Exactly. Azula needs them. This is the one thing the Azula fangirls kind of sort of get about their relationship, even if they absolutely misinterpret what that means or what should be done about it. I've mentioned before to you that every time Ozai abused Zuko, he was also abusing Azula, saying to her, this is what will happen to you if you aren't perfect. It was extremely telling in the finale that she told him, "You can't treat me like Zuko!" Ozai's raising of the two of them, and his favoring of Azula led to her seeing the world in extremely black and white terms. Either you're perfect, and in control, or you're a worthless waste of space, like Zuko.
Underneath all of her poise and arrogance is deep, absolute insecurity. Inside, where she won't even admit it to herself, Azula knows she isn't infallible, she knows she isn't perfect, but because in her world, you're either perfect or worthless, she is constantly trying to maintain that perfection and control. She's desperately afraid that someone will see through her, but she's also desperately afraid of seeing it herself. Her control of Mai and Ty Lee gives her this constant little jolt of power that reenforces her perfect image to herself and boosts her fragile self worth. And you're right, Azula is dependent on them to help her maintain her image of perfect self sufficiency.
I don't think Mai and Ty Lee's leaving alone triggered Azula's breakdown. It was one of two factors that happened in quick succession. Azula's self confidence rested on three pillars, her personal estimation of her perfection, Mai and Ty Lee's fear of her and her control over them, and her father's favor. Mai and Ty Lee took away the first two, by fighting back, and then Mai telling Azula that she miscalculated. Then right after that, her father withdrew his favor and started treating her "like Zuko", and it all comes crashing down.
Oddly, in Azula's mind, I think Mai and Ty Lee occupy a liminal place between the two extremes of perfect and worthless. Oh they're certainly not as good or important as Azula, but they're far superior to the peons of the world. That's why they're her chosen victims, and you bet she made them feel that way. That's part of the attraction, feeling special.
The thing is, Azula is deeply hurting, and tragic, and she also has no conscience, and A:tLA was really good at showing that both of those things could exist in one person.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2013-09-13 03:59 am (UTC)Underneath all of her poise and arrogance is deep, absolute insecurity. Inside, where she won't even admit it to herself, Azula knows she isn't infallible, she knows she isn't perfect, but because in her world, you're either perfect or worthless, she is constantly trying to maintain that perfection and control. She's desperately afraid that someone will see through her, but she's also desperately afraid of seeing it herself. Her control of Mai and Ty Lee gives her this constant little jolt of power that reenforces her perfect image to herself and boosts her fragile self worth. And you're right, Azula is dependent on them to help her maintain her image of perfect self sufficiency.
I don't think Mai and Ty Lee's leaving alone triggered Azula's breakdown. It was one of two factors that happened in quick succession. Azula's self confidence rested on three pillars, her personal estimation of her perfection, Mai and Ty Lee's fear of her and her control over them, and her father's favor. Mai and Ty Lee took away the first two, by fighting back, and then Mai telling Azula that she miscalculated. Then right after that, her father withdrew his favor and started treating her "like Zuko", and it all comes crashing down.
Oddly, in Azula's mind, I think Mai and Ty Lee occupy a liminal place between the two extremes of perfect and worthless. Oh they're certainly not as good or important as Azula, but they're far superior to the peons of the world. That's why they're her chosen victims, and you bet she made them feel that way. That's part of the attraction, feeling special.
The thing is, Azula is deeply hurting, and tragic, and she also has no conscience, and A:tLA was really good at showing that both of those things could exist in one person.