#FEATURE: How Roger, Oden, and Whitebeard Create the Powerful Myths of One Piece

“#FEATURE: How Roger, Oden, and Whitebeard Create the Powerful Myths of One Piece”

Mythology serves a variety of purposes. It's often tied to the spirituality of a culture, driving many of their morals and aspirations. It's also extremely foundational when it comes to storytelling. If you read, say, Greek or Japanese myth, you'll find countless influences in how we approach narratives today, ranging from the backbones of many classic character arcs to little tidbits that provide chances for modern adaptation or homage. One Piece is full of these, with manga creator Eiichiro Oda often basing characters and creatures on examples of Japanese historical figures or legends of folklore.

But perhaps more consuming than that is the way the series deals with its own mythology, something that goes beyond simple backstory and lore and functions, really, in the same way mythology works in the real world. This is on display during the current anime storyline, which deals with the grand journey of Kozuki Oden, samurai, traveler, father, and traditional very tall One Piece dude. He's a man whose legend pervades through the society of Wano, with the current storyline mostly built upon his broad shoulders. The stories told about him, from his monstrous feats as a child to his sea-spanning adventures as an adult feel very much like something you'd see from the tales of a demi-god — Herculean tasks that are less about fleshing out a character and more about building their status in the story.

Oden, One Piece

Before we can jump into that, though, I think it's important to dive into the greatest myth of all in One Piece — that of Gol D. Roger, whose exploits, demise, and proclamation that set a new age into action are the source of both One Piece fact and fiction. Though we've learned a little more over the course of the story, most of Roger's life is steeped in mystery, and we're forced to rely on those that knew him, a dying breed of aged pirates that includes men like Silvers Rayleigh and Whitebeard, to relate the stories of his life.

As with Oden, the things we learn don't add up to a three-dimensional figure, but rather a consistently important and unknowable one. It's likely why Roger's legacy as King of the Pirates remains so valuable, with kids like Monkey D. Luffy so eager to assume the crown themselves. It's why him saying he left his treasure in "one piece" and you can go look for it if you want sets off innumerable pirate careers. Roger IS the culture of the Grand Line, the idea that the world can be yours if you only set off to take it. Much more than any man could be.

Roger, One Piece

The ideology that Roger represents is everywhere. Blackbeard saying that a man's dreams don't die reflects Roger pushing for the next generation to have similar ideals to him moments before his execution. Luffy showing Wapol and Chopper that you can't just destroy a pirate's flag is similar. Heck, when Robin yells "I want to live!" it isn't just Robin realizing her life is worth experiencing and relishing, but her also adopting Roger's mantra. The mythology behind Roger is all-encompassing in its scope.

When it comes to Wano, Oden's role is similar. The samurai that remain dedicated to him and his mission speak of him less as a fallible person but as someone they were blessed to even encounter. Yasuie, shot by Orochi's forces, died so that Oden's will would continue. His son dreams of fulfilling his role and replicating his bravery. The man that, like Roger, smiled and flexed in the face of danger, has gone beyond being an ancient personality to defining the desires of his world. We speak of him in grand fashion, where his huge deeds matter more than any inner monologue or intricate characterization. To the characters around him, Oden IS the definition of a hero.

Whitebeard, One Piece

All of this indicates that the pressure of the Navy and the World Government is much more malicious than simply "We must eliminate all pirates" threats. Rather, characters like Akainu seek to overhaul society itself, bringing the beliefs and hopes of a massive group of people to ruin so they can effectively rebuild with their own ideals in mind. The intended public beheading of Ace was more than just a high-profile execution but a statement to the world that the Marines would not let the next generation of pirating stand. It was them trying to ensure that their values would not be passed on and that they could rewrite mythology with them as the victors, with them as the ones who inspired the world to order.

The stories of men like Oden and Roger and the all-encompassing quest of the World Government and other villains to evaporate them turn One Piece's mythology into more than just online encyclopedia fodder. It dictates what people believe, what they hold as their truths, and what tales they think are worth telling. It creates culture.

Daniel Dockery is a Senior Staff Writer for Crunchyroll. Follow him on Twitter!

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