Post by ailin on Dec 31, 2006 22:54:59 GMT -6
I recently rewatched the Earth King, and Zuko's dream. I remember reading (I think it might've been on this board even) that the writers had consulted dream interpreters for Zuko's hallucination/dream. That got me thinking about the exact nature of his metamorphosis, and went about to interpreting the dream myself. It actually is really interesting, and predicts his choice in the season finale of the Guru/Crossroads of Destiny.
So first Zuko sees himself as the Fire Lord. On the surface, this symbolizes Zuko’s desire to fulfill his destiny and claim his rightful place on the throne. Deeper meaning suggests that seeing himself as the Fire Lord (in this case, I went under the dream interpretations for ‘king’) means that he will rise above his problems and adversities.
He is then approached by the two dragons, the blue with Azula’s voice, and the other red with Iroh’s. Obviously Zuko would see Azula as a blue dragon given her characteristic blue firebending. What is less known is that in Chinese traditions the Azure Dragon, the Dragon of the East, is the strongest of the constellations, controls the largest territories and is represented by the spring season. On the other side there is Iroh, the Dragon of the West. They seem to be battling for Zuko’s soul or will, Iroh guiding him to leave his ambition to be the Fire Lord, Azula telling him to rest and to sleep. Seeing dragons signify that Zuko is letting himself get carried away by his passions and that this kind of behavior may lead him into the hands of enemies. He needs to exercise some self-control.
While seeing Azula and Iroh as the dueling dragons of the West and East didn’t surprise me much, nor them battling for Zuko’s destiny within the Fire Nation, what I did find interesting was the meaning for seeing dragons themselves. Zuko is very much the type of person who gets carried away with his passions (or obsessions), and Iroh has tried instilling some self-control in his nephew. Not only this, but it is this very obsessive/passionate behavior that leads Zuko into the hands of his enemies (Azula) whether he sees her as an enemy or not.
Next, the blue dragon tells Zuko to sleep just like his mother and attacks. Because of his mother’s disappearance, it’s easy to believe that Zuko has thought her dead and Azula telling him to sleep is like telling him to die. In dream interpretation, sleep can be synonymous with death, though it does beckon renewal and new beginnings. Azula attacking seems to me that she has won the battle for his will at this point, and has gotten Zuko to ‘sleep.’
He then hears his mother calling out to him. At first I thought this was just a call back to what his mother looked like the last time he saw her, and his need to know what really happened to her. What is far more interesting is the meaning of hearing his mother call out to him. It signifies that he has been negligent in his duties and responsibilities and that he is pursuing the wrong path. As far as being negligent, I believe that this is all from his perspective, and he feels he has been neglecting his responsibilities as the Prince of the Fire Nation and future Fire Lord since he had been branded a traitor. The most interesting part is that this means he is actively pursuing the wrong path. This particular dream ends after this, meaning (to me) that Zuko has taken the wrong path.
I wasn't really able to interpret his false awakening, though it seemed more like a Type 2 where Zuko's environment is normal, awaking in their apartment, but there is something supernatural and suspicious going on (seeing himself with the Aang look). Everything during that type of dream takes on a new meaning, though I'm not entirely positive what that is. Although, seeing an enemy (in whatever fashion) can mean a few things about conflicting attitudes or ideas, being in denial about something (perhaps the true nature of the Fire Nation), or rejecting a person (Aang and his friends when offered the chance to choose 'good). And I found it interesting that Iroh was asleep in Zuko's false awakening, signifying that Zuko is alone in his choice, conflict and possible rejection of his good side.
After looking at all of that, it makes Zuko's choice a lot easier to see. His metamorphosis put him on the 'wrong path.' It doesn't quite explain Happy!Zuko to me, but it certainly predicts his choice and falling back into his pattern of "I must restore my honor."
It took me a while to understand Zuko's decision. While I was watching it my jaw dropped and I couldn't help but say, "What are you doing? You were just trying to challenge Azula to an Agni Kai a little while ago. You're not that dumb are you?"
At first I believed that perhaps he and Iroh had some sort of secret plan. After all, they were left alone, Iroh didn't show up to the fight until after the whole confrontation, and Zuko's expression when he attacked Aang seemed more enraged than normal. I thought that perhaps it was because it was something Zuko didn't really want to do, but needed to. After all this time, I was sure that Zuko wasn't so stupid he would believe more of Azula's lies. It was almost the exact same ploy he fell for in the Avatar State. He may not be the brightest, but Zuko does try to adapt and learn and has the mantra "Azula always lies." How could he believe her? Besides why would Azula want Zuko around with his honor restored? Wouldn't that bump her down in the line of ascention? And I would've figured Zuko'd die before betraying Iroh as he did. If there was one person Zuko cared about more than anyone else, it was Iroh. He went after him when he was kidnapped instead of pursuing the Avatar in the 1st season, and took care of him when Azula injured him.
But, after interpreting the dream, I'm more inclined to believe that Zuko's betrayal is true and that he is in fact on the wrong path. His conflicted feelings about betraying his uncle are true, and that'll be a major story point for him next season. But, I like to remember that in his dream Zuko sees himself as the Fire Lord and thus will eventually be able to overcome his obstacles and adversities. He will find that, as Iroh said, the redemption Azula was offering was not for him, but maybe he'll find out the truth of his mother's disappearance in the process.
It'll take a lot more effort, but I believe eventually Zuko will end up joining Team Avatar and will become the "beautiful prince" that Iroh said he'll become.
Wow, I must seem really annoyingly long winded after all this. I hope I stayed relatively on topic. I figured since this was about Zuko's change, and his dream was connected to his change, it was the right place. Please let me know if I was wrong.
Oh, and while this may seem a little off topic, was anyone else touched by Iroh's statement about the dark tunnel and how we may not always see the end, but if we keep going we'll eventually find ourselves in a better place? Maybe because this was the last episode with Mako as Iroh (right? I know that the last dialogue he recorded was for Tales of Ba Sing Se, but he didn't record any for Season 3 as far as I know...), that sentence just gets me every time I hear it.
that they were able to rush it like that. 
??) anywho Zuko's change was waaaaaaay too weird all smilie and happily that gave me the creeps. For Zuko's fighting style its changed alot almost like Katara's. (the fire whip?!?! wasnt that a water bender move ) I think hes just trying like Iroh have his own style and using the others weakness against others.