of their own series. Freedom is the most prominent theme of One Piece. So, Luffy needs to embody this ideal...
...But if he becomes overcome with the desire to take revenge and become blinded by it, can he truly be a free person?
Luffy will never change, and that is for the better, but he will continue to learn and mature.
Done!
Luffy will never change, and that is for the better, but he will continue to learn and mature.
Done!
