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The protagonist ofOne Piece, Monkey D. Luffy, has been deemed by many as a simple and stupid character who does not care for much and speaks whatever is on his mind. He is believed to be the peak representation of the idiot protagonist trope that is still quite trending in the anime and manga industry. However, unlike other manga creators, Eiichiro Oda had a plan behind it.
Ever sinceOne Piecestarted, Luffy’s character has been the same. Although he went through a lot of development and growth, his core personality has remained the same. And the reason for this is that it separates Luffy from every other main character and, in many ways, even makes him better than them.
Him being the biggest example of the idiot protagonist trope is the reason why he is emotionally more intelligent than other main characters like Naruto. He unintentionally says the perfect things that other characters want to hear, even if it is uncomfortable, and incidentally, that’s his best quality.
Luffy Being Stupid Has a Bigger Reason Behind It
One Piecehas a lot of idiotic characters who have been used as comedic elements for their stupid nature. But Luffy is different. It is safe to say that he might be the stupidest character inOne Piece,but evidently, it plays in his favor as a main character. The main aspect of his stupidity ishis simple nature, and it’s his ultimate tool to deal with the worst kinds of situations as everything’s out in the open.
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Not only that, he even uses his simplicity to help others, and in the grand scheme of things, it works out perfectly. Originally, his dumb behavior was just used byEiichiro Odaas a humorous element, but as the story progressed, he transformed it into Luffy’s biggest advantage. It became his persona and helped the narrative grow in a unique way.
In fact, his simple nature makes him act more emotionally mature than fans realize. His straightforward advice is sometimes the only thing that other characters need for their problems. The perfect example of this was recently seen in Wano when Luffy asked Momonosuke to act like the leader of Wano rather than a cowardly kid. Although it was too plain, it gave Momonosuke the motivation he needed.
Another example of his emotionally tuned simplicity is when he formed an alliance with Trafalgar Law. He understood his nature in a single glance and trusted him till the very end despite being his rival in theOne Piecerace.
There are still moments where Luffy’s simplicity is just portrayed as him being a dumb character, but that doesn’t change the fact that it is his biggest development.It is also a similarity he shares with the former Pirate King, and that is why he fits perfectly to be the next Pirate King inOne Piece.
The Difference Between Luffy and Other Shonen Protagonists
Although the idiot protagonist trope is not a unique aspect in the Shonen anime genre, Luffy portrays it better than anyone else. He doesn’t think about his actions and is always ready to face the consequences with his head held high. This is something that other protagonists like Naruto cannot do, as they are defined by their goals and the mindset of other characters in their series.
Luffy doesn’t care at all about what other characters think about him and just wants to enjoy the journey as a pirate. He is the perfect representation of a pirate in many ways, and even though he cannot create manipulative strategies and calculated moves, he stands bywhat he believes and follows it through.
He doesn’t have any kind of internal monologue, and practices what he preaches, no matter how much dumb it is. This inspires other characters to be like him and follow him without any personal motives.
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Luffy’s journey has entered its final phase, and since day one he has maintained the same personality. Even after becoming an Emperor of the Sea, he still has the same old stupid habits, and that is why he is the most deserving of the Pirate King title inOne Piece.
One Pieceis available to watch on Crunchyroll.
Tarun Kohli
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2959
Tarun Kohli is the Senior Anime Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,900 published articles. He currently specializes in critiquing One Piece and other Shonen anime. A passionate fan of the genre, his love for thoughtful analysis reflects his genuine appreciation for the art of anime. His deep understanding of anime culture has earned recognition from industry figures such as Adi Shankar and the creators of Blood of Zeus.
