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Arlong Park Arc: Part II
In this part, we see more of Nojiko, see Usopp on his first steps of characterization outside of Syrup, look at Nami, Arlong, and themes of endurance and the power of acting.
When we last left, Usopp had been clonked into unconsciousness by a protective Nojiko.
First of all, let’s address just how much of a BAMF Nojiko is. She knocked Usopp out and then hauled ass fast enough to get rid of the Fishman all while carrying Usopp.
It’s not an exaggeration either, because remember when we were talking about the power of acting? Nojiko isn’t an actress. What you see is what you get, 100% and kind of brutal at times. Still, no matter how harsh she is, she cares. She tucked Usopp up under a blanket, put a damp cloth on his head. She saved his life. That is all a pretty big deal right there.
Of course, Usopp is a little freaked out. He was knocked out and is waking up in a strange home.
But it’s a nice home and well kept. It’s a very homey home.
Here, Usopp is jumping to a conclusion without looking at the facts. Yeah she did knock him out but he is in no way imprisoned, nor is there any sign of a Fishman and he is being cared for. Still, you can’t blame him too much for running on instinct. But the saving comment is how he’s trying to get control of the situation by mentioning this big fact because you know it’s not easy to save someone who could break you like a twig so a little more acknowledgement a little less kidnapping would be great, thanks.
Nojiko is obviously used to this sort of thing, but despite what she says, she’s not too irritated. There’s no vein or drop of sweat. She’s not going to be walked over, though, setting Usopp straight with the facts.
Then she goes right back to Chabo who is the one who most needs her ear right now. And here she’s lecturing him but it’s with patience. She’s merely stating the facts and then letting him speak.
I may have jumped the gun a bit when supposing that Chabo’s father stood up to Arlong. Since this statement makes it vague and the man may very well have been killed in the aftermath. Still however he was killed, it was obviously due to Arlong and from the boy’s memories, Arlong relishes in it. Angry he may be but not angry enough to not know exactly what he’s doing. Even Hacchan participates. You can see him in the background hoisting a big rock.
Usopp realizes that the monster left grooves in the earth while Chabo explains the Fishman said they brought it over from the Grand Line which makes Usopp freak out a little and then:
Nojiko takes a moment to absorb this and think about it. She may not be an actress but she is careful. The entire situation is too volatile for her to just say anything. Nojiko has to make sure the words count.
But that doesn’t mean that her words are gonna be nice. But in this situation there’s no room for nice. I don’t think Nojiko has the mental energy to argue Chabo down from this. So I think in part she’s trying to shock him out of it, but also she means this, especially in the far left panel where there’s the manifestation of her will. Death is no small thing, she won’t stop him but she’s going to let him know just how stupid it is. He’ll just go in and die.
Also I love Usopp here and how domestic he is. Well I doubted you for a second but now I’m going to sip coffee with you. But man this bluntness shocks him. I don’t think he’s ever met someone this coldly blunt who would say a thing like this without any cushion at all. Well, Luffy would, of course, but Usopp hasn’t seen that yet.
But Nojiko won’t let Nami’s efforts go unnoticed. So she makes sure Chabo knows. He won’t be able to take for granted what it is they did for him. It’s also a variation on Luffy telling Sanji: “That’s not what he saved you for!” They didn’t save Chabo so he could go back and kill himself pointlessly.
For Nojiko, she’s pissed at Chabo. She shows him no validation. No support. This is already a scary ass thing he’s doing and she’s not even saying it’s a right one and hates him for doing it. She’s distancing herself from him, turning him back, throwing him out of the house, showing him just how much she hates this stupid idea of his. Partly I think trying to rattle him, but also really mad at his choices.
Chabo just looks shocked and a little betrayed as he’s trying to hold it in. Perhaps wondering why she doesn’t get it. Why she isn’t on his side.
But Usopp, ah Usopp. In contrast to Luffy who steps back and sees how things play out with people, Usopp can’t do that. He’s someone who butts in, but in this case it’s purely for Chabo’s sake. Note when he’s butting in, too. It’s not at Nojiko telling Chabo to go ahead and die and calling his revenge pointless. It’s when Nojiko tells him she hates him and throws him out and that’s what gets Usopp more than anything. To be tossed out and abandoned. Yeah the kid might be wrongheaded about this whole mess, but he is just a kid who has gone through a llot, and should be helped not kicked out.
Annd here Nojiko loses her temper.
The so what if he’s just a kid line is very telling. There is no room for kids in the decision of life and death. But also it’s a callback to the kind of life Nojiko has had and her own childhood. She saw her whole town wrecked at maybe two years old, with nearly everyone dead except for Nami and Bellmere. Then Bellemere was killed, her world was turned upside down again, and she’s done nothing for eight years but to watch Nami suffer and hold her together the best she can.
Of course she’s outraged.
Especially since Nami is working so hard and suffering so much and enduring despite all that. Together they endured the loss of Bellemere, and the reign of Arlong which hits them painfully. And look at the manifestation of will when she talks of Nami. This is what she feels strongly about, what she believes in. Not just enduring but hoping for a bright future. That’s what Nami is doing and that’s what she is doing and that’s what she’s trying to tell Chabo to do. A bright future can’t come if you’re dead.
For Usopp, he is is raging at her here and it’s not often you see him this pissed early on. However, again while he’s angered on Chabo’s behalf, it’s because he would be angry if someone said this to him or his Pirates. He has no idea what Chabo is actually feeling right now.
And Chabo is frustrated. He’s so full of rage and pain he doesn’t know what to do with it all. Vengeance is easy in the heat of the moment with adrenaline coursing through you, but actually stopping to think about it, death is terrifying. Also he’s just had a really long day. In a very big way, Chabo represents the frustration and helplessness of those around him. He’s a kid so he can’t hide his emotions as easily as the adults in his life can. He wants to do something, but against a Fishman, what could done?
Also worth note, as soon as he talks, both Nojiko and Usopp turn their attention to him and listen. Usopp doesn’t know what to say to this at all. But it speaks to his caring nature, because he is concerned and you can see it but this kind of situation—he’s not really used to giving that kind of advice. Nojiko, however, is instantly calm. Her anger comes in bursts but doesn’t last long at all and she bears no ill will against Chabo who is just as frustrated as they all are.
And Nojiko gives him advice. But let’s pull back and look at what she’s saying in the context of the arc itself. Her entire mentality has been against pointless revenge. Against dying to prove a point. She wants Chabo to live. To be with his family. To endure as long as he can. We’ve seen examples of people enduring before this. In the town that Morgan controlled firstly, and also a little with Mayor Boodle's town. But in this arc in this instance, this is where we really dig in and look at the concept of enduring through difficult times. And, more important, enduring with family, enduring together. We’ll get more of this as the arc goes along.
