One Piece Chapter 1196: THE LOVE OF THE SUICIDAL IS WORTHLESS

For Sanji, it seems like Ivankov represents his worst fears by telling him the last thing he wants to hear, that his nature of self-sacrifice is not as noble as he wants it to be, and rooted in his lack of care for his own life. The reason Sanji has been so traumatised by his training is because he had to face his own weakness, and fled from it. While Sanji was able to win many duels, he always came out more hurt than his opponent, Sanji didn’t care enough to protect himself during his bouts. Ivankov was right in thinking that if Sanji didn’t learn to love himself soon, he’d get into a situation where he’d break entirely, which we saw during the Whole Cake Island Saga. The Okama of the island have all learned to love and express their true selves, in a way that Sanji cannot handle, he doesn’t care about himself, he won’t put the time in to heal, the only way he knows how to love is by serving others. And as Sanji has been told repeatedly throughout the story, if he doesn’t value his own life, it means nothing to throw it away for another. Ivankov knows what it’s like to dedicate their life to a cause, to a man with a vision for the world unlike any other, and is willing to die for him. Ivankov questions if Sanji will be able to protect Luffy to the very end, if he’s ready to die at any moment.

Ivankov is of course correct in all of this, self love, self worth, are so important to keep one going. You cannot truly love and serve your friends if you don’t know what you mean to them. Sanji’s upbringing made him believe his life had no value, that his actions were the only thing that could speak for him. But he needs to know that he can be loved for being, rather than doing, intrinsically loved for the kind man he is, and love himself for that fact. I realise Sanji didn’t actually come out as transgender this chapter, and I’m sure that many people were hoping for that. But the allegory still stands, a bevy of genderqueer characters are telling Sanji to love himself, to be himself, to keep fighting another day so that he can be his true self, with his friends, the friends that allowed him to set down the path of finding himself. I think that’s a beautiful sentiment, and while there has been criticism of Oda’s portrayal of transness and gender expression over the years, I feel like the message overall is incredibly affirming. Ivankov is not a character who is ever presented in the wrong, they are very knowledgeable and influential, and their advice here will help Sanji (presumably) unlock his Supreme King Haki.

It’s hard not to read Sanji as a bit suicidal, with moments highlighted last week on Skypiea and Thriller Bark, where he was so ready to be the one to die for his crew. His dedication is commendable, but he needs to live to see through his, and everyone else’s dreams. Luffy is the man who helped Sanji find his purpose in life, but now he’s reached his limit in going all-out without consequence, it’s time to put up his defences, love himself and be ready to live another day. With that realisation finally hitting, after all these chapters, it clicks for him. Sanji is ready to fight, this time using his defense, his speed, his skill, to keep going. Killingham will not land another blow.