Summary

Shanks is a mysterious figure in One Piece’s world, being both a mentor to Luffy and an Emperor of the Sea.
He has shady connections to the World Government, leading some fans to believe he may be evil.
Despite speculation, Shanks is highly respected and hints at being one of the few good pirates in the story.

Ever since Shank’s first appearance at the very beginning of One Piece’s story, fans have been speculating about the origins and true intentions behind Luffy’s previous mentor figure. With the character only rarely showing up in the story, yet still having a major impact on the world, so little information has been shared about the character that One Piece fans have to start filling in the blanks.

However, with the level of speculation that goes into Shanks, some theories are bound to be a bit more strange than others. Ranging from theories about a twin brother, or his true connection to Luffy in the world of One Piece, Shanks is one of the few characters, along with Dragon, that is open to the most speculation. This includes plenty that suggest that Shanks himself is actually evil and is looking to fight or betray Luffy by the end of One Piece.

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Shanks Is A Mysterious Figure In One Piece

He Is Luffy’s Idol And Connected To The World Government At The Same Time

Shanks, as many One Piece fans know, is an important figure in Luffy’s life. Shanks is Luffy’s idol and model pirate, as well as being the one who gave him his Straw Hat so many years ago. However, Shanks, at the same time, is an Emperor of the Sea who constantly claims weaker territories to protect. In many ways, out of any other Warlord, except for Whitebeard, Shanks is the most altruistic and helpful to the world of One Piece.

Pistols aren’t for threats. They’re for actions! Are you willing to risk your life? – Shanks

At the same time, Shanks has a few darker connections to the World Government in One Piece. It is heavily implied in the One Piece Film: Red and throughout the story that Figarland Garling, the previous Supreme Commander of the God’s Knights, and current member of the Five Elders may be Shanks’s father. At the same time, Shanks is given special privileges when discussing matters with the Five Elders, implying directly that he has some connection with the highest positions in the World Government.

Shanks Has Become The Snitch Of One Piece

The Emperor Has Had Some Shady Dealings Throughout The Story

Shanks’s Connection To The World Government Make Him Seem Shady
Shanks Cruelly Destroys Enemy Pirates

Firstly, this connection to the World Government of One Piece is one of the reasons that many fans believe Shanks may be evil. Many fans in the community of One Piece make memes that constantly poke fun at the fact that Shanks has private conversations with the Five Elders of the World Government, referring to him as a rat or snitch. Additionally, many believe that he has a major plot that he’s been scheming behind the scenes that will only be revealed closer to the end of One Piece.

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At the same time, some fans believe he is evil due to the sheer ruthlessness that he dispatches enemy pirates with. Shanks completely decimated Captain Kid and his crew, presumably leaving him for dead. At the same time, Shanks also captured Bartolomeo and gave him an ultimatum of taking poison or ratting out Luffy, a fairly cruel method. Although it proved to be a test in the end, Yassop, Shanks’s sniper, still destroyed Bartolomeo’s ship while they were sailing away.

Shanks Is Too Well Respected To Be Evil

Luffy And The Giants Respect Shanks For His Morality

However, despite these small details, there is an overwhelming amount of evidence that implies that Shanks is not evil. Shanks seems to have a genuine care for Luffy, as well as the many islands he protects. Additionally, the giants of Elbaf hold Shanks in high regard, implying that he’s honorable enough to have the noble giants on his side.

I’ll leave this hat with you. It’s dear to me. – Shanks to Luffy

On top of this, Shanks has too much respect for the former One Piece Pirate king, Gol D. Roger, to be evil. To Shanks, Roger is his idol and mentor. If Shanks were to do anything too evil, it would go against everything that Roger taught him.

While there may be a small amount of evidence to craft a theory in One Piece as to why Shanks could be evil, so far in the story, Shanks is one of the furthest Pirates in One Piece from being bad. In many ways, Shanks is one of the few good pirates left and was the only morally good Emperor before Luffy joined the fray. Unless something big happens later in the story of One Piece, and it turns out his entire persona was a facade, there is almost no way Shanks could be evil.