Backstory Special: Zoro's Past

[we_are]

Ah, Zoro's past. To say that it's truncated is perhaps an understatement. Though it's difficult to say for sure, to read the manga it seems as if Oda wanted to put more, but wanted also to keep the story moving. A pretty good decision in my opinion. Still, there are far more questions than there are answers. Maybe they will forever remain relegated to headcanon, or perhaps the details of Zoro's past will be colored in in a future story arc or by Oda himself in some Q&A corner. However, as it stands, we only have what we have. That is, the manga, augmented somewhat by the anime.

In the anime, perhaps by necessity, Zoro's past is stretched out. We see him come out of nowhere, barefoot. He arrives at the dojo and challenges it, saying he's beat other dojo before, while he holds three shinai apiece in his typical three sword style. While I like the lengthening of this, it does add more problems. For instance, it's obvious he has no idea what he's doing--so did he lie or were the other dojo just that bad? Whatever the reason, we'll leave that at anime-canon* and move on.



To recap, Zoro is about to be excuted by Morgan and his firing squad of Marines just after Coby gets shot and Luffy arrives.



He looks pretty terrified here. Not afraid, but a kind of cold fear-- not because he's going to die, but because he's going to die without settling his promise, as seen below.



The first shot of the flashback leaves more questions than it does answers. We'll forego them for now, however, and just look at what is here. We open with Zoro defeated by Kuina for the 2000th time. Well if anything it speaks to Zoro's persistence to win. Also I love how Oda plays with perceptions. First of all, this:



Zomigosh! Zoro was beaten by a girl. For the 2000th time. Though seeing that is fairly typical these days with femme fatals and whatnot. More important, her expression. Her words say he's useless. But she's not exactly gloating. It seems more vulnerable somehow, added with the little -puff - of breath. It's like, she knows she's strong enough to beat him, but she also believes it's only temporary.

And then for the second turnaround:



This isn't just some kids' battle. Zoro is pretty darn strong, and even here they're underplaying it a bit by saying he's: “still very good” against adults. Not only can we see how strong Zoro is, we can see how strong Kuina is.


Kuina flat out tells it like it is. Aw yeah. You can also see some of the opposition she faces. The boys are mad, why? Because Kuina is so strong and likes to 'show off'. If it was Zoro, would they say the same?

Additionally:



Would they have accused him of secretly training had it been a guy who was so tough? Highly doubtful. There is very much a sense that for boys to be strong is something that is expected.



Zoro seems more pissed that he can't win. That he's not strong enough to beat her and can't figure out how. He doesn't accuse anyone of unfairness or cheating. Two things we see from this about his character are:
1) How honorable he is, recognizing the shortcomings in himself rather than projecting them on others.
2) How hard on himself and frustrated with himself he is.



Again, more evidence of Kuina's problem, before we even know what they are. The sensei does not say, she is more skilled, or has had more time to practice; just that she is older. This seems to suggest that one day this will change and all Zoro has to do is age. (as we will see proven later)


Firstly, we'll definitely hear this vow again. The fact that he has to make it again means he loses. I think that what we expect as readers, especially as readers of shonen manga, expect a character to stick by these grandiose words. We expect to see him win! Because he's strong! But no, even as an adult, Zoro loses more than one fight. Because, Zoro is flawed! Yes! It's true! He is and sometimes he can't win for whatever reason! Does this make him any less? No. For me, it shows far stronger ambition for someone to pick up after a loss and try again than someone who continually wins, no matter how much effort goes into it.


Secondly, oh the questions. Why does he want to be the world's number one swordsman? It has nothing to do with Kuina, not at this stage. Why does he want to be strong? What is driving him? What made him need to do this thing so badly? This isn't just blind ambition. He means this as much as Luffy means to be the Pirate King. The motivation, however, is nowhere to be seen.



Just to show something of Kuina's character, this is late into the night. Or at the very least, not early evening--and Kuina is still working. She is just as dedicated as Zoro is. Just as hardworking. She may have gotten her position by innate talent but plenty of that is hard work.



As you can see emphasized here. (After Zoro runs up with real katana and challenges her to a d-d-d-duel. -coff-) She was obviously working hard. And her expression is interesting. Knowing Kuina, we know that she's well aware of her own skill in relation to Zoro's-- so this match is one she can undoubtedly win-- yet she's willing to go up against him again. (and 2000 times previous) I think this shows that she really enjoys swordsmanship. Additionally, Zoro, despite his losses, is still a challenge. (and probably the only one in the dojo who will challenge her)

They fight, Zoro loses, and oh, hello expression we'll see again.



Shades of Mihawk loss much? Zoro really really really hates losing. Losing means failing. He hates failing no matter what. (which I think contributes to his lousy directional sense)

And then...Kuina. Oh, Kuina.



This is really hard for her. She feels that her time as a swordsman (and I think being taken seriously as a swordsman) is limited, and there is nothing she can do about it.



