One Piece: The Incredible Symbolism Behind The Figarland Family

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Summary

  • The Figarland family holds significant power in One Piece, with Garling being the Supreme Commander of the Gods’ Knights.
  • Shanks is also most likely a member of the Figarland family.
  • Symbolism in the Figarland family ties characters to Norse mythology, representing concepts of light and darkness within the story.

From its inception, the renowned series “One Piece” has consistently been rich in profound symbolism, a factor that often captivates audiences during character development. Characters are frequently designed around central ideas that provide insights into their identities and potential power levels. These tendencies are evident across various pirate characters, locations, themes, and virtually every other category of character or classification featured within the show.

In the popular series “One Piece,” the symbolism surrounding the Figarland family is exceptionally captivating. While their connections in the official storyline remain somewhat unclear, members who fit this family follow a consistent naming and thematic pattern. This pattern not only reveals intriguing aspects of this enigmatic group but also provides clues about their potential objectives and the hidden strength they might possess.

Who Are The Figarland Family?

Powerful Celestial Dragons

First Appearance One Piece, Chapter 1, “Romance Dawn – The Dawn of Adventure”
Notable Members Garling, Shanks, Shanks’ Twin
Debut Story Arc Romance Dawn

To truly grasp the significance of the Figarland family, it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with the hierarchy of the Celestial Dragons. Though they claim divine status, they are essentially corrupt aristocrats who hold the highest positions in society. Among them, there exist the Gods’ Knights, a group that holds the second-highest recognized authority globally, surpassed only by the 5 Elders themselves. Figarland Garling commands this faction as its Supreme Commander.

In the “One Piece: Red” movie, there were hints that Shanks might have been part of the same family and was kidnapped by the Roger Pirates following the God Valley Incident when he was an infant. Although the events in the film aren’t considered official canon, the possibility of Shanks being Garling’s son, a detail introduced in the movie, seems quite plausible. Furthermore, Chapter 1134 of the manga supports the long-held theory that Shanks has a twin brother, who made an appearance on Elbaf.

The Symbolism Of The Figarland Family

The Things That Make Them So Powerful

In the 1125th chapter of the “One Piece” comic series, one of the most pivotal moments occurred, revealing the consequences following the incidents on Egghead. Our heroes successfully escaped and were progressing towards Elbaf, yet the World Government’s forces suffered a significant blow. The Elder responsible for cleaning up the mess on Egghead ultimately failed, leading to St. Saturn’s demise at the hands of Imu. This powerful character was eliminated seemingly by having his powers and immortality stripped away from afar.

Following Saturn’s demise, there emerged a vacancy among the Five Elders, which was subsequently taken up by Figarland Garling, the most senior member of the Celestial Dragons, after the Gorosei. Presently, we have scant information regarding Garling’s abilities; however, it is known that he possesses immense strength, as he may have been the one to inflict a lasting scar on Whitebeard during their supposed encounter at God Valley.

Those who protect scum are lower than the scum they protect!

Although this might be the case, spectators have started brainstorming about potential abilities he possesses, with many believing he consumed a Mythical Zoan fruit known as the Inu Inu no Mi, Fenrir model. This fruit is thought to grant him the power to metamorphose into an enormous and formidable wolf from Norse mythology that slays Odin, the chief deity of the pantheon. This transformation could represent the significance of what Garling’s role might be during the Final Saga.

Fans associate this colossal entity with Garling primarily due to the fact that the planet Saturn has a moon named Fenrir. Given that the Gorosei are named after planets, and since Saturn is no longer alive, fans interpret Garling’s adoption of the Fenrir Mythical Zoan as symbolizing the transfer of the Warrior God of Science and Defense role to someone else, who appears to be the most likely candidate for becoming an Elder, given their close connection to Saturn. Furthermore, assuming the form of Fenrir aligns with the broader Gorosei theme of acquiring monstrous transformations inspired by actual mythologies.

In Figarland, just like Garling, other family members also possess the ability to metamorphose into Fenrir. This is due to the fact that Fenrir, in Norse folklore, has twin solar entities – Sköll and Hati. Sköll represents the sun and pursues it, while Hati symbolizes the moon and follows it. These two figures embody the daily cycle of day and night across the world. In this context, Shanks embodies Sköll; he is a virtuous individual who aims to find the Sun God (Luffy), with the intention of ushering in a new era for the world, overthrowing the oppressive regime of the Celestial Dragons.

In contrast to Shanks’ new character introduced in Chapter 1134, which is likened to Hati, the wolf who heralds nightfall, this comparison carries a negative undertone. This night symbolizes Shanks’ efforts to maintain the Celestial Dragons’ rule and keep the world enveloped in darkness. Examining this symbolism within the Figarland family uncovers striking similarities that offer valuable insights into their history, as well as their powers and roles within the broader narrative.

One Piece can be streamed on Crunchyroll.

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2025-01-11 22:35