Oda didn't plan out the 4 emperors by this point so this scene is actually supposed to be a moment of hyping up Shanks since it's revealing that Shanks is (or was with two hands) on par with the greatest swordsman in the world.So I've just finished a reread of Arlong Park. When Luffy starts destroying the map room, I think it's just as powerful a moment as Luffy putting his hat on Nami.
When Hawkeyes goes to see Shanks, there's a couple of things that stood out. He first mentions camping on the beach is bad and I'm not sure why he says it. Next he calls Shanks a washed up pirate. Then Shanks says he's in a bad mood and when the Luffy wanted poster is revealed, Shanks has the claw marks on his face.
A couple of questions:
- Is Shanks in a bad mood presumably because he just has a fight with Blackbeard?
- Is Shanks a Emperor at this time?
- if yes, why would Mihawk call him a has-been?
- if no, is Luffy appearing on the scene what motivates Shanks to keep pushing ahead and eventually becoming an emperor?
Edit: scenes in question
Not sure I understand Mihawk's deal here. Is there a problem with camping on the beach? Or a problem with this beach in particular?
??? Why the has-been comment?
The rest is just set up for the hangover joke. Beaches are bad places to camp because of high tide (this setting up that Shanks & co likely just passed out on the beach after partying all night). Shanks is in a bad mood because he's hungover. Mihawk is calling Shanks a hasbeen because he's a one armed drunk (so it's an insult at Shanks being obviously hungover and not at his reputation worldwide). And so forth.
As Oda later established, Shanks was an emperor for several years before this scene.