So let’s look at Usopp here, because really it’s this chapter that informs his base characterization as he begins on his first steps into this world. First the top right panel, he’s happy that this worked out the way it did, but it’s a dynamic pose. His arms are folded, we’re looking up at him. It’s almost a heroic pose. To me it’s like he’s thinking ‘what a great ending!’ but in terms of a story that he’s heard or a play that he’s witnessed. I mean yes of course he sees them as human and connected with Chabo’s struggles, but they don’t linger with him. He’s somewhat disconnected still and very internal.
We also see he has remnants of small town prejudices. It suggests that good upstanding people (especially in Syrup Village) do not have tattoos and the ones that do are not good at all. ** But to his credit, he accepts what he sees in front of his nose rather than continuing to rely on the stereotype. He’s seen Nojiko be good so she’s good despite the tattoos. I love Nojiko here, too. It’s another great example of her character. She takes no shit from anyone, but she’s calm about it and doesn’t hold a grudge, merely turning the conversation around.
Usopp in the final left panel has gone back into the story mode, putting himself back in the role of Captain and putting on a stern face so Nojiko understands the seriousness of his mission.
Nojiko informs Usopp that Nami’s a member of the Arlong Pirates, which Usopp freaks out about. Then that this is her and Nami’s home, which he again freaks out about.
I love how Nojiko calmly explains the circumstances, but not all of them, keeping up the façade of Nami being a witch. Because really what Nami is going after is not Usopp’s business and the fact that he’s looking for her probably means she wants to keep them at a distance for one reason or another.
Usopp is astonished, naturally, and I don’t have much to say about his exaggerated faces but I did want to point out that Betraying her hometown is likely really a sticking point with him. He went through hell to save his own hometown and Kuro’s actions were nothing less than a betrayal.
Firstly, he’s jumping to conclusions again. But it’s actually pretty understandable. He’s got nothing else to go on and besides which, no matter how happily Nami laughed, she did go off with the ship and treasure. This is so many shades of Kuro right there. Get in close, pretend to be someone’s friend, and then steal everything of value. Usopp is livid about this. I think he’s mad both at what she did and in being duped like this.
Secondly, and we’ll see the culmination of it very soon, but the “I’ve got things to think about” line says that he’s on the verge of making ultimate decisions that are not his to make. In other words, he’s acting like the captain he’s told Nojiko he was. And he truly believes he is one and can and should do this, too.
Nojiko isn’t even really phased by this outburst, instead picking up on the line that most gets to her. That small surprised smile at these words. Nami probably hasn’t laughed anything near to happily in a long time.
And Usopp, despite his anger, is pretty lax with his spiritual punishments. XD She deserves spiritual punishment (or mental abuse as another translation puts it) so he’s going to ignore her! That’ll show her! Of course it shows that he’s sort of a gentle soul in the sense that it doesn’t occur to him to think up a lot worse… But of course it’s not to underestimate the severity of that punishment. To Nami it might not be a big deal, but to Usopp, being ignored is something he just can’t handle. It’s a pretty heavy punishment indeed. Especially being ignored and knowing you are. As for Nojiko in that panel, I don’t think she really knows what it is he’s planning to do but just in case reminds him to stay away.
Though in this translation he calls the Merry “his ship” and another just has “the ship” , the Merry is nevertheless his number one priority at this point. He assumes control, though he has no right to, as firstly, he’s not the captain and secondly the Merry belongs to all of them. They all fought for the village and risked their lives. But as we’ve seen Usopp through (mostly) his best throughout Syrup Island, here we truly see him at his worst which is self centered and a bit selfish. But also being blinded by these traits to some extent.
Nami did take the ship, yes. But Nojiko, who lives with Nami, is her sister and doesn’t seem particularly phased about Nami being an evil witch, is encouraging Usopp to leave on said ship. There is no holding it for ransom or deceit and he trusts Nojiko at her word. Yet instead of seeing that this may be a problem, he decides to get out whilst the getting is good because she’s obviously irredeemable.
Nojiko points to the Merry outside the window and Usopp figures out the lay of the town and then, to his credit…
He does remember Zoro has been captured and realizes this is a legitimate problem that he can’t run away from. This is evidence that he wasn’t convinced that Zoro died, and even here I don’t think he’s fully convinced that Zoro’s going to die. May be in terrible trouble, yes, but not going to die. Not even necessarily because he’s Zoro either, but because it’s something disconnected from him. It’s still slightly story.
Also look at what he says. Zoro got himself caught. That sad unfortunate man. Remember that Usopp’s lies are things he wants to be true. In other words, it’s not Usopp’s fault that Zoro got caught. But there’s also a sense that he’s the hero of this story. The Great Captain. Great Captains and heroes are never wrong, always right and if bad things happen it’s not due to them. But despite his words and his heroic pose, his face betrays his true feelings. Like, oh shit what am I going to do about this.
And then we tick over to Zoro. First as the ship enters Arlong Park at the end of chapter 70
Zoro’s making the most of a bad situation here. He’s in trouble and he knows it. Not big trouble. No. But trouble enough. And he’s got enough pride to let them know they’re not just messing with anyone. The situation in which he ended up here may not be the best but since he is, he’s not going to be defeated or even cowed. He’ll go down smirking in the unlikely event he goes down at all.
And then we have Zoro directly after Usopp’s statement. It’s not easy to say for sure what went down to make Zoro pissed like this. It has to be more than Arlong just asking him more than once. I can see Arlong insulting him somehow, though I can’t imagine what he said. However the point is, from a story perspective, it shows that Zoro takes no shit either and gives back as good as he gets, especially when irritated. He also hasn’t forgotten the true goal, that is, looking for Nami and getting her back. Despite his reservations, it’s what Luffy is counting on him to do and he’s going to do it.
And we’ll have a full page of Arlong’s spiel.
Firstly, why does Arlong let Zoro off the hook for the “half fish” slight? Not because he’s afraid of him. One human? Nah. But Arlong wants to be acknowledged. He wants to be right. He wants Zoro to live so that Zoro can tremble in the realization of these words. It’s rhetoric that Arlong wants humans to believe and for his brothers to believe and what he wants to believe as well. That Fishmen are evolved species. That they are better all the way around. That puny humans standing against them is against nature.
But again, given all we know of Fishman Island, which has to be protected by a human—And Fisher Tiger who was betrayed by humans. And Arlong himself who got his ass kicked by a human. There’s no way he believes this fully. But he’s also banking on the fact that no one in the East Blue would have an idea about the Grand Line politics of Fishman Island or anything else that happened, so he’s free to go as grandiose as he likes without anyone rubbing it in his face.
Also here comes Nami, her posture completely changed from when she first came to Arlong Park. Rather than being somewhat open with her arms out, though obviously tense, here she is rigid with anger. Why?
Because she knows Zoro is here and that things have gotten much more complicated.
Let’s peel this back a bit and look at what’s going on here and how it’s all connected.
