do you ever think about how aang was scared of zuko and had a moment where he wanted to leave him behind in the blue spirit episode but he stopped because zuko didn't leave him behind and returning kindness with cruelty doesn't sit well with who aang is so he rescued zuko right back. do you ever think about how aang waited all night for zuko to wake up just to make sure he was okay and then immediately offered his friendship and a piece of his fractured heart that we rarely get to see in hearing how much aang misses his old friends who are all dead and gone. zuko hunted aang like an animal and gave him nightmares and aang was still ready to give him grace and forgiveness and friendship if zuko had abruptly decided to switch sides. aang would have defended zuko to katara and sokka's almost certain skepticism because he sees the good in people, especially people from the fire nation, in a way no one else alive really can anymore. aang was traumatised by the war too, he lost everyone and everything he ever knew to the fire nation and he'll never get any of it back, but he refuses to let their cruelty define him. he refuses to play by their rules. for being an airbender aang is such a brick wall of a person and that's exactly what he needed to be. I love this character so much
One of the key themes of the ATLA franchise is the concept of the Avatar; master of all 4 elements, the fusion of humanity and Raava, the spirit of light and order, whose sole duty is to bring balance to the world, and be the bridge between both the physical and spiritual realms. Along with this comes the idea of reincarnation, which is the premise of the Avatar Cycle, the idea that the Avatar reincarnates in a cyclic order in any of the four nations (fire, air, water, earth). Another concept related to the Avatar Cycle (although originating from the fandom) is the idea of the Avatar fixing the mistakes of their past life, which is often indicated in differences in both habitual circumstances and personalities between both predecessor and successor, and therefore differences in morality.
But what if I were to tell you that the saying "history repeats itself" is also true among Avatar incarnations? Not exactly going the same way, but rather parallels between the lives, personalities, and accomplishments (and failures) of past lives?
In this series of metas, I will be going over parallels (or in some cases, foils) between certain pairs of Avatars that lived decades, or even centuries apart, and yet could not have ever been more similar.
Elemental Foils II: Avatars Kuruk and Roku
"KurukĀ was theĀ Water TribeĀ AvatarĀ immediately succeeding AvatarĀ YangchenĀ and preceding AvatarĀ Kyoshi. Native to theĀ Northern Water Tribe, he was a powerful and gifted bender who dreamed of changing the mortal world for the better by uniting the people and acting upon the foundations laid by Yangchen."
"RokuĀ was theĀ Fire Nation-bornĀ AvatarĀ immediately succeeding AvatarĀ KyoshiĀ and preceding AvatarĀ Aang. Roku's memory served as a guiding force for Aang throughout his quest to end theĀ Hundred Year War."
This post will be a little different, because instead of analyzing the similarities between Kuruk and Roku, I'm going to examine the differences between them. I once again showed part of their respective Avatar Wiki to test whether there are any similarites between them; however most might say "Mone, they may technically be the same person, but aside from Raava, they're completely different people!"
And you'd be dead right.
Before we begin, we must define the word "foil". This word has many meanings, but we're going to define it with a literature standpoint (no, I don't mean the one made from aluminium). Britannica defines the word "foil" as follows:
Foil, inĀ literature, a character who is presented as a contrast to a second character so as to point to or show to advantage some aspect of the second character. An obvious example is the character ofĀ Dr. WatsonĀ inĀ Sir Arthur Conan DoyleāsĀ Sherlock HolmesĀ stories. Watson is a perfect foil for Holmes because his relative obtuseness makes HolmesāsĀ deductionsĀ seem more brilliant.
You see, unlike most pairs of Avatars, Kuruk and Roku are the only true "foils", even though they are literally the same person. It's my humble belief that Kuruk is supposed to act as a narrative foil to Roku (compared to the similarities between their successors, Kyoshi and Aang respectively), especially when we take into account Kuruk's extended backstory.
(WARNING: There will be possible spoilers for both The Rise of Kyoshi and The Shadow of Kyoshi, particularly regarding Kuruk's backstory. If you do not wish to be spoiled, I suggest not reading any further and scrolling past this post until you have finished reading both novels. You have been warned.)
The first (and most obvious) difference between Kuruk and Roku is their native element; Kuruk's is water, Roku's is fire. According to the episode The Avatar and the Firelord (Book 3, Episode 6), water has even been established as the element that Roku mostly struggled with mastering (similarly to how Aang struggled to master earthbending), due to it being the opposite of fire, and thus being unable to adapt to change. As a result, it took Roku 12 years to master the four elements.
On the other hand, firebending would be the most obvious choice for the element that Kuruk would most struggle to master. However, Kuruk was stated to be a prodigy in mastering the other three elements, even going so far as to invent a master airbending technique, and being the only Avatar in history confirmed to have participated in an Agni Kai (and apparently won, considering he still has hair), so we could infer even firebending wasn't particularly difficult for him to master. We can infer that it took Kuruk around 4-5 years to master the four elements. Even then, he still asked his Team Avatar to continue teaching him so he could be the best bender of all time, saying that Pai Sho masters never stopped learning and improving their skills. (This man is basically a younger Water Tribe Avatar version of Uncle Iroh, or at least Iroh's role model.)
