Firebender

“Just think, only a short time ago you were the leader of the Kyoshi Warriors, respected and feared. But now your sisterhood is in ruins, thanks to your failures. Now you get to watch from a prison cell while the Fire Nation rolls over the Earth Kingdom.”

1. a) sokka crying because he his father is going to war and he cannot join him b) hakoda crying because his son rescued him from being a prisoner of war

2. a) sokka crying because he could not rescue suki from being captured.  b) suki crying because sokka came to rescue her

3. a) yue crying because she cannot protect sokka  b) sokka crying because he could not protect yue

i find it very interesting that unlike the other prominent characters in the series, we rarely see sokka cry. there are plenty of moments in which crying would be appropriate, and in that same circumstance, aang and katara would shed tears without hesitation. even toph and zuko, who feel the need to conform to an invulnerable ideal and “show no weakness” cry more readily than sokka does, who only cries once in a moment that is neither a flashback (to before the men left the tribe) nor played to comedic effect. it is why that moment in “the day of black sun” when azula is baiting him is all the more impactful. 

sokka is someone who refuses to show weakness or rely on others, and it is likely that he has internalized the notion that any display of emotion is a weakness. while he is very expressive, he does not wear his heart on his sleeve like katara does. he cares deeply, and is overtly loyal, but he is also hyper-rational and thinks any display of vulnerability on his part is a fault.  

even though toph is more detached and logical than katara and aang, she is also in tune enough with her emotions that she cries freely when she is upset. and though it is clear that ozai held zuko to a very similar standard of masculinity that sokka holds himself to, in which crying is a weakness, zuko still cries quite a bit throughout the show. 

after hakoda left when sokka was 13, sokka made it his mission to take responsibility for the tribe, for katara, and for anyone he comes to care about over the course of the show. whenever someone he loves gets hurt, he considers it a personal failure, that he could not protect them. it is his greatest weakness, and azula is able to exploit it by reminding him that he was unable to protect suki. in a way that is usually unlike him, he lets his emotions get the better of him despite knowing full-well that it’s a trap. since he became the quote unquote “man of the tribe” when he was 13, he has successfully remained composed – and thus, not “weak” – but it is the reminder that he failed to protect someone that undoes him. 

sokka’s immense guilt over not being able to save suki or his father wracks him, and he willingly – irrationally – puts his life on the line to save them both at the boiling rock. he will do anything he can to save those he loves. though sokka prides himself on his logic, he will always put his loyalty and devotion first, above reason, above rational detachment. 

I lived here, I loved here

I bought it, it's true

I'm so embarrassed, I feel abused

The Legend of Korra Rewatch: Books 1-4

♦ A:TLA Meme | Two Elements [2/2]

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