Her tone is completely different than it was when she first arrived. She’s saying what she thinks of Arlong’s bullshit without flinching. Where before she had an air of air of vulnerability, here she’s as tough as nails. The reason for the change? Well, time for one. It’s only been maybe a few hours , true, but Nami doesn’t have the luxury to be vulnerable here. She has to be tough. Has to continually fight the pressure and not let Arlong take advantage of her any more than he does already. So she had to shore herself up quickly.
Second, she has to act on two levels here but it’s all concerned with keeping Zoro alive and her own position within the group unaffected. She can’t agree with Arlong’s words, that would look too suspicious, but disagreeing with them, which she’s likely done before, is enough to keep up the ‘this is the same old song and dance’ routine. Also not agreeing with Arlong’s words makes her look tough and bitchy also showing familiarity, saying in no uncertain terms that she belongs to Arlong’s group rather than Luffy’s.
Arlong is letting her have her way because I think he likes it when she fights back. Even though she’s one of them and as smart as them ( and she has to be smarter and better than any other humans otherwise why would the Fishmen need her if they are so superior) the fact that she doesn’t believe in his theory means she also sets herself apart from them. In this state somewhere between nakama and human, he can rely on her to give him maps while at the same time abuse her at his whim without being compelled by his very ideals to kill her or otherwise put her out of commission
Zoro for his part is just startled as hell to see her there.
But surprised as he is, Zoro doesn’t listen to what Arlong says, instead asking Nami to explain herself. He trusts her words over those of Arlong. The manifestation of will, is a bit tricky here. I think it’s mostly an indicator of Zoro trying to figure out what the hell Nami is doing. Because yeah, what Arlong said, sure fine. But Nami has always made it a point to say that she wasn’t a pirate. So why would she be joining up with these guys that she doesn’t even particularly seem to like. She’s not just annoyed here after all. She’s got this sort of cold rage going on.
Anyway hes’ really thinking hard about this, so much so that his forehead veins are bulging. And why is he thinking so hard? Well I’ll get to that in a second.
Arlong asks if Nami and Zoro are acquaintances and Nami says they aren’t and that Zoro’s just some guy that she stole loot from.
I love that Nami was well aware that they were chasing after her. I imagine she tried to lose them and I imagine she was somewhat successful. However that didn’t matter once they figured out where she was headed. Aside from that, Zoro in the top panel has nothing to say to that. He’s just looking at her, trying to figure it out.
Bottom right, why do eyebrow raises look good on him? /coff.
Anyway, he asks because he’s still thinking hard about this and trying to guess who she really is. Why does he have to? Because he’s completely out of his element. Zoro tends to let people be who they are and to present themselves however they like (so long as it doesn’t steal someone else’s thunder, as I said.) and normally he’d just allow Nami to do the same and maybe even believe her presentation…because what does he care?
But now it’s different. Now Luffy wants Nami back so Zoro has to figure out who she is underneath this façade, or if it’s a façade. He has to find the true Nami. So this question tied into his manifestation of will above suggests that he’s focusing all his mental energies on this, that this is the most important thing in the world to him right now. And his motivations have nothing to do with Nami at all, but out of his loyalty and belief in Luffy.
Zoro’s a wee bit hardcore in other words.
(Also I’m somewhat rethinking the flecks being a manifestation of will. I haven’t decided they aren’t yet, and certainly indicative of some strong emotion—but is it just a visual effect or does it mean something more? If you guys have any thoughts, I’d like to hear them)
Nami is in full actress mode now and she’s good at playing the bad girl. She looks devious here, too, but also a little frozen. For me at least there’s definitely something a little mask like about her expression. But artistic interpretation aside, Nami is making damn sure Zoro knows where her loyalties lie, and hinting about how she had betrayed them and lied about not being a pirate.
Here? Arlong is partly laughing at Zoro for being tricked and tickled that Nami did manage to trick him. I think he likes her cleverness. But what he’s also doing is needling Nami hard, getting her right where it hurts most.
He knows why she’s getting money. But he says it in such a way that it sounds like a betrayal of Bellmere. He’s reminding her she works willingly for her adopted mother’s murderer just to get some beri. As for why he’s doing it, I think perhaps either to make her look more terrible than even she wants to be in front of Zoro, or to get her back for talking back against his ideals, or just for getting her face to look like that.
Because that hurts. And that hurts a lot. Because, as I said, she can’t even deny it, not really. It feels like a betrayal. Everyone else in the village (for her sake, but still) makes it feel like a betrayal. And to have the wounds of her life opened so callously like that? She can’t help it if her mask cracks as she desperately tries to reign in the emotion.
And Zoro sees that. Of course he does. He’s watching her too carefully to miss it.
In the final panel, Arlong is driving the screws in a little deeper now, because even as she does it to get money, I also think he’s trying to shape her more and more into what he wants her to be. But he’s not just twisting the screws into her, but Zoro as well, or so he hopes to. Also talking as he does about backup almost seems to be a subtle threat. As if Arlong is saying, we’re going to be right behind her to mess you up if you do anything. Though admittedly it could be something as simple as just telling Zoro how she operates.
And Zoro, yeah, he’s playing his part in this game. He doesn’t believe her, but he wants to see what she’ll do and how she’ll react. Nami is surprised at this sudden shift in mood. She didn’t expect it to be this easy or for Zoro to be so blasé about it. Her expression is almost as if she’s trying to figure out what his game is and if he really means it. Because I think this is off for her, too. She’s seen dedicated Zoro. She’s seen dumb Zoro. She’s seen Zoro protecting Usopp by using his own body as a shield. So I don’t think she thinks he’d be so smirky and accepting in this situation.
Also I love the details of the two Fishmen just having a round of rum in the background. Tense situation? Nothing to do with us! Cheers!
And, oh that smirk. Nami’s going to come to recognize it in the future. It’s the smirk that says, I see something is claiming to be strong and I’m going to test it to see how strong it is. Basically, if she’s going to say it, she better be prepared to back it up. Also, he’s playing the game right back at her, leading her to believe he thinks what he doesn’t. This is fun for him, too. He’s presenting it as a challenge for himself and for her. Because that’s just how Zoro thinks. Getting Nami back is going to be a challenge so if she breaks first, that means (to him anyway) that he won.
Nami is so used to people believing it, though. I mean she opened up to Nojiko so Nojiko knows the truth, but she truly thinks everyone else she cares about believes this of her and it’s so easy to convince them of it. On top of that I highly doubt she’s gotten close to anyone else before Luffy, so for her, if it’s easy to make people believe then, it definitely is now. And it kills me because she’s just so relieved about it. It’s hard to hide it even for her. Her expression is so many shades of ‘thank god this is over’. Will she feel hurt about it? Maybe later. But right now the longer Zoro sticks around, the more tenuous her position becomes.
And then Zoro jumps backward into the water. Nami’s startled at first. Everyone is startled trying to figure out why the hell this guy did something like that.
