|
Post by shen on Mar 15, 2009 13:04:33 GMT -5
This is what Mike and Bryan said in Sozin's Comet Book Exclusive Interview.
Is Azula really as evil as she seems ? Or is there more to her?
Mike: As all the Avatar characters , even Azula has a softer side , though she buried it very deep. As the Beach and Sozin's Comet showed ,she has a lot of unresolved issues with her mother . She really feels that her mother did not love her as much as Zuko , and this drives her crazy , literally.
Bryan: There are truly evil people in the world , but in the case of Azula , her repressed emotions and jealousies corroded her spirit , and made her become that way. It is possible that she could turned out better in a healthier environment, but growing in a royal family of a nation seeking world domination exacerbate her problems . But Zuko and katara spared her life and who knows she might have a chance to heal.
|
|
Horyo
RP Admin
All your bending are belong to us.
Posts: 2,572
|
Post by Horyo on Mar 15, 2009 20:28:42 GMT -5
While I agree with their statement, institutionalizing Azula may be an even more horrible idea, but the same could be said to "let her loose" in some new environment. It becomes hard to determine whether one environment is conducive to her healing, yet not risk the safety of others.
As for Azula's current state, all her emotional problems have caused her to develop issues which she has pinned against Zuko; these problems can fester and grow to a worse state now that he has dishonored her (by sparing her), dethroned her, and forced her into a desperate corner (overcoming her firebending). Azula may be too mentally shattered to piece it together and hold a grudge against Zuko, or she may recover her mind and realize why she was spared in the first place.
|
|
|
Post by shen on Mar 16, 2009 21:17:09 GMT -5
The healers will know that she needs her mother's love from her hallucinations and inability to repress her emotions.They will help her overcome her confusion and jealousy of Zuko.
The return of Ursa from banishment will help her a lot to heal.She will always stay beside her daughter.
|
|
Horyo
RP Admin
All your bending are belong to us.
Posts: 2,572
|
Post by Horyo on Mar 16, 2009 22:21:10 GMT -5
As nice as that is, it's highly speculative, especially since the show has not given us much information about the success of mental-treatments and progresses in mental sciences, or Ursa's whereabouts.
|
|
|
Post by shen on Mar 20, 2009 20:33:51 GMT -5
According to my beliefs, there are many positive factors that can help Azula heals such as: She is not under Ozai's influence anymore.And regarding to the success of mental treatment and progress in mental science,unwinding is one of the of the processes that can cure.
Zuko got the upper hands and he would find Ursa.We did not see it in the show it doesn't mean it did not happen.
|
|
asian malaysian
Avatar Kyoshi
Let me hear you say this ship is bananas! B-A-NA-N-A-S!
Posts: 1,308
|
Post by asian malaysian on Mar 21, 2009 23:24:52 GMT -5
Its her lack of balance that made her such a scary character. No one was safe around her. In that sense, she was far scarier than Ozai.
|
|
|
Post by Fire Lord Azula on Mar 23, 2009 0:59:40 GMT -5
Mike: As all the Avatar characters , even Azula has a softer side , though she buried it very deep. If the quote is to be taken word-for-word, Mike states that all characters have a softer side, without exclusions. Interestingly enough, assuming the statement holds firm, rarely is a case made for Ozai. What makes him so much worse than Azula? Are people sympathizing with Azula simply because she's a teenager, whereas Ozai, as an adult, "should know better"? For however young Azula may be, she's fully conscious of her actions and makes no apologies. She knew what she was doing when she suggested the fiery raizing of the Earth Kingdom; the loss of human life and irreparable destruction that came with such a proposition. She just flat-out didn't care. And, while Ozai readily agreed with the plan, he didn't formulate it. It came solely from Azula's twisted mind; in such an instance, he was more of an accomplice than anything. Does this sweeping wave of fandom sympathy come from Azula's sharp descent into insanity? How does that make her likable? Sympathetic, perhaps, but likable? Not once did she show remorse for the insurmountable travesties she committed. What drove her insane was a crushing sense of paranoia sparked by the events at the Boiling Rock; demoralization that came from attaining her lifelong dream of becoming Fire Lord, only to find out that the title was stripped of any and all worth; and her mother-issues finally catching up with her. She never displayed a conscience, which would be essential for redemption. She would need to show remorse for her tyranny and proposed genocide. Nothing points to such a thing ever happening; quite the contrary. Her blatant lack of any semblance of compassion negates the chance of meaningful redemption. She may one day find a sense of inner peace -- and, by that, I mean a return of the way she was before: cold, calculating, and unmoved by her issues -- but an absolute turnaround? I'm still grasping at straws as to why so many people think it's possible. It seems more like wish-fulfillment than anything.
|
|
asian malaysian
Avatar Kyoshi
Let me hear you say this ship is bananas! B-A-NA-N-A-S!
