While reading the latest Chapter (1126), a sudden realization came to me regarding the "Man Marked by Flames": he might be directly inspired by the story of Captain Nemo and the submarine Nautilus, exploring the depths of the ocean. Oda has used real-life figures and fictional characters, like Blackbeard and Don Quixote respectively, as bases for his characters, so why not base one on a character from one of the most influential science fiction novels?
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Captain Nemo is a character from Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne. The novel explores themes of exploration, freedom, and the consequences of technological advancements, which is on track with current themes in One Piece. However, fundamentally, the novel is about adventure and the discovery of the unknown. Through the journey of the Nautilus, readers are introduced to the mysteries and wonders of the deep sea, from underwater forests and landscapes to sunken ships and marine life.
Oda is no stranger to using classic literature as inspiration for the setting of his arcs. Take, for example, the Impel Down arc, where Luffy's descent through the titular prison (a metaphorical Hell) is inspired by Dante's Inferno and Dante's descent through a literal Hell. Given the recent revelation about the world of One Piece being mostly underwater and the sizeable focus put on people setting out to explore what's down there, it seems fitting for Oda to dive fully into Verne's classic novel for the next arc.
The Man Marked by Flames
What makes me think this are the events surrounding the latest chapters, as well as details surrounding the Man Marked by Flames. We are told that this man can summon whirlpools that sink ships approaching his vessel (similar to how Nemo uses his submarine to sink ships), and in the latest chapter, the Thousand Sunny mysteriously disappears. The implication here is that it was swallowed by a whirlpool, and that the Straw Hats are currently on board the "Nautilus."
Whether that vessel is a ship, a submarine, or both isn't important (yes, the title is a bit of clickbait). What is important is that in Verne's novel, the trio of main characters eventually escape the submarine when it encounters a whirlpool, allowing them to return to the surface.
Captain Nemo's Isolation
Nami being dressed up as a Giant of Elbaf inside what looks like a Lego dollhouse could also be explained by looking at who Captain Nemo is as a person. Nemo chooses to live a life of isolation, away from civilization, as he spends all his time in the submarine, under the sea. However, this isolation comes at a price: it leads to solitude, and Nemo grows detached from humanity. I believe the Man Marked by Flames might have kidnapped the Straw Hats and dressed them up as "Vikings" because he's "LARP-ing" (live-action role-playing) them as Giants. He saw a ship from Elbaf and took the Thousand Sunny as a way to experience the outside world.
It's also possible that the Man isn't a man at all but a Giant, who is playing with the Straw Hats like toys, hence the Lego (toy) house.
I've seen few people suggest this to be Prince Loki, but I am skeptical of what the Prince of Elbaf would be doing on the sea (although, this could be explained). This isolation could also explain why we are only now hearing about the Man Marked by Flames. He's a mysterious new character that few have heard of, yet he carries the knowledge of the Road Poneglyphs. If he is integral to finding the One Piece, why is he just now being mentioned? His life of isolation could easily explain this.
Extraordinary Voyages
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea isn't the only work of Jules Verne considered a classic of adventure literature. Verne created several adventure classics, and among them, there are a few that might sound familiar to One Piece fans:
Conclusion/TL;DR
I've always held the belief that the Man Marked by Flames is going to be a brand new character, but I've always struggled to figure out what his role in the story is going to be. Given Oda's history of drawing inspiration from classic literature, especially lately, it's entirely plausible that the "Man Marked by Flames" is influenced by Jules Verne's Captain Nemo. The themes of isolation, exploration, and the mysteries of the deep sea, which are central to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, align perfectly with the current narrative revelations in One Piece. Whether he is inspired directly by Nemo or simply shares thematic similarities, his connection to the secrets of the Road Poneglyphs and his mysterious disappearance point to a larger role in the quest for the One Piece.
If you enjoyed reading this, and want to see more of my stuff, make sure to follow me for more weekly/bi-weekly One Piece posts!
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Captain Nemo is a character from Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne. The novel explores themes of exploration, freedom, and the consequences of technological advancements, which is on track with current themes in One Piece. However, fundamentally, the novel is about adventure and the discovery of the unknown. Through the journey of the Nautilus, readers are introduced to the mysteries and wonders of the deep sea, from underwater forests and landscapes to sunken ships and marine life.
