Monkey D. Dragon – Commander in Chief of the Revolutionary Army is the central character of the world of One Piece. His importance in the series is not limited to his role as a revolutionary, but also to the fact that he is the biological father of main character Luffy.
Dragon was first mentioned in the Loguetown arc, but became more famous after the events at Enies Lobby, when Garp revealed to Luffy that Dragon was his father. As the story progresses towards the final sagas, Dragon becomes even more prominent, as he is the one who leads the revolutionary army against the Heavenly Dragons – the world nobles.
This move is an important plot point, causing fans to question the “estranged” relationship between Dragon and Luffy.
Dragon’s absence in Luffy’s life
It’s clear that Dragon had no part in Luffy’s growth process. If Garp hadn’t revealed it, Luffy wouldn’t even know his father existed. This is evident by Luffy’s surprise when he discovered he had a father and the ignorance of Dragon’s close companions, such as Kuma and Ivankov, about the existence of Dragon’s son.
The reasons behind Dragon’s absence
In chapter 1100, Eiichiro Oda begins to clarify why Dragon left Luffy. A scene in chapter 1101 shows Kuma observing Luffy in East Blue, revealing that Dragon’s associates knew of Luffy but kept their distance. The conversation between Kuma and Dragon shows that Dragon chooses to stay away from Luffy to protect him. He did not want his son to become the weak point in his revolutionary mission.
Oda confirmed fan theories about why Dragon distanced himself from Luffy, showing that it was a wise decision to protect his son and his revolution. This development adds depth to Dragon’s story and character, showing the complexity of his decisions and their impact on both the plot and Luffy’s life.
So is Dragon a good father?
The debate about whether Monkey D. Dragon is a good father or not is complicated. On one hand, his actions, especially in the context of One Piece chapter 1101, show that he abandoned Luffy to protect him. Dragon prioritizes the safety of Luffy and the revolution he leads, choosing to keep his distance to prevent Luffy from being targeted by his enemies.
On the other hand, Dragon’s complete absence from Luffy’s life, regardless of his motives, is considered a failure on the part of the father. Fatherhood requires presence and active participation in the upbringing and education of children.
Even with the intention of protecting Luffy, Dragon was still unable to provide the emotional and physical support that was necessary for the child’s development. Therefore, his explanation for his absence, although understandable, does not absolve him of his unfinished responsibilities as a father.
Luffy and Dragon’s reunion
One Piece’s story is entering its final phase, fans are looking forward to seeing the reunion between Luffy and Dragon. This promises to be a pivotal moment in the series.
After the events of the Egghead Island arc, the reunion of Luffy and his father seems to be near. The Straw Hats’ reluctant visit to the Revolutionary Army, through Vegapunk, could facilitate this meeting. In addition to Luffy, other characters like Robin can also have meaningful reunions with members of the Revolutionary Army like Koala and Sabo.