Posts: 1,308
|
Post by asian malaysian on Mar 23, 2009 23:28:17 GMT -5
^^ I think that Azula's inner voice which took the form of her mother may point towards the path of her possible redemption. At least on a subconscious level, I do think that she realised her betrayal by her closests confidants was a reflection on her and that the manner in which she had interacted with people all the while. I take it as a given that in fiction there is an inherent element of wish-fulfilment on the part of both the creator and the audience. If you cant even find some hope for a happily ever after ending even in fiction, then the real world must seem a very bleak and sad place indeed.
|
|
|
Post by Fire Lord Azula on Mar 26, 2009 11:10:40 GMT -5
^^ I think that Azula's inner voice which took the form of her mother may point towards the path of her possible redemption. At least on a subconscious level, I do think that she realised her betrayal by her closests confidants was a reflection on her and that the manner in which she had interacted with people all the while. Azula wasn't at all remorseful or apologetic in that scene. She was frustrated that her carefully-planned world was falling apart. She felt that her tyrannical influence on people would ensure their loyalty to her; instead, it drove them away, and she struggled to understand why that would happen. Ursa doesn't necessarily represent a conscience. She was the only person to see Azula for who she was from the very beginning; the one person who didn't kowtow to her and actually pointed out her horrid behavior ( Zuko Alone ). Everyone else either: feared her, resented her, or even encouraged her to behave poorly ( Ozai ). Ursa was the only one who, as it turned out, truly loved Azula for who she was, but was dismayed by her cruelty. Just because Azula may have realized this, it doesn't mean she regrets anything she's done and will work to change herself. I take it as a given that in fiction there is an inherent element of wish-fulfilment on the part of both the creator and the audience. Fanfiction does reinforce this quite nicely, yes. If you cant even find some hope for a happily ever after ending even in fiction, then the real world must seem a very bleak and sad place indeed. Azula was intended to be, and written as, a villain. If redemption was in her future, it would've been hinted at early on, as it was for Zuko. Because Azula is a fictional character, real-world optimism need not apply.
|
|
|
Post by shen on Mar 26, 2009 19:17:16 GMT -5
What happened in that scene was self-reprimanding and self-criticism.Azula wasn't apologetic or remorseful because she was repressing her emotions.Her use of fear to control people was due to Ozai who used fear to control her and Zuko. He taught her fear was the only way.To avoid her father's disappointment and punishment she suppressed her emotions.When Zuko joined the avatar, it didn't drive her into insanity.Being favored by her father ruined her relationship with her mother.And if her mother knew Ozai was behind her daughter's bad behavior she would face him.Azula's redemption is possible according to the exclusive interview.
Sozin’s Comet, Part 1: The Phoenix King Azula: You can’t treat me like this.You can’t treat me like Zuko! Fire Lord Ozai: Azula, silence yourself. Azula! "Azula:Is he going to attack me like he attacked Zuko? I'm better than Zuko , but even I can't beat my father in a duel. It is all I can do to get a hold of myself.If he trusts me so much, then why he won't take me with him ? Surely he realizes how small watching over a petty nation is compared to ruling the world.And that is my destiny out in the world, not trapped in this miserable palace with no friends or family..Ugh I'm so angry I could... " (Sozin's Comet Book,Page 19).
Azula wanted to Ozai to love her and she was afraid he would challenge her to an Agni Kai like Zuko.
Sozin’s Comet, Part 1: The Phoenix King Fire Lord Ozai: Azula! Listen to me. I need you here to watch over the homeland, it’s a very important job that I can only entrust to you. Azula:Really Fire Lord Ozai: And for your loyalty, I’ve decided to declare you the new Fire Lord.
Ozai manipulated her the same way he manipulated Zuko.