The dialogue here doesn’t matter. All that does matter is Nami’s focus on the water and Zoro not coming up as she’s trying to figure out what the hell he’s doing and coming to terms with what he just did. She is going to have to save his ass. It’s not in her to not save his ass and it’s almost if she’s hoping he’ll come up on his own so she doesn’t have to save him and risk being mistaken for liking him.
Arlong looks kind of annoyed here. I don’t think he’s second guessing the exchange at all . In other words he buys that Zoro mistrusts her. But as to why he’s annoyed could be from a variety of factors. Is he annoyed because the game of using him to taunt Nami is over? Is he annoyed because Zoro seemed to end it on his own terms or thought to escape? Likewise Is he saying that to test her? Or because Zoro’s just not worth the time to save from drowning? Maybe a combination of all of that.
In either case, Nami can’t let him die. Even though by saving him she’ll be risking a lot. He might end up even being killed anyway, but she can’t let him die this way. She has to give him the fighting chance. And Nami taking this personal risk at the expense of another’s life is something we’ve consistently seen her do. Right from the beginning, yes, she turned Luffy in and got him caged—but then did all she could to get him out of it again. When her back was to the wall and there was no one else there, she helped Usopp, too, and helped Zoro by risking her life to fling his swords at him. Nami can’t let people die.
Everyone is asking what Nami is doing and what the meaning of it. But Arlong doesn’t say anything. There’s nothing to indicate here, or later on, that he’ s even startled by this. This tells me that he knows Nami and knows this is typical for her. But he is questioning just how much this guy means to her and maybe even wondering if he’s going to be a problem.
Then, damn Nami. She basically just hauled Zoro up out of the water. He’s gotta weigh about 180 pounds if not more, wet and immobile and she just pulls him. Granted she probably has a shit ton of adrenaline coursing through her system, but she’s pretty strong herself.
And here Zoro’s showing he’s not the right man for this job. I mean he’s smirking
But note what he says, too. He gets that aspect. That she can’t let one person die. He’s gotten one layer of her true personality peeled back and he’s making sure they both know it.
And she is pissed at him. Verging on livid because she’s afraid. There is a delicate balance here and he was tipping it by his very presence and now tipping it even more by being obnoxious.
And this, ah it’s another place with that manifestation…and maybe it’s not will all the time but intense freaking emotion. Because Zoro is talking to Nami familiarly now. He’s won, remember, so since he’s won, she’s on their side and he knows it and she knows it and he’s going to make sure the Fishmen know it, too. And it’s like he’s taking a hammer and smashing at everything that Nami has worked so hard for these past eight years.
She’s not worried for herself—but she is worried what Arlong will do. He is a vindictive asshole, as we’ve seen and as we will see. Zoro acting familiar is putting Cocoyashi in dire threat. Maybe not all of it, but even just one person or building is too much to lose. Also Zoro is putting himself at considerable risk in Nami’s mind. Like Gin, she doesn’t think Arlong can be beaten. (Because if she did, she would have basically had Zoro sic ‘im), and the more familiar Zoro is with her, the more he’s signing his own death warrant.
This is an intense struggle for dominance right here. Nami cannot let Zoro have his way. She’s frantic. Showing Arlong how much he means nothing. Threatening him. Hitting him and making sure those hits hurt because Zoro is a tough bastard and immensely hard to knock out. But he won’t shut up. Because as much as Zoro will admit a loss as a loss, it takes a hell of a lot to get him there because he doesn’t like to lose. He wants to be the dominant one in any situation especially when he thinks he knows he’s right. Though he will defer to Luffy since he already dedicated his life to him and put him as a Captain. But beyond that? Nuh –uh. He is not letting Nami have her way.
But I don’t think he’s intending to be an asshole here. To an extent, sure, but it’s not his intent to cause her harm. I just don’t think he has a bead on her emotional state because he can’t know because he doesn’t know the situation.
And damn do I love the bottom right most panels. Nami is kind of calm and dead eyed but you can hear the tone of her voice. I don’t know how to describe it but the tone of, “ I see a disgustingly huge weakness of yours and I’m going to take the utmost advantage of it” Zoro can’t lose and seems to have a thing with having the last word. So he’s cocky and smirking but there’s something about his eyes that says he knows what Nami has zeroed in on and knows just how much it’s going to hurt.
And you know Nami put all her strength behind that punch. She made sure it landed and it landed fiercely because with Zoro you can’t hold back.
I can see him thinking: “That witch!” can’t you? That was an honest to goodness sucker punch and nobody who fights honorably fights like that. But honestly, Zoro had it coming. He pushed too far and couldn’t back down so actions=consequences.
And Nami has to come out strong from that. She has to keep that dominance around her like a shield, even up to giving orders to the others. By doing that she’s saying she is still one of them and is confident enough about that that she can order them around.
The Fishman that chased Usopp comes up and informs Arlong that they let a long nosed guy run away.
Nami is just having a bad effing day. Zoro’s not having a great one either, but for Nami, it’s the worst. Not only does she have to figure out how to get rid of Zoro, with Usopp being spotted, there’s a chance she’ll have to save him, too. All without sacrificing anyone in Cocoyashi. To Nami, sacrifice is not an option. Unless it’s herself. She carries the weight of the world on her shoulders and it’s no wonder she can’t effectively control her mask and emotes without meaning to. For her, this situation is quickly reaching crises point.
Arlong, though? He’s smirking. He loves to bully people and screw with their heads, and here he’s getting to do both. He’s gotta know that Nami’s going to be worried about what he’s going to do in Cocoyashi and what kind of business that he has. Plus he gets to push them around and reassert his authority. But I also think that there’s a reason why his eyes are shadowed, other than to make him look more intense and dangerous. There’s a problem in Cocoyashi as we’ll see that he has to take care of. There’s a reason he has to reassert his authority. Plus he has to track down Usopp, just in case he’s connected to Nami—but also I think strangers are a big problem. He has to let them either know whose boss or make sure that they find it out the hard way.
We enter Cocoyashi Village where people are saying that Arlong is coming.
And you can see what an impact he has on this village. Everyone is worried, sweating, tense from fear. This is the first time we actually feel the looming threat that Arlong represents. And think that they’ve had to feel this for eight years. And Genzo…taking responsibility like a boss—but moreover taking sole responsibility. It’s his weapons that were found so he is going to suffer for it alone. I wouldn’t put it past Arlong to use one of the others to make him suffer or it may be they’ll otherwise be caught in the crossfire.
Arlong asks if Genzo is the one who has been caught having weapons three days ago.
Yeah there is no way that those weapons are just a collection. There’s nothing about his pose that suggests in any way the weapons he’s gathering are just to look at. But Genzo is good at playing this game, too. He knows he will probably suffer from it, but he’s going to call it a collection until his dying breath.
