One of the most thrilling aspects of One Piece is Luffy’s enmity against Blackbeard. Both characters belonging to the D clan share similarities yet are poles apart in many ways. However, there is a trait that sets Whitebeard’s apprentice apart from the Straw Hat, and this might be unsettling.
As an ambitious pirate, Marshall D. Teach went the extra mile in his pursuits, which is evident in his acquiring two devil fruits. But that is not it, especially with how these pursuits are rather “inhuman,” as pointed out by Shanks, Ace, and Straw Hat. There might be a deeper meaning attached to this as well.
Shanks, Ace, and Luffy’s speculations about Blackbeard
Marshall D. Teach, also known as Blackbeard is one of the most powerful and menacing pirates in Oda’s series. Not only is he a Yonko, but he has a crew of formidable pirates who wreak havoc, which is obvious with Drum Island and Baltigo. This fits perfectly with his unwavering zeal and pursuit of power.
Most evidently, he is hated for killing his crewmate Thatch and stealing his Devil Fruit powers. He is the only pirate in the series to be a wielder of two daunting Devil Fruit abilities, namely, Yami-Yami no Mi and Gura-Gura no Mi. But someone famous once said that with power comes responsibility.
In his case, though, his powers and ambitions are laden with drawbacks and difficulties as well. His powers and his ultimate association with the D clan are clubbed perfectly with his ambitious persona. Yet, Shanks, Ace, and Luffy’s speculations have fans scratching their brains out.
In particular, Redditors stand puzzled with the character’s sleeplessness and gave their two cents regarding this.
So what exactly is Oda cooking with Blackbeard not being able to sleep?
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Of late, there have been several theories regarding his sleeplessness, and most fans associated it with trauma. Some even went so far as to suggest him being a survivor of slavery. However, it still isn’t confirmed. What remains interesting for the most part is the dichotomy of dreams and ambitions.
The dichotomy of dreams and ambitions in One Piece
Other than foreshadowing, Eiichiro Oda brilliantly draws contrasts between the characters in One Piece. Blackbeard and The Straw Hat are some great examples of this. They are similar in their drive and zeal as pirates, but it is the morality that sets them apart in this case.
Dreams and ambitions are a recurrent theme in the manga, which is attached to the idea of liberation. Both metaphorically and in actuality, Luffy represents freedom in every sense. To be able to dream and face life head-on, along with crewmates, is heart-rending.
With Blackbeard, however, there are several meanings hidden in his inability to sleep. Yet it doesn’t hinder his dreams, passion, and his hunger for power as an ambitious and zealous pirate. Both characters, in some way or the other, are two sides of the same coin.
Interestingly, Oda imbued his character with depth and gravity in those subtleties. The loneliness, sleeplessness, and crying bring out the Pirate’s vulnerability and add another layer to his character.
One Piece is available for streaming on Netflix. The manga is available for reading on Shueisha’s Manga Plus app.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
