The Will of D
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In the One Piece fictional universe, many characters have the middle initial "D". This mysterious middle initial has been called "the will of the D" or "D's will" by several characters in One Piece. Some translations refer to it as "Gol D's will" in reference to Gol D. Roger the late pirate king. The English dub by 4Kids chooses to refer to the D as the "the Spirit of Gol. D".
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[edit] What is the D?
It is not clear what the significance of the shared middle initial is, but it appears that all share a similar faith in their own (and others') dreams and/or destiny. Further more, they seem to be able to withstand incredible punishment in battle and only surrender to death when they know there truly is no way of avoiding it.
In Oda's SBS questions and answer corner, he was asked what the D in Luffy's name stood for. Oda just replied to read it as a D for now and that he would reveal the truth behind it in time.[1] This was the first time Luffy's 'D' was brought up, as well as Oda's first hint towards a bigger mystery.
In the storyline, Dr. Kureha is the first to mention The Will Of D and it was revealed by her that Gold Roger's (the late pirate king) true name was Gol D. Roger. She tells Dalton that Chopper has joined up with a very dangerous man. [2]
| Dr. Kureha: So it still lives... The will of D. |
[edit] Clues on its significance
[edit] Personality
One of the most common reference made about the Ds are the constant remarks on how similar they are to each other. Although their overall personalities vary between each D, they are typically simple-minded people who see the simple solutions to things, however do not always act stupid as a result of it. They display fun-loving traits and are able to make friends or get along with most people without there seeming to be any cause for alarm. They are also highly competitive (even with each other) often aiming their ambitions at high targets, but unlike normal people seem to have the determination, strength, willpower and courage to carry out their ambitions. They are daring and seemingly fearless (the only known exception being Luffy's fear of his grandfather). Luffy and Ace have been shown to have no fear of water despite being Devil Fruit users, and Luffy has many times committed risky attacks against his foes (consider, for example, striking Don Krieg, who had covered himself in spikes).
Nico Robin states, she has met a number of the Ds over the years and all the people she's met with D as their middle initial are incredibly strong and equally just as stubborn. Other references come from various characters:
- Gan Fall who seemed to have known Gol D. Roger and found similarities between Luffy and the former pirate king.[3]
- Admiral Aokiji equally noted the similarity between Luffy and his Grandfather, although he wasn't sure if it was stupidity they shared in common or simple mindedness. [4]
- Sea Train engineer Kokoro mentioned that if the legendary shipwright Tom, who built Gol D Roger's ship, were still alive, he would have helped Luffy with the raid on Enies Lobby because of the similarities between Luffy and Roger's personalities.[5]
Thus far none of the Ds have done anything truly worthy of being called "evil" despite everything that has happened in the storyline. For the most part, they don't seem to take sides with anyone, appearing "neutral" until a situation calls into effect their strong sense of "personal justice". This neutral outlook on life is most apparent in Blackbeard, who holds no moral values at all due to his deep belief in fate.
Their individualistic traits, neutral outlook on life, fun loving nature and strong sense of personnel justice tends to led the Ds to be drawn to particalur lifestyles. These include the Navy, Pirates and Revolutionaries.
[edit] Family
One clue about those who carry the "D" was left by Saulo who specifically said that while he didn't know the meaning of the initial, he did know everyone in his family carried it in their names. [6]. So far, its seems that the Ds all may indeed be related to each other. One of Luffy's grandfathers was revealed to be Vice Admiral Monkey D. Garp recently, he also carries the name 'Monkey D.' at the start, alongside Luffy's father Monkey D. Dragon. So far, everyone in Luffy's family enjoys wearing something on their heads (Luffy wears the trademark straw hat given to him by Shanks, Ace wears a hat too, Garp wears a dog-like mask and Dragon is clad in a hooded cape) which could mean that the Ds have similar likes and probably even dislikes.
However, despite this evidence, this does not thus far rule out the initial existing in other family lines as well, this is supported by Luffy and his brother Ace who are both carriers of the D and share no other part of their name with each other. [6].
Since family may also be regarded as the status of close group of people (especially in the world of One Piece) the Ds may not be directly related to each other at all, but rather a group individuals who have come to accept each other as if they were a close family.
The "family" theory is possibly the most common among fans.
[edit] Fate
Another odd thing about the Ds is that they appear to encourage or ignite change whenever they appear somewhere, sometimes it seems as if they are drawn to fate that is playing out. For example, Blackbeard's raid is the turning point for the Drum Kingdom and their selfish and corrupt King was made to flee the kingdom freeing the citizens from his corrupt reign. Later when he returns to Drum Kingdom, Luffy's intervention stops Wapol from taking his throne back. Jaguar D. Saulo also ended up on Ohara island before the Buster call was due to arrive and was there when it came to help Robin escape, thus allowing the only reader of the ancient langange of the Poneglyphs to continue to live. Robin states she is convinced Luffy will play an important role in the events of the world after seeing a note left by Gol D. Roger in Skypiea near its sacred bell. [7] Luffy managed to stop Sir Crocodile from taking over Alabasta and defeated one of the Shichibukai, which obviously has had great repercussions in the balance of the Three Great Powers.
