Bitter sounds like a good word to use for it. Yeah. Especially since - it wasn't just Luffy, they all struggled so hard to save him. Just the week or so before the chapter where it happened, I still argued that letting that happen would not be a good thing for Oda at all, it would just be way too cruel to Luffy; he'd just break from it. Plus, I really didn't want Bon Clay's sacrifice to have been in vain. And then. So. It's hard to take. Especially with the crew not there.
...though I read someone say that at least this way, Ace died protecting his little brother, rather than just being a lamb on the chopping-block. And he got to say some really important things. But as I think aqua_karen pointed out, he never got any resolution to his hatred of Roger, though.
It makes Ace's words and actions that much more poignant on the one hand (and your family theme comments really ring true to me), but on the other hand it just makes his death that much more UGLY as well.
*nod nod* I missed it the first time around, but when Ace says he'll never run or back down from anyone... that's chilling. And heart-breaking, now. ;______________;
You are right about Luffy's complexity getting out into the sunlight much more clearly, though. Can't really deny that, despite other complaints.
(You know what I think this arc needs, I just realised? More female characters! *misses Nami and Robin so badly*)
Usopp and Chopper to me have parallel youths. It's about isolation. No, Usopp wasn't shunned but there's a feeling of some self-removal on his part that could lead to similar internalized feelings. Luffy, at least, has never been alone or made to feel alone, for the most part.
Luffy really hates to be alone, we know now - and always tries hard to make sure he's not.
Good point about Usopp and Chopper. Usopp was accepted by the village, yes... but he still didn't truly feel like he fit in there. And while his physical needs were obviously cared for after his mom's death, it seems to be due to the whole village taking turns. There was apparently no one or two persons stepping in as a parental substitue when it came to caring for him emotionally and provide a role model. Maybe he idolised his father so much he wouldn't have accepted the role model part, though.
no subject
...though I read someone say that at least this way, Ace died protecting his little brother, rather than just being a lamb on the chopping-block. And he got to say some really important things. But as I think
It makes Ace's words and actions that much more poignant on the one hand (and your family theme comments really ring true to me), but on the other hand it just makes his death that much more UGLY as well.
*nod nod* I missed it the first time around, but when Ace says he'll never run or back down from anyone... that's chilling. And heart-breaking, now. ;______________;
You are right about Luffy's complexity getting out into the sunlight much more clearly, though. Can't really deny that, despite other complaints.
(You know what I think this arc needs, I just realised? More female characters! *misses Nami and Robin so badly*)
Usopp and Chopper to me have parallel youths. It's about isolation. No, Usopp wasn't shunned but there's a feeling of some self-removal on his part that could lead to similar internalized feelings. Luffy, at least, has never been alone or made to feel alone, for the most part.
Luffy really hates to be alone, we know now - and always tries hard to make sure he's not.
Good point about Usopp and Chopper. Usopp was accepted by the village, yes... but he still didn't truly feel like he fit in there. And while his physical needs were obviously cared for after his mom's death, it seems to be due to the whole village taking turns. There was apparently no one or two persons stepping in as a parental substitue when it came to caring for him emotionally and provide a role model. Maybe he idolised his father so much he wouldn't have accepted the role model part, though.
I need those fixes too!