Those are a lot of interesting thoughts! Thanks for sharing. XD I don't really have much to say on them other than appreciation for them since I largely agree.
However, I'm not entireely sure where Luffy said he'd become stronger for others. I may be missing something (even something I said! haha) So feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Luffy's desire to become stronger was so that he could make it out there and fulfill his own dream and Shanks' faith in him.
And stronger for others nnh...
Well Zoro does want to get stronger and Kuina is wrapped up in that, but he wanted to get stronger because of his own dreams AND hers, so the two of them are side by side rather than just saying he's going to get stronger for her sake.
Sanji's will to get stronger is initially tied up in the Baratie but his strength becomes kind of his ticket to self-respect as I kind of touch on in Part V. I mean that it's FOR someone else is very evident-- but it's also very much for himself later on.
In fact the only one who I think becomes stronger solely for the sake of others aside from Usopp (it comes late but it does come) at least in their childhoods is Nami who may not have said as much but became stronger solely to save her village. Of course, I'll touch on the ins and outs of that when I reach the Arlong Park Arc.
I'm pointing this out because, for the most part there's an inherit selfishness or 'me'ness that either starts from the beginning (as in Zoro's case pre-vow) or blossoms from it (as in Sanji's case). Annd that's okay. Because they are not paragons of virtue or heroes. And realizing the selfishness helps to come at them at a human level which is One Piece's greatest strengths.
Also, insofar as Oda's intention-- this analysis is intertextual. In other words, I'm reading it based on what I see/read. I can't begin to know what Oda's intentions were one way or another. Even my interpretations may be off from what he originally intended. But no one reads any story the same exact way. So XD basically I just want to say that author intent doesn't really factor into this analysis.
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However, I'm not entireely sure where Luffy said he'd become stronger for others. I may be missing something (even something I said! haha) So feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Luffy's desire to become stronger was so that he could make it out there and fulfill his own dream and Shanks' faith in him.
And stronger for others nnh...
Well Zoro does want to get stronger and Kuina is wrapped up in that, but he wanted to get stronger because of his own dreams AND hers, so the two of them are side by side rather than just saying he's going to get stronger for her sake.
Sanji's will to get stronger is initially tied up in the Baratie but his strength becomes kind of his ticket to self-respect as I kind of touch on in Part V. I mean that it's FOR someone else is very evident-- but it's also very much for himself later on.
In fact the only one who I think becomes stronger solely for the sake of others aside from Usopp (it comes late but it does come) at least in their childhoods is Nami who may not have said as much but became stronger solely to save her village. Of course, I'll touch on the ins and outs of that when I reach the Arlong Park Arc.
I'm pointing this out because, for the most part there's an inherit selfishness or 'me'ness that either starts from the beginning (as in Zoro's case pre-vow) or blossoms from it (as in Sanji's case). Annd that's okay. Because they are not paragons of virtue or heroes. And realizing the selfishness helps to come at them at a human level which is One Piece's greatest strengths.
Also, insofar as Oda's intention-- this analysis is intertextual. In other words, I'm reading it based on what I see/read. I can't begin to know what Oda's intentions were one way or another. Even my interpretations may be off from what he originally intended. But no one reads any story the same exact way. So XD basically I just want to say that author intent doesn't really factor into this analysis.