How fate reacts to the Ds cannot be fully explained but an example of fate openingly effecting a D comes from Blackbeard after leaving a bar in Mocktown on the island of Jaya. Blackbeard encountered Bellamy who was entering at that moment, while they did not say anything to each other, Blackbeard seemed to sense something was about to happen and hung around outside. [8]
[edit] Power
The D's are very powerful. Gol D. Roger was said to be equal in strength to Whitebeard, who currently holds the title of "The Strongest Man in the World". Luffy defeated powerful villains such as Sir Crocodile, Eneru, and Rob Lucci, while his borther Ace, with his amazing fire-based powers, is feared by everyone, and is well known. Dragon is the revolutionary leader and viewed as a serious threat by the World Government, and seems to be personally incredibly strong. Garp has monstrous strength and endurance enough to intimidate Luffy (though this seems to be so because of Garp's unorthodox traing methods). Marshall D. Teach (Blackbeard) is very powerful, possibly equal to Shanks, and is current viewed as possibly someday seizing Whitebeard's title as the strongest. Jaguar D. Saulo was also very strong, since he was able to lift a Buster Call ship out of the water and slam it back down, destroying it. Their seeming lack of fear may be because of this.
[edit] Dreams
They seem also drawn to dreams, for example the places Luffy visits usually result in him ending the dreams of the many One Piece villains, including Captain Kuro and Sir Crocodile. In the outcome of every battle, he leaves them alive to see their failed dreams fall apart, in the process, the victims of these villains have their dreams and hopes renewed. Every member of Luffy's crew also have a dream they are trying to succeed with. Blackbeard also encourage Luffy to ignore Bellamy's talks about the end of the dreams of pirates, giving Luffy a speech about how a Pirate's dream never ends. However, Oda has stated that seeing their dreams fall apart is a more fitting punishment for a villain than death.
[edit] The concept of death
An odd trait of the Ds is related to death. Often they are seen laughing or smiling greatly when they are about to die, as if they seem to accept their death when they cannot escape it and display no apparent fear toward death. The reactions of many characters who witness this is often shock or disbelief because it is hard to imagine anyone not being afraid of dying at all. So far this strange habit has been shown 4 times:
- Witnesses claim Gold Roger died smiling during his execution.
- 22 years later one of those witnesses, Captain Smoker, witnessed Luffy smiling in the same manner as Gold Roger when Buggy was about to kill him.[9]
- When Conis asked Luffy of his opinions of death, he responded he was "pumped up for it" with a smile on his face.
- Nico Robin also witnessed Saulo laughing and smiling as he was frozen by Aokiji. [10]
[edit] Hats
All of the D's seem to wear hats or a hood or bandana on thier head.Luffy has his hat from Shanks.Ace has his hat with a smile and a frown on it. Jaguar D. Saulo had his marine hat. Garp wore his dog hood. When Dragon was first introduced he was wearing a hood. Blackbeard wears a bandana over his head.While it should be notied that Gol D. Rodger has not been seen wearing a hat luffy who's hat is his treasure could be the same for rodger and might be one piece. Rodger is also a pirate and many pirates wear hats. Also noting that all of the D's wore hat rodger probley wore a hat as well
[edit] Their knowledge about themselves
The biggest mystery with the Ds is it seems that those that carry the D. themselves do not know fully what it means either. When asked by Nico Robin why those that carry the D. fight, Monkey D. Luffy was completely clueless about what she was talking about. As was Jaguar D. Saulo when she asked him during her childhood (Displaying an absence of knowledge on the subject of the D.) [11]
[edit] Known Ds
[edit] Alive
At 17 Luffy is the youngest pictured D. carrier thus far in the story and Luffy's brother Ace the second youngest at 20 years old. Monkey D. Dragon and Marshall D. Teach are also carriers of the D. Monkey D. Garp's age has not yet been specified but he apparently seems to be the oldest living D. according to the latest chapters. Thus far in the story, there have been no female Ds. With the latest chapter revealed, Nico Robin's statement has been proven true: All the Ds are incredibly strong people.
[edit] Deceased
In the present storyline, Roger has been dead for 22 years. Saulo has been dead for twenty years. As a giant, his age may have been anywhere up to 300 years (the normal lifespan of a giant).
 Gold Roger (originally named "Gol D. Roger") |
[edit] References
- ^ SBS questions: One Piece Manga - Vol.8 Chapter 70, Fan question: What does the D in Luffy's name mean?
- ^ One Piece - Episode 91 and One Piece Manga - Vol.17 Chapter 154, Dr. Kureha talking about Luffy and the D.
- ^ One Piece Manga - Vol.32 Chapter 301, Luffy and Gol D. Roger are similar.
- ^ One Piece Manga - Vol.34 Chapter 319, Luffy and his grandfather are alike.
- ^ One Piece Manga - Chapter 400, Kokoro says why Tom helped Roger.
- ^ a b One Piece Manga - Vol.41 Chapter 392, What is the relationship between the Ds?
- ^ One Piece Manga - Vol.32 Chapter 301, Roger's note
- ^ One Piece - Episode 147, One Piece Manga - Vol.24 Chapter 223, Blackbeard senses something
- ^ One Piece Manga - Vol.11 Chapter 99, Smoker stating that Luffy smiled same as Gol D. Roger before his execution.
- ^ One Piece - Episode 52, One Piece Manga - Vol.11 Chapter 99 and One Piece Manga - Vol.41 Chapter 397, The strange laughter/smile before death
- ^ One Piece - Episode 111, One Piece Manga - Vol.20 Chapter 180 and One Piece Manga - Vol.41 Chapter 392, The Ds response to their own name