Arlong, once again—If Fishmen are so powerful, why is he worried about humans wielding weapons? Also his words are indicators, too. He’s smirking as he says them and you can tell he’s saying this in a somewhat mocking tone. But he doesn’t say that the weapons will hurt them because of course he doesn’t. He’s saying he knows what Genzo is intending to do with the weapons but it’s not that he’s afraid of them. That would imply fear of humans. No, just that it is a threat to peace. In other words, chaos will rain down on Genzo and the others if weapons are used.
But this is also a ploy to try to prevent them from using weapons at all. If they use weapons, Arlong will be forced to retaliate to show his strength. If he doesn’t, the other villages will see weakness. However, if he shows his strength, he’ll have to show a lot of strength. Too much destruction of Cocoyashi, though, and he’ll lose Nami. Maybe not all the way but he definitely won’t be able to trust her as much as he does now. This is the one village which he has to keep in stasis and he cannot allow the balance to be tipped.
We see Nojiko and Usopp watching from behind a building. XD and Usopp is showing he’s got great grip in his hands by holding himself horizontal against the building for some reason. Usopp asks why Nami isn’t there and Nojiko says she’s probably at Arlong Park.
Arlong is a beast of a Fishman, but notice he doesn’t go alone. His brothers are there with him. It’s a show of force and a reminder of just how screwed Cocoyashi is if they choose to rebel. Remember he has to intimidate the hell out of them so violence doesn’t even occur to them to be an option.
And again, if Cocoyashi rebels? Arlong would have had a huge problem on his hands and would lose either Nami or his reputation. Both which would be a devastating blow to him. But here, he’s not really worried and figures his intimidation will be enough—but he’s also just reveling in his destruction of Gosa and how much power he has over them—as he goes into tribute. Money.
Usopp asks about it and Nojiko says they have to buy their lives from him every month, men, women and kids.
As clever and smart as Arlong is—as good as he is with manipulation and control, this is his biggest flaw in terms of his goals. He cannot enforce anything without causing death and a huge swath of damage. Considering he relies on these villages for income, he really shoots himself in the foot with utterly wrecking the place. How will Gosa pay him now? What is he going to take from them if they don’t? They have no money. They have little to nothing after he destroyed their lives. Even if he gives them time to rebuild that’s income lost. Much like many of the villains we’ve seen so far, he has lots of power, but little precision.
And Usopp’s reaction, it just floors him. This is the first time he’s seen such a level of cruelty. Yeah, Kuro was bad, and will probably be one of the worst in Usopp’s mind but that is just insidious. (But far from the worst it’s going to get)
Nojiko is angry. Quietly angry, coldly angry, but there’s no doubt to me that the anger is there. She’ll endure it but she won’t like it. You can also bet that she’s thinking of Bellemere, here. But I think it’s rare when she doesn’t.
Arlong has really gotten into this idea of tribute. Pushing the weapons aside for the moment. It think partly he’s geeking out about it because this tribute is part of his dream. A dream that’s as big to him as Luffy wanting to be the Pirate King. But he’s also telling the people that if they give him money and keep their heads down, they won’t have anything to be afraid of.
But let’s look at his dream, too. He wants to be an emperor and rule all of the East Blue. He wants power, control, wealth—but most of all dominance. He doesn’t want to kill the humans, at least not en masse, nor wipe them out. He wants them underneath his feet, serving him. He wants them to be the ones who are on the outside and not able to get in. He wants them to be the ones bullied and chosen for slave labor. He wants them to pay and wants them to suffer. But at the same time, he wants legitimate rule. He will form his empire, paying off the Navy here and there when he can, and to be acknowledged in the human world. A Fishman who made it. A Fishman who is important and looked up to and is just as good as humans.
Though, theorizing a bit, it’s pretty obvious from what we know about the world setting that even if Luffy never happened, his dream wouldn’t have come to pass. Once he became a big enough of a threat the Navy would take him down. Probably even Garp would have been involved since Dawn Island is his home island, and even if his grandsons have left, he still has people to protect, such as Dadan—and who knows who else. And if it gets too bad? The Navy would not be afraid to Buster Call his ass into the ground and how horrible would that be? Especially for the otherwise innocent islands involved.
Though this is not the only reason why his dream would fail and we’ll get to that in just a second.
But back to Arlong Park for a moment:
Nami has dropped the act a bit. She’s no longer made of steel, though she’s still in a hell of a lot of trouble. Zoro really doesn’t understand what she’s doing now.
But for Nami? It just shows how much she cares and how she prioritizes. I am sure she wants to know what is happening in Cocoyashi and like as not wants to find Usopp and make sure to shoo him off the island, though perhaps is also somewhat hoping Zoro will do it for her. But Zoro comes first because he is in the most danger. She sacrifices knowing and maybe even being somewhat in control of the situation to free Zoro and give him a fighting chance.
As we go into chapter 72, Usopp is freaking out about Arlong creating a Fishman Empire.
Significant here, three things.
1) Usopp realizes his town is in danger, too. He definitely has a horse in this race.
2) Another hint of rebellion brewing. They have to endure, for now. But they won’t endure forever.
3) As much as Nojiko can distance herself from Chabo, who is a kid, but a kid from Gosa, she cannot distance herself from Genzou whom she has known since she was a child. The fact that he’s in pain freaks her out and she can’t stand by and let that happen.
Arlong tells Genzo that possessing weapons is a clear sign of rebellion and
Again, showing Cocoyashi is important to him to preserve. One person in Gosa refuses to pay him? Village gone. One person in Cocoyashi holding weapons? That person is the only one to suffer.
Another sign that this is something Nojiko can’t endure. She looks terrified at the thought and even curses Arlong out as she races to say or do something.
Usopp is once again bowled over by the cruelty of it, though perhaps doesn’t get the full implication of everything that Nojiko said—and cares about Nojiko’s continued well-being, but not enough to chase after her, because Arlong is frankly terrifying.
And she stands up to Arlong, but she doesn’t do so recklessly. She tries to appeal to some sense of justice and common sense. She’s also a good liar if a rebellion really is forming. But she downright orders Arlong to let go of Genzo, because it isn’t fair. Her voice inspires others to come out to get her to stop, to not make the situation worse. But Arlong? Is a douchecanoe and a massive troll. He loves that they are getting all riled up. That they are hurting. That this puny little human is telling him to do something and he doesn’t have to listen to her. Not that he would anyway. This control and dominance is everything.
Quashing any thought of rebellion? Check. Being massively threatening so they obey? Check. Enjoying every second of it? Double check. For Arlong there’s absolutely no way he can lose in this situation. He has humans in his thrall. None of them want the village destroyed. But not for the reasons he thinks. But they’re at an impasse themselves. They don’t want Cocoyashi destroyed but they don’t want Genzo to die either. They can’t move forward or back.
But all the power Arlong thinks he has? Is nothing. He has strength but it’s Genzo who speaks. Genzo who reminds them what they’ve sacrificed themselves for the sake of one precious to them. To endure. To live on. This is their collective goal as a village to protect what is most precious to them.
