There are things about One Piece that we honestly adore, and there are things that keep us awake at night. Given the hype Netflix had created for One Piece, even non-viewers have started reading the manga and watching the ongoing anime. We have questions yes, we have theories also yes, but we do have some arguments that are unsettling. Like, why didn’t Garp save Ace, and why didn’t he push his way to comfort Luffy?
For those who don’t know, Monkey D. Garp is a retired Vice Admiral for the Navy. He is known as the Legendary Garp the Hero for capturing the Pirate King Gol D. Roger. And given his position, well, his family history is totally opposite. His son Monkey D. Dragon is the leader of the Revolutionary Army, and his grandson Monkey D. Luffy wants to be the next Pirate King.
His Heart Breaks Harder Than Anyone Realizes
The dynamics are insane when we get to know that it was Roger himself who entrusted Garp to take care of his unborn child, Ace (Luffy’s sworn brother along with Sabo). And since childhood, Ace has only seen and loved two people, Garp and Dadan. More than Garp, it was Dadan who nourished and nurtured Ace since he was a baby.
When the entire Marineford war peaks, Akainu punches a hole in Ace’s body, making Luffy lose his consciousness due to the loss he has just suffered. There is no doubt that more than him, it was Garp who felt the most pain. For those who have forgotten the story, after Ace died, Garp told Sengoku to hold him down, or else he would beat Akainu like crazy.
That sentiment was more than enough to justify that, in that moment, all he cared about was Ace and Luffy. It is a wrong narrative that new fans of One Piece are pinned to Garp’s character and moral compassion. People went to an extreme length, making jokes and memes saying how Garp went out of his retirement to save Koby, who is a member of SWORD now, but couldn’t leave the Navy to save his two grandsons from their inevitable fate.
Firstly, let’s understand Garp’s moral of justice. He had always believed that it was the Navy that could bring justice to those who needed it the most. And given his history, there is no doubt that he isn’t aware of the World Government’s doing.
It’s not his headache, and he simply doesn’t care. He believes that the younger generation, given the right morals, will serve the Navy and give justice to those who deserve it.
But He Never Forced Them Toward His Path
People should also realize that it was Garp who wanted both Ace and Luffy to join the Navy so that they could lead more respectful lives. But he never forced the path on them. When Ace chose piracy, he also accepted the consequences that came with that choice. And because he respected Garp deeply, he never asked to be saved, even when his life was on the line.
Garp honored that resolve, even if it shattered him during Marineford. Saving Ace would have required abandoning the Marines entirely, betraying the institution he hoped to reform from within. It would have meant becoming an enemy of the World Government outright, something that clashed with everything Garp stood for.
And Koby? Let’s just say he is the grandson Garp could never have. He believes in his vision and knows his dreams lie within the Navy. He respects and adores Luffy (who basically pushed him to be a Marine), while being aware that when things go down, he might have to fight him too.
He sits on the opposite side of that spectrum because we see him train relentlessly, protect civilians, and represent the future Garp wants the Marines to have. Even as a SWORD member, Garp can challenge a Yonko if it means protecting his own.
So the difference isn’t a plot hole nor some shimmers that you want Oda to explain; it’s simple, and it’s consistent. Ace chose his path and never asked for rescue. Koby represents Garp’s hope for a better generation. And Garp acted exactly as someone like him always would.
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