No two characters represent One Piece's true meaning like Sabo and Luffy

Modified Oct 29, 2024 02:32 GMT

No two characters represent One Piece's true meaning like Sabo and Luffy (Image via Toei Animation)

From a narrative thematic viewpoint, mangaka Eiichiro Oda’s best-stelling One Piece manga series is one of the richest and most layered works in the medium’s history. There are countless palpable and intertwining themes throughout the series, such as freedom, inherited will, the meaning and importance of dreams, and more.

One of the most apparent and noticeable is that of freedom, especially as a foil to the oppression One Piece uses at the core of its overarching narrative. Likewise, no character better represents this pursuit of individual freedom than Luffy, whose goal is quite literally to become the Pirate King since they’re the freest person on the seas.

However, the theme of freedom against systematic oppression is explored best through the Revolutionary Army. Specifically, the Revolutionary Army’s second-in-command, Sabo, does well to highlight this theme throughout One Piece. Likewise, Luffy and Sabo serve as the two characters in the series who best represent the series’ central theme and true meaning.

One Piece uses Luffy and Sabo to show there is no straightforward, one-size-fits-all pursuit of freedom

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In One Piece, Luffy represents the pursuit of personal freedom by nature of his aforementioned dream and other established values. He often won’t help people unless they ask for it, as shown with Nami in the Arlong Park Arc and Nefertari Vivi in the Alabasta Arc. The Sabaody Archipelago Arc’s storyline of the merwoman Camie being captured also highlights this.

The Water 7 Arc also shows the flipside of this via Usopp’s determination to leave the crew. Since Luffy respects and values personal freedom above all else, he allows Usopp to make his own decisions to the point of leaving the Going Merry with him. He likewise didn’t seek out Usopp in the aftermath of the arc’s events, instead giving him the freedom to choose whether or not he’d apologize in order to return to the crew.

Generally speaking, Luffy’s decisions and demeanor in the series are emblematic of his belief in the value of personal freedom and pursuing that freedom. While some exceptions exist, he is generally unbothered by macrocosmic examples of freedom’s revocation via oppressive systems. That’s not to say he agrees with them, but he believes those in those systems should find the will to ask for help before being offered any.

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Sabo, meanwhile, serves as a foil to Luffy in the context of One Piece’s commentary on freedom and oppression. As a leader of the Revolutionary Army, he inherently opposes the oppressive system that is the World Government and those smaller oppressive systems that it enables. This includes slavery, corrupt kingdoms that abuse their citizens, and more, which can be seen throughout the series.

This fits his character better, having been born a noble and raised as one throughout his early childhood. He’s intimately familiar with the consequences of these systems and the ideals of those at the top. Rather than waiting for those trapped in these systems to ask for freedom, he has a personal connection and deep enough knowledge of them to take such initiative. Conversely, Luffy lacks these formative experiences with systematic oppression, hence his lack of opinion and initiative action against them.

However, one can argue that Sabo’s opposition to systematic oppression also encapsulates the pursuit and high valuation of personal freedom. This is correct; however, Sabo dealing primarily with the larger systems via his Revolutionary Army affiliation distinguishes them as his primary commentative purpose. In the same way, the fact that Luffy’s character focuses on individual freedom even when staring systematic oppression in the face distinguishes his thematic role.

Final thoughts

The two surviving members of One Piece's ASL trio embody the series' main explorations of freedom (Image via Toei Animation)

It’s accurate that Luffy and Sabo are One Piece’s main devices for the theme of and commentary on freedom as a philosophical concept and human rights. However, it would be inaccurate to say they do so similarly.

Luffy and Sabo focus on different aspects of freedom and its foil concept of oppression via their respective roles in the series. Through his actions, like pursuing the title of Pirate King, Luffy’s character represents the pursuit of personal and individual freedom. In contrast, Sabo’s character serves as representation of freedom from systemic oppression and oppressors via his origins and role in the Revolutionary Army.

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Edited by Joseph Brogan