In The Shadow of Kyoshi, it's revealed that Avatar Yangchen neglected the spiritual world, often siding with humans when making decisions between humans and spirits. As a result, there were many dark spirits ravaging the physical world, and Kuruk hunted down and killed them, harming his own spirit in the process until his early death at 33. At this time, his physical and bending prowess were clearly challenged, especially in his battle against Father Glowworm, and that I already sort-of-talked about here. Short answer: He wasn't a weapon, he was the entire arsenal.
However, by spending so much time in the Spirit World, he accidentally neglected his physical duties (Yangchen, but in reverse), which led to the corruption of the Earth Kingdom (although, in Kuruk's defense, when is the Earth Kingdom ever not corrupt?), as well as an increase in daofei and raids by the Fifth Nation, among many others.
However, it's unknown what sort of conflict Avatar Kyoshi left behind for Roku to solve, at least until Roku's first novel, The Reckoning of Roku, arrives. (Yes, there was the Dai Li, but that was mostly Aang's problem, especially during Azula's invasion of Ba Sing Se.) From what little information we know of Roku's life that is shown in The Avatar and the Firelord, Roku mostly kept his role as the maintainer of the long-lasting peace that Kyoshi worked for. We don't really know what Roku was capable of in terms of bending; however, we can assume he was a pretty competent bender.
The real problems in Roku's time as the Avatar began with his falling out with his childhood friend Sozin. For a long time, Roku was indecisive and couldn't bring himself to kill Sozin and stop his imperialism when he had a chance. As a result, he was indirectly responsible for the Air Nomad Genocide, which resulted in the death of his successor, Avatar Aang's people (and by extension, the Hundred Year War). Roku believed that it was Aang's destiny to end the Hundred Year War and to atone for both of their mistakes, even though the Air Nomad Genocide was not Roku's fault; it was, and still is, Sozin's sole responsibility (looking at you, Avatar blamers).
Even their deaths are similar yet contrary. Kuruk "betrayed" his friends Jianzhu, Kelsang, and Hei-Ran by not communicating with them about his spiritual duties (although, technically they all "betrayed" him first by regarding him as a failure to the world). Roku, on the other hand, was betrayed by Sozin when the latter left the former to die from the volcanic explosion. Kuruk died to protect his friends, while Roku died as a result of his friend's actions.
This also adds an additional tragedy to the fact that in the Spirit World, Roku appears as an old man, while Kuruk appears as a young man. It's a common theory in the ATLA fandom that the Avatars either appear around the age of the greatest defining moment of their lives, or they choose to appear the way they do, since in The Avatar and the Firelord, Aang appeared to be bald and wearing Air Nomad robes in the Spirit World, even though at this point in time, Aang had hair and was wearing his Fire Nation disguise. Either way, it's still an unfair tragedy, since Roku was able to live a long and healthy life, while Kuruk wasn't given the same chance. This parallels their greatest regrets: Kuruk's decisiveness saved the world at the expense of his own life, while Roku's indecisiveness lengthened his own life but ruined the world. @natequarter has talked about this particular detail (in great detail) here.
And yet, their "supposed" legacies and how they are remembered don't do them the appropriate justice they deserved as merely flawed individuals. Their respective successors, Kyoshi and Aang, have contrarian views on their predecessors' achievements. Kyoshi, like the rest of the world, blamed Kuruk for the mess that was left behind for her to solve, while Aang holds Roku in high esteem and regard. I'm pretty sure the Fire Sages also respect him, since in Winter Solstice Part 2: Avatar Roku (Book 1: Episode 8), when the Fire Sages first see Roku after he took over Aang's body, they immediately prostrate before him (which indicates respect and reverence).
Kuruk was forced to sacrifice himself killing dark spirits again and again and again, and he did sort of succeed in bringing balance to the Spirit World, but no one knew the truth, and thus the world mocked Kuruk by calling him a lazy, entitled failure of an Avatar, and this was encouraged by everyone. Roku, on the other hand, had one job and failed miserably, but was never held accountable for his mistakes; rather he was held in high regard among the four nations.
This is exactly the reason why I believe that F. C. Yee made Kuruk a narriative foil to Roku by providing an extended backstory to the former. From their opposing elements, to their journeys as the Avatars of their time, to how they are remembered beyond the grave, one might understand that when you put them together in any context, they only enhance each other and their opposing traits. In the next part, I will explore the parallels between Kuruk's successor, Kyoshi, and the Water Tribe after him, Avatar Korra, along with a very special guest.
