One Piece reveals Blackbeard’s true dream, and while it involves becoming a ‘Pirate King’ it also shows why the villain is Luffy’s perfect opposite.
Warning: SPOILERS for chapter #1080 of One Piece
One Piece reveals the secret dream of the wretched pirate Blackbeard, and in the process confirms that the villain is the perfect opposite of the protagonist Luffy. Blackbeard wants to leverage the World Government into recognizing his base of operations, Pirate Island, as a legitimate country, Blackbeard Kingdom, thus making him a bona fide “Pirate King”.
In chapter #1080 of One Piece, readers get to catch up with Captain Koby, the heroic Marine who has been captured by Blackbeard after the Yonko’s failed raid against Boa Hancock on Amazon Lily. It was unclear why Blackbeard was interested in Koby, but now that his plan has been revealed it’s much different from what fans expected. Blackbeard plans of using Koby as a bargaining chip to leverage the Navy, and thus the World Government, into recognizing Pirate Island as a legitimate country, with himself as the King of what will be known as Blackbeard Kingdom.
Blackbeard Will Become A Pirate King, But In His Own Way
Blackbeard’s plan is outrageous for more than one reason. Pirates are seen by the World Government and its armed branch, the Navy, as the main problem to get rid of in the world. By definition and aspirations, pirates live outside the strict laws that the World Government endeavors to impose. The only cooperation with pirates happened in the form of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, a group of powerful pirates (including Blackbeard himself) who worked for the Government in exchange for a pardon, but it was dissolved as soon as the new and stronger Pacifista Seraphim were operative. Having a country literally made of pirates recognized among the nations that form the World Government would be unthinkable, but this plan perfectly fits Blackbeard’s personality.
Fans often see Blackbeard as Luffy’s foil in One Piece, as there are several parallels between the two. Luffy’s true mysterious dream is not to be the Pirate King, but it certainly has to do with the pure, unbridled freedom that the Straw Hats captain represents. Luffy is the “warrior of liberation” who has freed countless people from oppression during his adventure, and wants to become the Pirate King because, in his eyes, that’s the most free person in the world. Teach, on the other hand, wants to become King of a country, a position based on power and authority that represents the opposite of freedom. If his plan is successful, Blackbeard will technically be the King of a Pirate country, thus a “Pirate King”, without having to stake his claim by finding the legendary One Piece treasure left behind by Gol D. Roger, as Luffy wants to do instead.
Blackbeard’s Dream Is The Opposite Of Luffy’s
Becoming Pirate King, then, has two opposite meanings for Luffy and Blackbeard. For the former, it’s all about freedom and adventure. For Teach, it’s about taking freedom away from others (in this chapter it is also revealed that Blackbeard keeps slaves in Pirate Island). It remains to be seen if Teach will get what he wants from the Government now that Luffy’s grandpa Garp has shown up to free Koby, or if he will still try to get his hands on the One Piece regardless. What is established by this point is that Blackbeard‘s dream confirms that, in all regards, he is the true opposite of Luffy and thus the most significant villain in One Piece.
