one piece essay: boa hancock

[hsiuism]

((So by "Monday" I apparently really meant "Thursday night". But whatever; this thing takes up 7 pages on MS Word so I hope you've got a nice big mug of tea.))

Disclaimers and Notes: this post contains spoilers for the most recent arc, especially chapters 516, 517, and 518. Questions, comments, discussion, and arguments are welcome; statements

Comments

[shadowaria]

Ah~ I'm too tired to write a thorough response. I agree with a lot of the points you've made, particularly about how fans respond differently to differnt character's evil deeds (Lucci vs Boa). I was all set to like Hancock, I don't mind her attitude and I think she has some strong qualities. But I was just so disappointed that we finally see a female shichibukai and not only does it seem like we're not going to get a great Boa/Luffy fight, but her powers (which I do find kinda obnoxious) don't even affect him. She's not even a threat to him at this point (let's see how her sisters do). I don't,know, my feelings are mixed on this whole arc.

[pikabot]

Potent as turn-to-stone powers are, I doubt she made it to shichibukai status based on that alone. I think saying that she's not even a threat to him is premature at this point.

[3goodtimes]

Agreed. And she's certainly got the mental capabilities to best Luffy.

I doubt Oda will make her easy to defeat or weak.

[pikabot]

I should also point out that this would be far from the first time that Oda's made it seem like Luffy's got an overwhelming advantage, only to suddenly turn the tables. I can't be the only person who thought that Enel would be a pushover once Luffy turned out to be immune to his attacks, or that Moria wouldn't be a big deal once they took the fight to him directly, since he...well, looked like a leek.

[dark_kaomi]

The difference between Enel and her is that Enel's subjects knew they were oppresed while the women of Kuja do not. And the difference between her and Crocodile and her is that her subjects are aware of the things she does wrong while Crocodile's were not. These little details make a big difference

[candybouquet]

If her gender affected anything on my judgment of her, its the fact she is a woman with a lack of strength than the other way around (i.e beauty and beauty-centered powers as compared to the other villains being both physically strong and with monstrous powers). The Medusa-like ability would probably, as you said, work anyway if she wasn't as beautiful but the fact that she is and has that power makes that argument kind of null

[hsiuism]

its the fact she is a woman with a lack of strength than the other way around (i.e beauty and beauty-centered powers as compared to the other villains being both physically strong and with monstrous powers).
Why do you think that beauty/beauty-centered powers are an indication of weakness?

Rob Lucci did horrific things, but his actions have justification
I suppose I would rather petty crimes were committed for petty reasons than vastly immoral crimes committed in the name of a higher purpose or greater good.

But I didn't notice the Emperor's New Groove reference (if that was one hahaha) so I find that incredibly amusing. XDD
I will actually use any excuse to work in The Emperor's New Groove XD

[candybouquet]

Why do you think that beauty/beauty-centered powers are an indication of weakness?

More like as a I said, a lack of strength and overall as a weak character. Fictional women (whether good or evil) stereotypically have beauty based powers whether in the form of heart shaped blinking bursts of power, winks, kisses and kiss blowing, seduction, etc. Why not a much more destructive power of some sort like the other shichibukai? While beauty in itself isn't a weakness, but the fact that she exploits it to get her way while at the same time coupled with a power to strengthen that fact just makes her a boring character overall.

Then again I'm really hoping this is just all at glance with the possibility of something more as there is the possibility of a Luffy vs Boa and like Enel, she would have to use some other means of strength.

I suppose I would rather petty crimes were committed....
Fair enough.

I will actually use any excuse to work in The Emperor's New Groove XD
Hahahaha awesome. XD

Achfdg, as I don't have the edit comment option

[dark_kaomi]

Ack, one more thing. What about Bonnie?

[dark_kaomi]

Or Tashigi?

Sorry for the multiple posts but I don't have the options to edit.

[dark_kaomi]

Who?

-- Guile

[dark_kaomi]

http://onepiece.wikia.com/wiki/Jewelry_Bonney

[cupcakesusie]

Well, here's an issue I think is a problem. Take Zoro's protecting of Robin in SkyPeia for example: within the story it makes him seem a sympathetic character and we can empathize with his 'heroic' nature in not wanting to see a female be hurt. But in the real world that sort of thing could be misconstrued as him being sexist in that he thinks a female being hurt like that is worse than a man getting the same treatment.

On the opposite end of the spectrum though, if he were to show the same 'lack of concern' to Robin over her injury as he did with the male members of the crew (sans Luffy, of course), within the story it would make him look rather heartless/less sympathetic and without the story (i.e. us here in the real world) it could be misconstrued as Oda belittling violence against women by using it as a plot device

[3goodtimes]

Personally, I think Zoro could have shown concern for Robin without bringing up her gender. Maybe a grimace or an exclamation. Maybe jumping into the fight. I doubt it would have been misconstrued as belittling violence against women because Robin is a fighter with strength and abilities. She's not an abused woman or a damsel in distress, she's an opponant to Enel.

Also, there has been violence involving women throughout the entire manga. So yeah, I gotta disagree with you on that point.