This article contains spoilers from the Elbaf Arc of One Piece.
Overview of Key Points
- Shanks is identified as a member of the Figarland family, separated during the God Valley Incident.
- His distinctive red hair is inherited from his mother, not his father or Saint Garling Figarland.
- The potential origins of Shanks’s mother, possibly a commoner or slave, add complexity to his disdain for his Celestial Dragon heritage.
Quick Navigation
- Shanks’s Ties to the Figarland Family
- Significance of Shanks’s Red Hair
- Exploring the Status of Shanks’s Mother
In the current narrative of One Piece, Shanks has become a focal point, particularly with the developments in the Elbaf Arc. The storyline recently introduced a new antagonist who closely resembles Shanks, presumed to be his twin brother. Furthermore, the introduction of Saint Garling Figarland during the Final Saga indicates a significant connection to Shanks’s past.
As the Final Saga unfolds, it is evident that much of the plot will delve into the intricacies of the Figarland family, prompting intrigue about Shanks’s mother and her true identity. While Shanks’s formidable powers may stem from a notable lineage, other inherited traits, especially his red hair, point to a deeper familial connection.
Shanks’s Ties to the Figarland Family
- Shanks is a recognizable, albeit lost, member of the Figarland family.
- He became estranged from this lineage during the God Valley Incident.
Although Shanks doesn’t openly identify with the Figarland name, his connection to the family has been hinted at in various arcs. For example, in the film One Piece Film Red, it was suggested that Uta, Shanks’s daughter, may also belong to the Figarland family, highlighting Shanks’s background. This theme was revisited in the manga during the Final Saga, where readers encountered Saint Garling Figarland, a powerful Celestial Dragon and Supreme Commander of the God’s Knights, marking the confirmation of Shanks’s noble lineage.
Further insight was provided during the God Valley flashback in the Egghead Arc, revealing a younger Garling Figarland who bears a striking resemblance to Shanks. Notably, the only difference was Garling’s royal attire and crescent-shaped hairstyle. This moment confirmed Garling’s identity as Shanks’s father.
The flashback also revealed Garling had multiple children, although the total number remains undisclosed. At least two, possibly three, children are confirmed, suggesting Shanks could have siblings that stayed with their father while he was taken in by pirates during the chaos of the God Valley Incident.
While Shanks was mistakenly taken aboard the Oro Jackson, it is likely that his brother remained with Garling, being raised among the Celestial Dragon’s knights. This background explains the contrasting paths of Shanks as a pirate and his twin brother’s allegiance to the Holy Knights.
Significance of Shanks’s Red Hair
Garling Figarland’s Hair Color Analysis
Shanks’s red hair is one of his most defining characteristics, frequently noted from the series’ outset. Almost synonymous with his identity, Shanks’s moniker, “Red Haired” Shanks, and his crew, the Red Hair Pirates, emphasize this feature. However, an analysis reveals that Garling Figarland does not share this distinct hair color; instead, he is depicted with pale blonde hair.
Evidence suggests that Garling’s evolution over the years has had no impact on his hair color, as variations in the anime and manga demonstrate stark differences — Garling consistently appears with white hair in the manga, implicating that his original hair color diverges from Shanks’s iconic red.
Conclusively, this leads to the assumption that Shanks and his twin inherited their striking red hair from their mother. The implications of her identity loom large, as she could potentially hold keys to Shanks’s character development. If their mother were indeed a commoner, this could accentuate Shanks’s narrative arc, symbolizing his denouncement of Celestial Dragon ties and his embrace of his maternal lineage.
Exploring the Status of Shanks’s Mother
The Possibility of Shanks’s Mother Being a Slave
There is a considerable chance that Shanks’s mother was a commoner or perhaps even a slave. The behavior of Celestial Dragons, who historically take multiple wives and can effortlessly capture individuals, lends weight to this theory. As witnessed with Ginny’s tragic story, a similar fate could befall Shanks’s mother.
The narrative would take a riveting turn if Shanks inherited his red hair — and consequently, his compassionate heart — from a commoner mother. This would also lend a remarkable depth to his persona, manifesting in his pride in being the renowned “Red Hair,”as demonstrated by the namesake for both his crew and ship.
Rejecting his Celestial heritage, Shanks’s decision to forgo the Figarland family name, in favor of his mother’s legacy, resonates with his desire to forge his identity independently, mirroring themes explored in Ace’s storyline.
While the origins of Shanks’s mother remain elusive, the upcoming developments in the Elbaf Arc promise to shed more light on this enigmatic character and her influence on Shanks’s destiny.
For those eager to delve into the world of One Piece, the series can be accessed through Viz Media. Readers can enjoy it for free on Shonen Jump and the Manga Plus platforms. The awaited release of chapter 1135 is scheduled for January 3, 2024.
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