And finally we get to the crux of Robin’s inner turmoil. I’ve talked quite a bit about Robin’s development throughout this arc so I don’t want to belabor the point too much, but I do think it’s worth bringing up the similarity she has going on with Usopp.
At the end of the day both Robin and Usopp are going through massive issues of insecurity and poor self-worth. Usopp’s issues are largely internal--he sees himself as weak, and thinks that Luffy and the rest will one day abandon him for his weakness.
Robin’s situation is largely external. She’s never worried about being strong or smart enough, but World Government has exerted so much pressure on her over the years that she can’t help but see herself as burden that will eventually be abandoned and hated by the Straw Hat Pirates.
They’re identical fears caused by very different things, which end up getting resolved in very different ways. Usopp through the help of the Straw Hats learns to recognize and find worth in the specific skills he brings the crew. In Robin’s case, the Straw Hats show her the unconditional love and support she thought was impossible, and for the first time in her life she’s able to rely on other people rather than fight and claw just to survive.
I think it’s fitting that these two character arcs get the spotlight together despite at first glance not having a lot in common. It lets Oda tackle a lot of the series big themes from a couple of different angles while still feeling cohesive.