Oda is no stranger to using classic literature as inspiration for the setting of his arcs. Take, for example, the Impel Down arc, where Luffy's descent through the titular prison (a metaphorical Hell) is inspired by Dante's Inferno and Dante's descent through a literal Hell. Given the recent revelation about the world of One Piece being mostly underwater and the sizeable focus put on people setting out to explore what's down there, it seems fitting for Oda to dive fully into Verne's classic novel for the next arc.
The Man Marked by Flames
What makes me think this are the events surrounding the latest chapters, as well as details surrounding the Man Marked by Flames. We are told that this man can summon whirlpools that sink ships approaching his vessel (similar to how Nemo uses his submarine to sink ships), and in the latest chapter, the Thousand Sunny mysteriously disappears. The implication here is that it was swallowed by a whirlpool, and that the Straw Hats are currently on board the "Nautilus."
Whether that vessel is a ship, a submarine, or both isn't important (yes, the title is a bit of clickbait). What is important is that in Verne's novel, the trio of main characters eventually escape the submarine when it encounters a whirlpool, allowing them to return to the surface.
Captain Nemo's Isolation
Nami being dressed up as a Giant of Elbaf inside what looks like a Lego dollhouse could also be explained by looking at who Captain Nemo is as a person. Nemo chooses to live a life of isolation, away from civilization, as he spends all his time in the submarine, under the sea. However, this isolation comes at a price: it leads to solitude, and Nemo grows detached from humanity. I believe the Man Marked by Flames might have kidnapped the Straw Hats and dressed them up as "Vikings" because he's "LARP-ing" (live-action role-playing) them as Giants. He saw a ship from Elbaf and took the Thousand Sunny as a way to experience the outside world.
It's also possible that the Man isn't a man at all but a Giant, who is playing with the Straw Hats like toys, hence the Lego (toy) house.
I've seen few people suggest this to be Prince Loki, but I am skeptical of what the Prince of Elbaf would be doing on the sea (although, this could be explained). This isolation could also explain why we are only now hearing about the Man Marked by Flames. He's a mysterious new character that few have heard of, yet he carries the knowledge of the Road Poneglyphs. If he is integral to finding the One Piece, why is he just now being mentioned? His life of isolation could easily explain this.
Extraordinary Voyages
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea isn't the only work of Jules Verne considered a classic of adventure literature. Verne created several adventure classics, and among them, there are a few that might sound familiar to One Piece fans:
- Around the World in Eighty Days (1872): Follows the journey of Phileas Fogg, who attempts to circumnavigate the globe in 80 days. Obviously, this is just the premise of One Piece: Luffy is trying to circumnavigate the world by traveling through the Grand Line. Loguetown = The Town of Prologue and Epilogue. The Beginning and the End.
- The Mysterious Island (1874): A group of castaways discovers a strange island and eventually encounters Captain Nemo, linking it to the previous novel. There are many "mysterious islands" in One Piece, but none fit the title more than "Laugh Tale."
- Journey to the Center of the Earth (1864): A group of explorers travels into the Earth's core, encountering strange underground creatures and environments. While the Straw Hats have yet to travel into the Earth's core, this novel's theme can apply to nearly every One Piece arc. That's the quintessential theme that Oda is going for whenever a new arc starts. It's also possible we will see them travel to the Earth's core eventually.
- From the Earth to the Moon (1865): The novel explores space travel, with characters planning a trip to the moon using a giant cannon. This is essentially the Skypiea arc. The arc starts with the Straw Hats using the Knock-Up Stream to reach a sky island, and the arc ends with Enel leaving that sky island and later arriving on the Moon.
Conclusion/TL;DR
I've always held the belief that the Man Marked by Flames is going to be a brand new character, but I've always struggled to figure out what his role in the story is going to be. Given Oda's history of drawing inspiration from classic literature, especially lately, it's entirely plausible that the "Man Marked by Flames" is influenced by Jules Verne's Captain Nemo. The themes of isolation, exploration, and the mysteries of the deep sea, which are central to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, align perfectly with the current narrative revelations in One Piece. Whether he is inspired directly by Nemo or simply shares thematic similarities, his connection to the secrets of the Road Poneglyphs and his mysterious disappearance point to a larger role in the quest for the One Piece.
If you enjoyed reading this, and want to see more of my stuff, make sure to follow me for more weekly/bi-weekly One Piece posts!