The villagers aren’t caring what Arlong has to say. Only Genzo’s words.
Arlong is essentially rubbing it in and being an ass as usual. But something I wanted to point out is the rings basically stapled into the bones of his fingers. They’re a sign of luxury and strength, showing that Arlong values both. But they’re also designed for humans since we never see another Fishman wear rings like these. Though I suppose you could say mermaids/men could wear rings, too, but given that there’s none present I really do think it’s a human thing.
Yeah, prejudiced rhetoric – nothing really significant about that except – this is the sort of thing that humans say about Fishmen all the time. Everyone has their own station in life. Not all living things are born equal. Humans are best living like humans. This is the kind of world that Arlong has grown up in. He’s experienced much of this himself. But what is KEY here, what is so so so important, is this rhetoric which he learned from humans, is the same rhetoric that Hody learned from Arlong. The cycle started before Arlong and continues after, seeming to get worse in each incarnation. This is how hate and prejudice will warp the world.
Another example of Arlong not having as much control over the situation as he wants to have. In the top panel? That guy is just about ready to haul off and hit him, nine foot Fishman or no. It is only Genzo that stops him. It is Genzo that is in charge. Genzo who may die, but is setting the terms of it. Arlong is using Genzo to get his own way, but he can’t enforce his own way himself. Still the people plead with Arlong, but it is not in the vein of “we’re sorry, have mercy!” but more “see some sense, you shitbag!” They are pissed in other words. Arlong is smirking because he can’t afford to do anything else—he has to look in control to the humans and to his brothers, but he’s pissed, and taunting them about rebellion while threatening them in the same breath.
Also, this is the other reason Arlong’s dream will ultimately fail even without interference. The people will rebel against him after too long. Killing them to the man won’t work because he loses his monetary base. One day they may even kill him. He has no support other than Nezumi who I can’t see throwing himself on Arlong’s side. Especially if there was no guarantee of pay.
At any rate, Genzo holds up a hand to stop them. He says, if I die here than everything we’ve done for eight years will be nothing. Arlong says let this be a warning to the rest of you as he goes to smash Genzo’s head into the ground and he’s whacked with a gunpowder star. The villagers say, look up there? Who is it? (it’s a bird! It’s a plane! No! It’s)
Captaiiin Usopp!
Who is shaking in his boots. XD
Usopp had to have planned this first of all. It’s not just running in front of someone to shoot. It’s getting a position up high, both to look dynamic and hopefully be out of reach. He’s making sure to make an entrance, saying he has tons of followers etc etc. This is very similar to what he first said to Luffy and the others after he’d been spotted hiding behind a log in Syrup.
Except this time he knows Arlong is a threat. He knows that Arlong can thrash him to within an inch of his life and beyond. And he’s shaking but he stands up anyway, trying his own hand at desperate desperate intimidation—Because, similarly to Arlong? He knows he’s in trouble if he fights. I really do think Usopp had to psych himself up for this, and Genzo’s sudden imminent death is what galvanized him to shoot. Why he’s doing it is mostly because he can’t stand to see anyone die either. But I also think a small part of him wants to stop Arlong from taking over the East Blue—because his home is there, Kaya and his pirates are there and he’s seen how devastating Arlong can be. Usopp will go to great lengths to protect his home.
The Fishman that had chased Usopp tells Arlong that he’s the one they spotted. But Arlong?
He’s not even paying attention because he’s in an absolute rage. For the most part it’s due, I think, to the pettiness of the attack and the fact that Usopp is a puny human. If it had been a tough looking guy like Zoro, he’d probably not have gotten so worked up about it. But a shrimp like Usopp means that he’s not being taken seriously. That his threat is not legitimate. That he is a lowly Fishman that can be attacked with impunity. You can bet this makes him mad. Also it’s making him look bad in front of Cocoyashi after all that he just said—and this is another huge flaw of his that will come back and bite him the ass-and has bitten him in the ass before.
Also interesting if subtle? Arlong believes Usopp… at least to some extent he seems to. I’m leaning toward he does in some regard, despite the fact that Usopp looks less like a great captain and more like a nervous wreck. I think it largely falls to Usopp is an outsider and Arlong is a bit overcautious with outsiders. You never know who can be trusted. You never know when things might start to fall apart because someone got out and spoke to the wrong person. Of course I’m extrapolating a little here and you may have a completely different interpretation, which I’d love to hear!
But anyway, I’m presenting things a little out of order here, as Arlong lifts up the house Usopp is standing on and smashes it into the ground, bellowing: “We are the supreme beings!” Usopp manages to survive that and flees.
He has a ferocious temper. Especially when he feels looked down on, cheated, and otherwise not getting his way. His temper is so bad he can’t even control it, nor does he care about the long term consequences. All he wants to do is to destroy and kill. Even Cocoyashi. It doesn’t matter to him at all right now. It’s undoubtedly why he decimated Gosa to begin with because of this raw anger.
But what I love most about this part? His brothers hold him back and tell him to stop because of the long term goals. They hold him back without much fear. None of the crew of the other antagonists would have dared argued with their captain, too indimidated by power and too afraid of death. But the Fishmen are family. They’ve sailed together a while before even coming to Cocoyashi and some of them grew up with Arlong. He’s definitely in charge, because they all share this dream and Arlong is undoubtedly the strongest, but they’re all in it together and they work together.
I love this though. The Fishmen have to literally push/carry him back because Arlong is so damn livid about all this.
But let’s go briefly back to Usopp. First, after he shot Arlong and Arlong got pissed at him:
I don’t think that he really thought it would work. He just really really really hoped it would work, even just a little bit. But nope. Not so much.
Then after Arlong smashes the house, well first a shot of Nojiko.
The villagers are more concerned for the house, understandably so. But Nojiko’s first thought is toward Usopp, showing more of her protective nature.
Then Usopp so sure he’s about to die. When he was fighting Kuro and for his village, in a way he accepted death because the safety of his village meant everything. Here he’s got no such ambition to bolster him and Arlong is more terrifying than Kuro by a long shot.
But Usopp is an innovator, even if it’s between bouts of running and he tries different ways to make the Fishmen stop chasing him. Though it doesn’t work because he’ll have to be a lot more clever than that, as we’ll see. For right now, though, he’s learning. What’s more, he’s not completely controlled by his fear – and is more in control of his fear than Arlong is of his rage.
This is community, and the first we’ve really seen since Mayor Boodle’s village. Syrup had some, true, but this is the first time seeing it from the inside. This is the first time we see everyone bonding together. Genzo takes responsibility for all the trouble but the other villagers quickly absolve him of it. He is one of them and it’s not his fault that Arlong’s an ass. This is what Nami most wants to protect.
The villagers ask Genzo who Usopp was and if Genzo knows him. Genzo says he does not and then Nami comes on the scene, saying: “long time no see, everyone.”
The manifestation there, while not will, I feel indicates strong emotion. Nami is smiling softly, but she really cares for this village. It is her treasure and she hasn’t seen everyone for a long time.
