#she deserves all the recognition and love she's been recieving lately

[splanana-bitz]

*Screaming at the top of my lungs* WOOOOOOOO CHAPPELL ROAN! YEAAAAAAH!

you'd have to stop the world just to stop the feeling!!

(now available as a sort-of-wallpaper and print~)

[visd3stele]

Zuko/Azula - redemption

I've been thinking about redemption arcs lately and my mind traveled back to the first one I've seen: Zuko's. It raised some questions about the siblings which I'll write down in an attempt to find answers.

what's the difference between Zuko and Azula?

I think it boils down to their childhoods (forshadowing their arcs). Azula has always been treated like the villain, while Zuko is shown to be kind and mild. If he is presented as a villain for the first few episodes, as soon as the first flashbacks shows up, he is revealed as morally grey/misleaded victim.

Azula, on the other side, doesn't have the backstory in her favor. Her mother is shown to be scared of her: "My own mother thought I was a monster" holds so much to it: the reason she gravitated towards Ozai as a child, why she turned out the way she did, how it converted her mind (making her think the only thing she is, is evil).

personalities

Zuko has been leaning on the good side before his exile. At 14/15, he comments on the safety of young soldiers and condemns the immoral elders. Azula is indictrinated with the "all means to an end" belief, seeing their army as numbers, not humans.

While chasing the Avatar, Zuko is in exile. It's clear he's not expecting respect (he craves it, but he doesn't feel he deserves it... not untill he catches the Avatar). He gives orders, yes, but not with the confidence of his sister (see the waves' mercy vs mine quote). He is desperate to find Aang, with no regards of his own safety (while pretty much shielding the others on the boat), yet that boy speaking in defense of his people is stronger in him (thus having Zuko save and take care of Aang near the end of even Book one).

When Azula starts chasing Aang, she does so out of her own free will. She wants to catch the Avatar, for glory and to make her father proud.

(I would argue that Zuko, while pride and recognition still being factors influencing his early actions, doesn't see Ozai's approval the same way Azula does. In Zuko's mind is set that he lost his honor and his father, and his father only, can restore it. He grew up in Azula's shadows in their father eyes, so Aang is the ticket to his self worh and validation. Azula has it all and her need is to keep it, because what would be left of her if she looses it?)

relations

Zuko has Iroh to guide him. Although he doesn't always listen to his uncle, he still respects him. Looks up to him and recognize Iroh knows more than him. Zuko loves Iroh (since childhood) and Iroh loves Zuko (since childhood), and they both are aware of this.

Azula has Mai and Ty Lee, her presumed friends. Except, she doesn't see them as her equals. She doesn't confide in them, she is entitled to issue orders to them and the emotional connection is severely damaged, if it exists at all. She is not at the recieving end of affection, either. Nor from the girls (that can't form a close relationship with her), nor from her parents or family.

Basically, Azula has been given up on since her childhood, while Zuko's redemption is being fought for by the plot since the beggining. Hence the descending into madness of Azula, while Zuko manages to reclaim his inner self and find peace.