Themes in Avatar: The Last Airbender
By: Giselle Garcia
Editor's Note: Spoilers
Avatar: The Last Airbender is a Nickelodeon show that ran from 2005 to 2008. The show’s demographic target was 8 to 11-year-olds, but many people beyond those ages enjoyed watching the series. The series was certainly entertaining with its characters and art style, but it’s the many themes that are seen throughout the show that make it powerful and inspirational to its viewers. Such themes include female empowerment, genocide, imperialism and philosophical questions regarding destiny and free will.
ATLA is set in a world divided by four nations: Water, Earth, Fire and Air. Each nation has people who can bend a certain element, known as benders, as well those who cannot, non-benders. The protagonist in the series is a character named Aang, the Avatar who has not been seen for 100 years. The Avatar has been reincarnated for thousands of years, can bend all four elements and their sole duty is to keep the world in balance.
After being trapped in an iceberg and waking up 100 years after a war broke out, Aang finds himself not knowing the changes that happened during his disappearance. He learns that he has a year to master all four elements before restoring balance to the world.
Aang travels around the world seeking masters to teach him how to bend the elements along with Katara and Sokka. Throughout the series we get to see just how strong women can be, but it was in the first season that really stood out.
For example, we see how Sokka is sexist, believing that women are better at “fixing pants” and men are “better at hunting and fighting." However, it wasn’t until the trio was caught by the Kyoshi Warriors that he began to appreciate women. He realized that women are capable of fighting and protecting, apologized for his earlier behavior towards women and even took fighting lessons from the Kyoshi Warriors.
Another example is when the trio makes it to the North Pole where both Aang and Katara hope to master waterbending. To their dismay, Katara is dismissed because she is a woman and told that she should use her bending to heal. At first, Katara did as she was told and attended water healing classes, but then she found the courage to fight for her right to learn waterbending.
Two matters that really stood out in the series include imperialism and genocide. It is seen that the Fire Nation began their domination with the desire to share their ideas, but with each passing generation they began to see themselves as superior to the other nations. Knowing that the Avatar would be an airbender, the Fire Nation decided to wipe out all airbenders out of fear that he or she would stop their ever-growing empire.
Along with spreading their domain, the Fire Nation has changed its history, teaching children of the nation that all they have done and are doing is for the benefit of other nations. This can be seen when Aang is taken to a Fire Nation school and pretends to be a student. He learns that history has been altered, for the teacher explains that the 100 Year War began with fighting the Air Nation military. However, the Air Nation has never had a military for they believe that all life is sacred, therefore there is no need for one.
We also see two philosophical questions that have been shown throughout the series regarding destiny and free will. This can be seen through Zuko, a firebender and heir to the Fire Nation throne, who has been in pursuit of the Avatar since his banishment. All his life, Zuko was taught that the Fire Nation is great and that his destiny is to capture the Avatar and regain his honor.
However, on his journey pursuing Aang he sees the terror that the war has put on people of other nations. Learning that the Fire Nation is feared and hated, he comes to the realization that he is capable of making his own decisions and makes his own destiny by joining Aang and his group.
All in all, there are other great themes and characters that can be mentioned to show how great this series is and its importance to viewers. These are just a few important themes that really stood out and prove why Avatar: The Last Airbender is a great show.