One Piece is a series known for its "interesting" cast of characters. The Straw Hats and their opponents are all extremely and creatively well-crafted, making them all unique. While some characters are given unusual designs that manage to be both stylish and threatening at times, others can only be described as deliciously bizarre. One such character is Gaimon.
For those who are unfamiliar, the Straw Hats met Gaimon during the "East Blue" tale. Despite having little bearing on the broader story, he has become a fan favorite, and even one of the series' creator, Eiichiro Oda's, favorite characters, thanks in no small part to his comical appearance.Although it's easy to assume him to be nothing more than a gag character, Gaimon might represent something much more significant in the story.
Why was Gaimon not "saved" by the Straw Hats?
As far as appearances go, Gaimon was hit with a major stroke of bad luck. With an odd, pear-shaped head and an intense unibrow, things got much worse after he fell off a cliff into an empty treasure chest. Now, seemingly forever trapped in the chest, Gaimon has all his original features, as well as a large beard and a giant green shrub-like afro. He also looks like an actual treasure chest, with giant feet, hands and head popping out of it.
Gaimon's fate is even more tragic when it's stated that he's been trapped in the chest for around 20 years, hinting at the "unsanitary" implications of this situation. Considering that some people would consider this a fate worse than death, it's hard to imagine why Gaimon wasn't freed from the chest by Luffy or Nami when they found him. While it was never explicitly stated, the sad truth was that Oda simply found it funnier to leave him like that. However, as unenviable as his situation seemed to be, Gaimon never really asked to be freed from the chest, instead only asking Luffy for assistance to determine whether the treasure he dedicated himself to protecting was actually real -- which it wasn't.
What's the Point of Gaimon in One Piece?
While this part of the story gives off strong filler vibes, Gaimon is canon to the main plot, with a role that works on multiple levels. Firstly, he's one of the first truly bizarre characters seen in the series, helping to both establish the tone and concepts of the series. However, as important as that is, what Gaimon represents is far more important. Gaimon's greed and obsession with finding treasure directly led to his current fate -- a man perpetually trapped in an empty treasure chest. As funny as this is, it also acts as an incredibly well-crafted metaphor. In search of a legendary treasure, Gaimon found nothing and instead filled the chest himself. It speaks to the dangers of obsession and how legends are ultimately created by men. Treasure in itself is only as valuable as people believe it to be, making its worth entirely subjective.
Gaimon basically dedicated his life to protecting a treasure he wasn't even sure existed but went out of his way to believe was really there. In a sense, he himself was the treasure, as it was all in his head, making his predicament quite fitting. Moreover, rather than finding treasure, Gaimon instead discovered an island with strange animals with strange appearances like his own. Even when given the option to join the Straw Hats, he chose to stay on the island to protect the animals, as they are now the most valuable thing in the world to him.
This potentially represents the titular One Piece. Based on what was shown in the flashback, it seems as though the famous treasure on Laugh Tale will be something more akin to information rather than physical gold or gems. While many pirates would find this to be a waste of effort, it's clear that this treasure truly is the most valuable thing in the world, given just how much the World Government wants to keep it a secret.
The One Piece has become an obsession to both pirates and government forces, and Gaimon acts as a metaphorical warning to those who let their obsessions consume them. It was only after he let go of his obsession that Gaimon found true peace and happiness, which may even foreshadow events that are yet to come in the story. Already, the series has shown how greed and obsession can lead people to ruin, especially in recent chapters with Kid's overwhelming defeat at the hands of Shanks. It will be interesting to see how the story handles this, especially with the series' final saga now underway. Hopefully, the Straw Hats will manage to avoid the mistakes made by their predecessors and contemporaries.