The Blue Spirit. Zhao: We are the sons and daughters of fire! The superior element! Until today, only one thing stood in our path to victory. The Avatar! I am here to tell you that he is now my prisoner! This is the year Sozin's comet returns to grant us its power! This is the year the Fire Nation breaks through the walls of Ba-Sing-Se and burns the city to the ground!
Zuko Alone. Iroh: If the city is as magnificent as its wall, Ba Sing Se must be something to behold.I hope you all may see it someday, if we don't burn it to the ground first.
Azula wasn't the first one suggested burning Ba Sing Se to the ground.The Fire Nation knew the comet would be used to end the Earth Kingdom.
|
|
asian malaysian
Avatar Kyoshi
Let me hear you say this ship is bananas! B-A-NA-N-A-S!
Posts: 1,308
|
Post by asian malaysian on Mar 26, 2009 21:04:12 GMT -5
^^ shen, while I agree with much you say, I do think it is significant that it is her mother's judmental presence she feels and not her fathers in the scene. Im not sure what kind of last talk Ursa gave Azula but it clearly left an impression on her.
@ Firelord Azula- I said it was a possible path to redemption not a certainty. She clearly hasnt had time or practise in reflecting on the causes and consequences of her actions. Thats the danger growing up where even your closest confidants just tell you that youre perfect. We saw which way Zuko went inspite of everything he had learnt over the years from the loss of his mother to his search for the Avatar so Im not prepared to right off Azula entirely.
|
|
|
Post by shen on Mar 27, 2009 17:43:16 GMT -5
Azula misunderstood her mother.Ursa loved both of her children equally.The way Azula talked to her mother in her hallucination indicates she was boldly and freely saying her mind unlike her father.She needed her and cried when she realized her mother wasn't with her.I think Ozai did not need to banish Ursa.
|
|
|
Post by bacwas on Mar 30, 2009 20:29:11 GMT -5
Azula never shows any regret. Whenever I think of her, I think of Zuko Alone and The Storm. As a young girl she absolutely got off on Zuko getting his face burned. She revelled in her brother's humiliation and pain.
In Zuko Alone, she showed no remorse at her cousin's death or Iroh's resulting pain, she insulted Iroh(calling him weak etc), showed her desire to always be the best(tripping Ty Lee because she cartwheeled better), messed aroung with Zuko and Mai, taunted Zuko about Ozai killing him etc. That episode reveals so much about her and it's all ugly. And I will not say that Ursa didn't love her because she chastised Azula. She was concerned about Azula's behaviour, her character, her obvious lack of empathy. How she got that way is another matter. It's obvious that Ozai favoured her and found her skill a good way to impress Azulon. From what he saw, he didn't love Azula, the little girl, he loved Azula the prodigy. Azula seemed keen on impressing everybody(and rubbing Zuko's face in her superiority), including Zuko. She was a keener, a perfectionist. Some people are perfectionist by nature. Maybe that's her.
She didn't seem interested in having her mother's love. She seemed to disdain her mother as well as Zuko. She didn't seem interested in spending time with Ursa.
Zuko, on the other hand, gravitated to the loving, nurturing parent.
|
|
Shyne
Momo
The Pink Pony will eat your brain!!!
Posts: 27
|
Post by Shyne on Mar 30, 2009 23:19:36 GMT -5
She didn't seem interested in having her mother's love. She seemed to disdain her mother as well as Zuko. She didn't seem interested in spending time with Ursa. Wait. What? When did Azula show any signs of not wanting her mothers love? That was one of Azula's main problems. She wanted to be loved by her mother (even if she wouldn't admit it to herself).
|
|
|
Post by somniumweb on Mar 31, 2009 1:00:15 GMT -5
She didn't seem interested in having her mother's love. She seemed to disdain her mother as well as Zuko. She didn't seem interested in spending time with Ursa. Wait. What? When did Azula show any signs of not wanting her mothers love? That was one of Azula's main problems. She wanted to be loved by her mother (even if she wouldn't admit it to herself). What you say is true, but Azula kept making the choice to reject it, too. When I watched Azula, I saw someone who embraced the idea that love is weak and hindering. She saw the way Zuko was unworthy in their father's eyes, so she decided she wouldn't make the same mistakes as him. I think at the core, Azula did want her mother's love, but after years of continuously being the way she was, she developed a skewered idea of what real familial or maternal love is. It's possible she could heal just as it's also possible to revert back to old ways...
|
|