Summary
Living under the totalitarian rule of the World Government with pirates running rampant across the seas is sure tobring out one’s worst fears about humanity, and the world ofOne Piecefeatures many characters who offer examples of how this can play out. From people who suffered under the barbaric cruelty of pirates, to those who fell victim to the Celestial Dragons' persecution, many individuals have been dealt harsh hands throughout their lives, leading them to lose all faith in the system.
RELATED:One Piece: How The Heavenly Tribute Yields Systemic OppressionAlthough cynicism has often been portrayed in a negative light in comparison to the boundless optimism ofOne Piece’sprotagonist, Monkey D. Luffy, the presence of more sharp-witted characters has helped Luffy steer clear of trouble on many occasions. In fact, those who command the greatest power in the series often mediate between the two extremes, as seen in the case of a character like Shanks. Here, cynicism is not always indicative of cowardice or malice, but rather, a sign of past trauma, which unites many individuals across barriers of race, age, allegiance, strength, or wealth.
10Boa Hancock
Empress of Amazon Lily
While she attained incredible power as the Empress of Amazon Lily, Captain of the Kuja Pirates,and a former Warlord of the Sea,Boa Hancockharbored a deep resentment towards men and the Celestial Dragons in particular. She is quick to antagonize men, especially those affiliated with the World Government, and exhibits an intense sense of defiance toward any form of capture.
However, it is worth noting that all of these traits are consequences of her traumatic past, where she was enslaved, branded, and tortured by the Celestial Dragons. She withheld this fact from her subjects on Amazon Lily, and distanced herself from them due to her inability to trust others after her ordeal. It was only after she met Luffy, and fell in love with him, that her attitude towards outsiders — particularly men — began to gradually soften.
9Smoker
A Marine of Flexible Allegiances
Vice-Admiral Smoker’s ruthlessness towards pirates initially put him at odds with the Straw Hat Pirates. He is also quite obstinate, rebellious, intimidating, and has little tolerance for tomfoolery of any kind, which leads him to be perceived as grim and serious. While Smokeris dedicated to his job as a Marine, he is wise to the ills of the World Government and does not trust anyone blindly.
His tendency to question orders and refute the Marines' philosophy has also brought him into conflict with his superiors, but Smoker does seem to hold some interest in attaining higher ranks. Beyond this, he is always ready to risk life and limb to protect civilians, and will even ally with pirates such as the Straw Hats if they have a common enemy. Smoker’s cynicism is one developed over years of seeing corruption at all levels in the world ofOne Piece, and despite this, he is firmly devoted to his own brand of justice.
8Crocodile
Mastermind of the Arabasta Coup
Plotting moves with his keen business sense, Crocodile is a cunning mastermind who is well aware of the ins and outs of how to rise up the ranks in the pirate world. His status as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea allowed him to gradually mount a coup d’état in the Arabasta Kingdom, by posing as a savior to the people he was secretly oppressing. He has no qualms about sacrificing innocents or even his own subordinates to achieve his ends and treats people with little respect unless they are of use to him.
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Crocodile lacks any moral code, and deems the act of relying on others as an idiotic thing to do. Moreover, he has expressed utter disdain for the romantic lifestyle of apirate in the style of Gol D. Roger, and he only sees value in military might, wealth, and political power. Viewing Luffy’s dreams as nothing but the delusions of a fool, Crocodile is quite condescending towards everyone, even if they may be more powerful than him. That being said, some of these qualities have undergone a considerable change after his imprisonment and escape from Impel Down.
7Capone Bege
Captain of the Fire Tank Pirates
Opportunistic, calculating, and cunning, Capone “Gang” Bege is an agent of chaos at his core, as he finds his greatest fulfillment in orchestrating the downfall of powerful individuals. This has been the defining feature of his career as a pirate, from his time in the West Blue, to his voyage across the Grand Line with his crew, the Fire Tank Pirates.
Bege will take any advantage that he can find and is not above taking hostages, backstabbing, or exploiting an opponent’s weaknesses. That being said, he isquite pragmatic and will listen to reasonif a less violent resolution is possible in any given situation. After the birth of his child, Bege’s cruelty and ruthlessness have lessened to some extent, and while he still views the concept of altruism in a negative light, he does seem to care deeply for his family.