The villagers have their own manifestation, they miss her, too. They know everything wrapped up in what’s going on, but she is their precious treasure and one they want to see free more than anything else, so they turn away and go into their houses.
And the abandonment hurts. There is no strong emotion here, but the familiar aching of a very old wound.
Such an effective use of silence. She walks down the main road with no sound, showing her near isolation from those around her. But there are still two people waiting for her. Genzou who says nothing, because what is there too say? But the windmill on his hat remains and klicks in the wind, a physical symbol of how much he cares for her and how much he wants to see her happy. Nojiko is calm again, just noting that something is up because this is unusual.
Because of course Nami would go check on the village after Arlong had hit it. Of course she wouldn’t ask what had happened. She doesn’t really need to know because she can see. Of course Nojiko wouldn’t tell her because why stress her out with details?
And then the last two panels. Genzo has some deep feelings himself, longing and sad but determined and it’s all wrapped up in Nami (or Nacchan as he calls her) and the flowers meant for Bellmere.
It’s such a beautiful sad scene.
Cut to Nami sitting at Bellmere’s grave, saying she has 7 billion beri to go:
But despite all the pain Nami’s been through and all of Arlong’s digging and Zoro nearly wrecking everything, despite the ruined house in Cocoyashi and her ruined fun sailing with the Straw Hats, despite there still being some beri left to go, Nami is still looking toward a bright future. Nojiko said it, but here’s the proof. Her smile is genuine. Her feelings are strong. She doesn’t know when it will happen exactly, but she is going to wait for it and believe in it with all she is.
At the same time we’re seeing her ultimate vulnerability. The thing that’s going to shatter her most. She believes that Arlong is going to play fair. That he’s not going to be an asshole and twist this away from her. She has to believe. She’s invested in it. But as we know, it’s not going to happen the way she hopes.
But aside from all that, this is the turnaround for Nami’s character. Or rather for the people reading. This is when we get to see who she really is. What she really fights for. How much she tries and how much she’ll suffer. She’s always seemed tough as nails and she is, but here she looks so young and open. Fragile even. Poor girl has a long road ahead of her.
And then we cut to Zoro… Who is thinking to himself that even if Nami tells him to leave he has nowhere to go because:
There are so many things to love about this picture. That he ganked a shirt from a Fishman, that he’s sitting in Arlong’s chair like the cocky badass that he is, or that he’s so loyal to Luffy he doesn’t really think of leaving even if he’s not really all that sure how he’s going to do this.
I think Zoro realizes he screwed up a little with Nami before. He thought it was a good idea at the time and seemed logical to him, especially with so little time to think. Buuut it really wasn’t. Still you know this series is all about micro losses and failures and he certainly failed there. You can bet he won’t be trying that tack again. Though this is hardly Zoro’s field of expertise.
And at that, I believe we’ll end the part.
**(Tattoos are controversial in Japan, and carry a strong prejudice. This is because tattoos are connected to yakuza, so people that have them are seen to have a sort of criminal element. here’s an interesting article from 2012 and another more contemporary one from 2014. I know that Oda uses One Piece to address different elements of Japanese society, but I don’t want to bring them up as more than interesting asides because
A) I’m examining this through the narrative itself and the world that’s created and not so much the forces behind it and
B) I will probably miss more outside narratives than I understand and unless it’s direct like this, who can say what Oda was referencing specifically)
Themes
The Sun Will Surely Rise: Like the line n Bink’s Sake: Just hold out without a doubt the sun will surely rise. The Arlong Park Arc is where this theme really hits home. It’s not about fighting and getting yourself killed needlessly. It’s not about justice. It’s about holding on, doing what you can. And not just holding on alone, but holding on to each other. Enduring together. Chabo endures with his mother. Nami holds on because Nojiko is there. Nojiko has the support of Genzo and the village. Their bonds keep them going.
But at the same time, it’s not passive enduring. They are no just suffering with no end in sight. Nor are they doormats. There is a line drawn in the sand that they will not crossed nor will they be pushed over. They will stand up for people they care about and continue to actively hope for a brighter tomorrow. Even the hoping is active because all they can do right now and still remain alive, they are doing. The only thing they can do now is keep on doing and enduring and hoping until something breaks, whether it be a new choice or no choice left.
Prejudice: Is a huge one, especially in the Arlong Park Arc, but we’ll certainly see it elsewhere. Fishmen, specficially Arlong, are prejudiced against humans, seemingly just due to a rampant sense of entitlement. (but we know better). Humans are prejudiced against Fishmen, not so much with the villagers, but mostly represented in Nezumi who works with Arlong despite being creeped out by him and his kind. Humans are prejudiced against humans, like Usopp with Nojiko. We don’t really see the full effects of prejudice here since technically we’re not to know the backstory of Fishman Island at this juncture, but here it rests as an important concept to be introduced.
Concerning Beri: Here we see the sub themes intertwined, especially with Arlong. Money makes the world go round/money is necessity. Money is his only source of power. As we’ve discussed (and as we’ll see) his strength is substantial, but it will only take him so far. Without money he can’t make his dream come true. Which, yeah, is not a particularly bad thing in and of itself. Because Nami is similar. Without money, her dream (of a freed Cocoyashi and herself) won’t come true. The difference lies in how the money is collected.
Arlong makes money by extorting people, by forcing them to pay him. He doesn’t earn any of it. Nami doesn’t earn any of it either, but she takes money only from pirates, as she says. Money that’s already been stolen. It can’t go back to help the people it was taken from. Who knows who they are? So she uses it for the eventual benefit of her village. In both cases, they trust the value of money. That as long as they have that, they can buy their happiness in the form that they want. We’ll talk about their similarities and differences a little later in the character section.
Acting Is Power:
But it has two big weaknesses.
The moment people see through it, the illusion is gone. Zoro saw through Nami and could no longer take her as she wanted to appear, as a ruthless hardass Arlong Pirate who would kill him if she had to. Arlong, I think, almost always sees through her acting because he’s known her and he knows what to look for. Nojiko however is never fooled. We’ll see more of it later, but she is never fooled by what Nami pretends to show—even if she allows Nami to show it because acting is also protection. It’s a fake it until you make it mentality. Or at least fake it until others buy that you make it. It’s also a form of control which Nami needs desperately in her life.
Acting may be power, but it is only an illusion. Where there is conviction, illusion doesn’t matter. No matter how much Arlong cajoled, tormented or railed, whatever control he had over the other villagers of Cocoyashi was tempered by Genzo. Genzo’s conviction is to keep Cocoyashi safe, keep people from dying, for their sake and for the sake of Nami who is doing everything to protect it. It’s this conviction that has him take all the responsibility. In other words, acting is only power so long as the audience allows it to be so.
