I really want to understand Zuko’s logic when it comes to forgiveness, because there seems to be a very visible distinction between how he treats family, and how he treats friends, significant others, and potential friends--and I really want to know why.
With friends, and potential friends:
I know Mai is pissed at me, but I’m going to take her wanting me to sit next to her as a sign that she is ok with me putting my arm around her.
I’m good now, why won’t the Gaang accept me as a friend and realize I’ve changed? I said I was sorry.
I said I’m sorry, and I’ve shown everyone that I’ve changed, why won’t Katara accept me as a friend?
“Does this mean you’re not mad at me anymore?”
“Hey, I know you’re dating Kei Lo now, and that I’ve kind of upset you in the past, but I’m going to still ask if you love Kei Lo the way you loved me.
With family:
Constantly worries about his dad accepting him.
Constantly thinks that his uncle will not forgive him despite Iroh repeatedly forgiving him in the past.
Why the huge discrepancy between how he treats friends and family in regards to forgiveness? Why not realize that some things are easier to forgive than others, and that forgiveness comes easier to some, but not others?
Is it something he learned because of his abuse? Is there some underlying cause to all this that I’m not getting?
Maybe, because he’s never really had to deal with his friends forgiving him, he doesn’t really get how they’d act and why?
Though, that also conflicts with the fact that he does know how to sympathize with people as we’re shown time and time again in Book 2:
He sympathizes with Song a bit because of her father, and because of her scar
He sympathizes with Lee
And he sympathizes with Katara about their moms
It’s like he can sympathize and understand people through tragedy, but if we’re talking about forgiveness, he’s like “I don’t get it.”
Though actually, it might be important to include being rejected by the villagers in “Zuko Alone,” to the list. But even then, wouldn't he mentally try to figure out like “Ok, so and so may not forgive me for such and such, but this other person might”? Why not try to understand the other person’s perspective both in regards to forgiveness and tragedy? because he’s actually really great at putting things together, connecting them, and understanding other people’s perspective, but somehow he doesn't really get the whole forgiveness thing.
What’s his deal?