More for Kuina's words than Zoro's expression. Though I think he's just listening and trying to figure out why she's crying.
We see that Kuina has no support in her goal-- not even from her own father. Who can be seen as reflecting a chauvinistic world view and yet on the flip side, is probably trying to protect his daughter from disappointment.



Aww, bb. T.T It just really sucks here. If a guy has a dream like this, it's like: Yeah! Go get it! But if a girl has a dream like this, it's more of a side-eye, “do you know how hard it will be?”



And, man, what a time she's going through. Right on the cusp of womanhood, having to deal with wtf is going on with her body. Wanting something she can't have. Wanting to keep this dream and not enter a scary world. I can't help but identify.



Annd you know... It's really interesting. Zoro is probably one of the most traditionally masculine of the Mugiwara--and his role model is a girl. He wants nothing more than to be just like her. Maybe he admires her strength, her determination, her coolness as she walks away from defeating him. Whatever the case, the lessons he learned from Kuina, and his determination is still a reflection of her.**



He also wants to use Kuina as validation for his own ambition. This means that he thinks she's hella strong! And strong enough to not let things like physical strength get in her way! Also, it's interesting because she wants to be validated and acknowledged for her skill--not just because she is the dojo owners daughter. Zoro wants to be ackownledged for his skill not just because he's a man. Yep.



And here is the famous promise. Interesting to note, Kuina ties into Zoro's ambition, but she is not the cause of Zoro's ambition. He chooses that she become part of it because they share the same dream. They both want the world to hear their names and acknowledge their skill that they worked so hard for.



Aw yeah! Might I also mention it is a promise in a shonen manga made to a girl that does not involve protecting her. Typically, this kind of promise would be made to a boy who would then become a friendly rival.

And because Oda has a tendency to raise your spirits to the rafters so that he can sucker punch you in the gut, Kuina dies.



One may think that she was merely fridged.

super-heroines who have been "either de-powered, raped, or cut up and stuck in the refrigerator" in an effort to illustrate that female superheroes are disproportionately likely to be brutalized in comic books, usually to further the character arc of male super heroes

This is inaccurate however. First of all, Zoro's arc was well set before she died. His ambition would have been the same had she lived or died. Perhaps her death gives him a tiny push in the direction to be greater, but it's negligible since we've seen how hard and determined he was for it anyway.

Additionally, while yes it is brutal as hell, it's the kind of brutal that we face in everyday life. Someone healthy and active can fall downstairs and be dead. Life is short. Even the strongest is fragile. Vulnerable. Death is freaking inevitable no matter who you are, or how strong. The world is brutal theme is very prevalent here. There is nothing to avenge. There is nothing to prevent. It just is.

Also, Zoro's expression. He's just shocked. He doesn't know how the hell to process this.




Except by not being able to process it. To yell at her. It's just heartbreaking. He just wanted to spend his life challenging Kuina to become the strongest and now he can't. This scene is so heartbreaking.

He asks for Kuina's sword which the sensei readily gives, perhaps because he had no one else to give it to.
T.T You get em, Zoro.



Again, greater-- but greater so that heaven will her of his great name. So that Kuina will hear of his great name because it will reach up that high; so that she will hear it and know he fulfilled his promise.

And so ends Zoro's past, until Oda decides to throw us a bone.

So what have we learned?

1) Wado Ichimonji, Zoro's prized sword, was actually Kuina's sword, and now Zoro's treasure.

Treasure is oh so important in One Piece. We've seen three obvious examples of treasure so far.
The Straw Hat
Wado Ichimonji
Morgan's Statue

The difference, of course, is that the hat and Wado both have meaning behind them. Promise behind them. They are the weights that Luffy and Zoro carry for someone else. Not for the dreams of someone else, but the faith that other people put in them.

Morgan's statue was a symbol the faith that people didn't have in him. And perhaps that he didn't have in himself, which is why he felt he had to prove it. In other words, Morgan's statue was all about him.

Interestingly, all three treasures can be taken away or lost so easily. How many times has the hat gotten away from Luffy's grip or been damaged? Luffy had to retrieve Wado for Zoro right at the start?
And of course the statue completely broke. As much as these treasures are so important, they are also make the keeper highly vulnerable. We'll explore this more later, but keep in mind that this kind of treasure is very much a double edged sword.


2) Aside from more of Zoro's core personality and why Wado is his treasure, not much. This shows, that in One Piece, while pasts may shape a character to a certain degree, they do not inform the character. In other words, Zoro's core doesn't change after Kuina's death. He is still Zoro no matter what happens. So despite what happened in the past, it is important to look not only at what happened, but who that character is.



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*Not that I'm saying that anime-canon isn't legitimate canon, the anime may take liberties that Oda didn't intend. I can't really say one way or the other (except in cases where I can. We'll get to that later)

**The treatement of women in OP, especially in the latter chapters, is viewed as problematic. This scene in particular comes up again in Skypiea with the case of 'wtf are you doin, Oda!'. However, I will save that for when I get there. Otherwise, I will address the problems as they arise, though this isn't meant to be a critique of One Piece--merely an examination of what is presented.