6Blackbeard
The most “pirate-like” pirate
Marshall D. Teach’s ability to swoop in and capitalize on the fallout of situations is a trait that exemplifies the unique blend of courage, cowardice, and idealism that defines his character. In essence,Blackbeard is the most realistic depictionof a pirate in the story, as he has primarily relied on his opportunism and cunning to ascend to the rank of one of the Four Emperors of the Sea.
Treachery, deceit, and manipulation come quite naturally to him; he seems to hold no real attachment to those who sail under his flag and will sacrifice them for his own ambitions at a moment’s notice. He also firmly rejects notions of “good” or “evil,” showcasing an amoral side to his persona.
5Gecko Moria
From Optimist to Cynic (With Zombies)
In the past, Gecko Moria was a brash, headstrong young pirate who dreamed of becoming Pirate King with the aid of his powerful Devil Fruit, the Kage Kage no Mi. Unfortunately, the future Warlord of the Sea had his world shattered when his entire crew was slaughtered by the Emperor Kaido when he first entered the New World.
RELATED:One Piece: Is Luffy Strong Enough to Be The Pirate King?
The trauma of this event profoundly altered Moria’s worldview and made him believe that his only path to power was through the accumulation of powerful subordinates. With this, he proceeded to create a crew of mindless zombies who would be unable to suffer, and his earlier fearlessness was replaced with a tendency to delegate tasks to the underlings he had gained with his Devil Fruit ability.
4Kaido
Governor-General of the Beasts Pirates
Having earned the title of the “World’s Strongest Creature,” Kaido, the Governor-General of the Beasts Pirates lost his previously endless appetite for battle, as there was no one strong enough in the world to pose a challenge to him. Vicious, savage, and brutal, Kaido is not above attacking women and children. A more complex angle to his cynicism can be observed in his outlook on the world and those governing it, as he holds deep-rooted trauma from being sold out by his own people and captured by the Marines to be experimented on.
Kaido only sees value in battle and power, which leads him to show outright disrespect to anyone who is not at his level, and he is thoroughly disappointed by adversaries who do not live up to his expectations. His primary ambitionis to start the greatest war in history, as he believes that true equality is only found on the battlefield.
3Monkey D. Dragon
Devoted to Overthrowing the World Government
A former Marine who is now the World Government’s greatest enemy, Monkey D. Dragon is the Commander of the Revolutionary Army and one ofthe strongest characters in the entire series. His cynicism is primarily directed towards the World Government and the Marines, whose ranks are filled with avaricious individuals responsible for the rampant corruption within the two organizations.
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While his beliefs in justice do radiate a sense of idealism at their core, Dragon has borne witness to the cruelty of the Celestial Dragons and their subordinates on enough occasions to have his trust in the system erode entirely. Calculating and business-minded, Dragon detests the World Nobles and those who serve them, having devoted his entire life to overthrowing the current world order.
2Donquixote Dofalmingo
Former Celestial Dragon, Full-Time Elitist
A former Celestial Dragon who was exposed to the fury of the world when his family chose to renounce their status, Donquixote Doflamingo endured a tragic childhood due to the errors of his idealistic father. The trauma he experienced in his youth played a huge role in his future persona as a pirate, with deceit, manipulation, and ruthlessness all becoming his most prominent character traits.
Doflamingo believes everyone to be inferior to him — both due to his strength and former status as a Celestial Dragon. Moreover, the outward facade of benevolence he projects towards his subordinates is merely an act, as he had little hesitation in sacrificing his younger brother Donquixote Rosinante in pursuit of immortality. Just like Kaido, he only sees merit instrength and detests the weak, which leads him to severely punish his underlings if they fail to meet his expectations.
1Sakazuki
AKA Admiral Akainu
Fleet Admiral Sakazuki — formerly known as Admiral Akainu — is one of the strongest characters inOne Pieceand a steadfast proponent of the Marines' ideal of “Absolute Justice.” His hatred towards anyone who dares to question the law is as fiery and explosive as his magma-based Devil Fruit abilities.
Sakazuki displays a vicious and uncompromising attitude towards pirates, or anyone who dares defy the authority of the Marines, and his dogmatism is nothing short of extreme. Although he has been confrontational at times withCelestial Dragons such as the Five Elders, Sakazuki has zero tolerance for anything he deems “evil,” and will move to brutally eliminate it without any hesitation.