I used to hate it when people said the trick was to just do it until ādo it scaredā started going around, because thatās truly it. Life didnāt start changing until I applied for jobs with one hand in front of my eyes and a trembling hand navigating my computer mouse. Or until I said everything on my mind (in moderation) with my fists clenched and my legs weak. Or until I refused to accept that Iād ājustā be shy forever while also kind of being nauseous at the idea of trying to be the opposite. Two things can coexist and thatās exactly the point of believing that you can do anything.
If youāre unhappy with who you are, view yourself as a foundation. You will expand, you will grow and you will reassess, while also realizing that who you are is necessary to who youāre becoming, and that thereās an inherent goodness inside of you already. Itās okay to start from where you are, with who you are.
reblog and make a wish!
this was removed from tumbrl due to āviolating one or more of Tumblrās Community Guidelinesā, but since my wish came true the first time, Iām putting it back. :)
holy fuck, I didnāt expect this to work, I was like psh, whatever itās just a quick reblog, but I wished my Dad would actually respond back to me AND HE FUCKING DID A FEW DAYS LATER, I GOT A FUCKING TEXT FROM MY DAD TODAY WHO HASNāT SPOKEN OR RESPONDED TO ME IN MONTHS HOLY FUCK WHAT IS THIS MAGIC IT WORKS.Ā
WTF OKAY SO THIS SHOT ACTUALLY WORKS BECAUSE WHEN I WISHED, I HAD WISHED MY CRUSH WOULD LIKE ME BACK AND GUESS WHAT? I HAVE A BOYFRIEND NOW. WHAT THE HELLLLL?????
ok Iāve said this before but IM DOING IT AGAIN THE FIRST TIME I SAW THIS, MY WISH DID COME TRUE SO I REBLOGED AGAIN AND SAID IT IN THE TAGS BUT THEN I WISHED FOR SMTH ELSE AND IT LITERALLY LITERALLY HAPPENED LIKE A COUPLE DAYS LATER WHAT THE HELL SO NOW IM WRITING THIS HERE FOR YOU BC I DONT BELIEVE IN THIS CRAP BUT STILL ITāS AN AWFULLY BIG COINCIDENCE
OKAY I SWEAR TO GOD THIS THING WORKS YOU HAVE TO PATIENT BC I WISHED THAT I COULD MOVE AWAY FROM MY SHITTY TOWN TO A WARM PLACE AND GUESS WHAT THIS JULY IM MOVING TO NORTH CAROLINA OKAY GUYS IM NOT MAKING THIS UP I AM SO CONFUSED ACTUALLY THIS IS GREAT BYE
reblog and make a wish!
this was removed from tumbrl due to āviolating one or more of Tumblrās Community Guidelinesā, but since my wish came true the first time, Iām putting it back. :)
holy fuck, I didnāt expect this to work, I was like psh, whatever itās just a quick reblog, but I wished my Dad would actually respond back to me AND HE FUCKING DID A FEW DAYS LATER, I GOT A FUCKING TEXT FROM MY DAD TODAY WHO HASNāT SPOKEN OR RESPONDED TO ME IN MONTHS HOLY FUCK WHAT IS THIS MAGIC IT WORKS.Ā
WTF OKAY SO THIS SHOT ACTUALLY WORKS BECAUSE WHEN I WISHED, I HAD WISHED MY CRUSH WOULD LIKE ME BACK AND GUESS WHAT? I HAVE A BOYFRIEND NOW. WHAT THE HELLLLL?????
ok Iāve said this before but IM DOING IT AGAIN THE FIRST TIME I SAW THIS, MY WISH DID COME TRUE SO I REBLOGED AGAIN AND SAID IT IN THE TAGS BUT THEN I WISHED FOR SMTH ELSE AND IT LITERALLY LITERALLY HAPPENED LIKE A COUPLE DAYS LATER WHAT THE HELL SO NOW IM WRITING THIS HERE FOR YOU BC I DONT BELIEVE IN THIS CRAP BUT STILL ITāS AN AWFULLY BIG COINCIDENCE
OKAY I SWEAR TO GOD THIS THING WORKS YOU HAVE TO PATIENT BC I WISHED THAT I COULD MOVE AWAY FROM MY SHITTY TOWN TO A WARM PLACE AND GUESS WHAT THIS JULY IM MOVING TO NORTH CAROLINA OKAY GUYS IM NOT MAKING THIS UP I AM SO CONFUSED ACTUALLY THIS IS GREAT BYE
āDeep inside she knew who she was, and that person was smart, and kind, and often even funny. But somehow her personality always got lost somewhere between her heart and her mouth, and she found herself saying the wrong thing or, more often, nothing at all.ā
thereās no rule as to how big or how small youāre allowed to dream. if you just want a small home and an orange kitchen and four cats thatās just as reasonable of a goal to work for as a big new york penthouse. and if all you really want is a simplistic career that isnāt the center of your life then thatās just as valid as dreaming of becoming a famous fashion designer or ceo. i know everyone keeps urging you to dream big, but dreams can be as simple and small as you want. theyāll always be valid. you decide how you want to live and what kind of life you want, no one else.
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