Communal Ties:
This arc is the first we really see in-depth of a community rallying together to overcome their struggles. Communal ties are what keep them encouraged, what keep them from fighting, what keep them going. The strength of a community is not measured in terms of firepower but of the connection of its people. Connectivity is everything.
But what’s important here is that we not only see Cocoyashi’s communal ties, but Arlong’s as well. The Fishmen are his brothers. They look out for him, they support his goal and keep in mind the long term plan. Because it’s not just his goal. It’s not quite the same thing as Luffy becoming Pirate King—since that is a very singular want. Luffy wants to attain this for himself, not for anyone else. For Arlong, though it would be his empire, there’s never a sense that his brothers wouldn’t be involved every step of the way and, moreover, benefit from it. If they can get it off the ground it is.
Characters:
Usopp: Carries much of the focus as he steps out into the world. We see his worst side and the potential to be even worse than that. And we see his best side and his potential to become better. Mostly what this establishes of course aside from Usopp still being very much a kid is that he cares for people. He’s quick to jump to conclusions, true, informed by his own prejudices and fear. (Fear often being a root cause of prejudice) But when people are good, he accepts that. We see the struggle in him intensifying, too. Them or me. Them or me. What I want, what I can do to help them. It’s a constant push and pull within him. I won’t go into too much detail because I’ve already covered it throughout except to point out the difference between selfishness and self-preservation. Usopp has both (and he always will and that’s okay) but let’s look at the differences.
Selfish is the Merry above all else or Usopp’s own goals above all else. Willing to leave Nami behind and just go ahead without her. Yes, it’s easy to believe that she’s a traitor, but I feel like he’s believing it because it’s easy. He is unwilling to give her the benefit of the doubt or even question it—despite the fact that she put her life on the line to save his skin and his village.
Usopp’s self preservation is what makes him one of the most human, especially here when he’s running away from the Fishmen. Of course he’s running away from the Fishmen. I would run away from the Fishmen. Riht now he has no means to fight them. I mean yes he does defeat Chuu later but Chuu is one Fishman and not a hoard of them coming after him. Also he’s rightly terrified. So in this case, running is what stops him from getting killed. (Though he’s far more durable than he knows)
Zoro: We see the worst side of Zoro here, too, in that in a fight or in a challenge, he always fights to win. But we also start to see inklings of how inflexible he really is. Once Zoro sets a course of action, he follows through on it without veering (ironically enough rofl) no matter how dangerous it is or how much it’s not working out. While it’s good in the sense that this same rigidity is what keeps him loyal to Luffy’s side no matter what, it’s bad in that he does not stop until he’s forced to. Like the law of Roronoa.
A Zoro in motion tends to stay in motion with the same speed and the same direction unless acted on by an unbalanced force.
We’ve seen this before and in fact, quite recently.
Zoro’s ambition: Become the strongest swordsman in the world. How? Taking down Mihawk. The moment Mihawk appears? Despite Zoro not being ready and knowing that there was a power difference (even though he was cocky enough to believe there wasn’t much of one) fights him anyway. And keeps fighting. And keeps fighting. He follows his courage of conviction to the very end until Mihawk changes his trajectory by letting him live instead of killing him.
Same with Nami. Figure who Nami is. Discover that she’s faking it. Proving she’s faking =win=she’s coming back with us. And he keeps going at it despite her kicking him and ultimately hitting him where it hurts. Only when he’s been beaten does he think. Well this is complicated. B/
Nojiko: Nojiko is such an interesting character because she’s a study in opposites to Nami. She’s cool where Nami is hot. She’s calm and collected where Nami is impatient and reactive. She’s genuine and straightforward where Nami has to hide behind a façade. The latter is very much due to Nojiko having the luxury to be so. She doesn’t have to pretend to be someone else or feel something else in front of Arlong. She is free to do what she wishes and live the life she chooses. Yes under the rule of Arlong and yes she’s not as free as she could be—but you never get the sense that she wants to do anything more than what she’s doing right now.
But Nami and Nojiko share a lot, too. They both care about people, deeply. They care about their village and they care about each other. Nojiko is always there, the quiet support that Nami needs. She is always on her side. She makes things easier for Nami to bear. She is the one in the village who will talk to Nami and knows how to talk to Nami. She protects what Nami is fighting for the best she can.
Outside of Nami, however, Nojiko is only human and can only be calm and collected to a point. When something hits her rage trigger, she yells. When someone tries to hurt someone dear to her? She runs out to defend them. She shows no fear of Arlong either. And as much as she does care about people in general, her mental energies are fixed on Cocoyashi. Yes, she will save Chabo but she will be sstone cold blunt with him. Naturally she needs to in a way to shake him up, but it’s not in her to sugar coat it either. You won’t see her as blunt or harsh with anyone else in the village. Granted, she also doesn’t need to be.
Arlong and Nami: I want to look at them side by side here because they share a lot of similarities. This is, of course, largely because of Arlong’s influence over Nami at a young age. Not that she ever liked him. Not that she ever will. But she certainly learned things from him and shares similar values.
Similarities: Everything they’re fighting for is hinging on having enough money. But more than that, they believe completely in the power of money. If Arlong can get enough, no one will be able to stop him. If Nami can get enough, she will be free. They both believe in it whole heartedly. They’re both actors with a need for people to believe the image they represent—both for their own protection and for the sake of others around them. They both lose their temper fiercely when their plans get upset and react out of violence first. They both have a burning need for control.
Differences: This is what makes Nami a heroine and Arlong a villain. Arlong is a sadistic bully to humans, twisting in the knife as deep he can at any opportunity. He acts out of revenge. He acts because he can. Because it’s a huge power trip. He cares for his brothers and they will rise with him without a doubt—but it is his still his empire. He is sacrificing nothing. Nami is sacrificing just about everything to keep those she loves safe.
Even her own sense of self and self-worth. The only reason she hasn’t cracked by now is because she keeps hoping for a new tomorrow. She accomplishes her goals without stepping on the backs of innocent people—(Johnny and Yosaku excepted and even then it wasn’t a step it was more just a light nudge)Where Arlong carries next to no burden—since, if he fails, nothing much more is injured but his pride. Nami carries everything and everyone. She does it willingly and more than she should because she thinks she doesn’t want to allow anyone to get hurt. In many ways, it’s similar to Sanji’s defense of the Baratie.
Genzo: Is a man with a strong conviction and a willingness to take responsibility so that no others will get hurt. We’ll talk more about him later.
Relationships:
Nami<->Zoro: There’s not much here yet, but the very foundation of their relationship is that they can’t really understand each other that well. Zoro understands fighters. He understands people like Luffy and Sanji and Usopp. Nami is a fighter but not because she wants to be. She doesn’t have the same kind of conviction in her. Her ideal is to avoid conflict if she can rather than indulge in it. Essentially, when it comes to their relationship, Zoro is somewhat like the dog to Nami’s cat. The lashing tail doesn’t mean she wants to play challenge war. It means she wants you to shut up before she swipes at your nose.