Iroh
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| Avatar: The Last Airbender character | |
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| Iroh | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Fire Nation  |
| Aliases | The Dragon of the West, Mushi |
| Gender | Male |
| Hair color | Grey |
| Eye color | Hazel |
| Age | 60's |
| Position | Firebending Master/Former Heir to the Fire Nation throne/Grand Master of the White Lotus/General (retired)/Jasmine Dragon Tea Shop owner |
| First appearance | "The Boy in the Iceberg" |
| Voiced by | Mako 2005-2006 |
General "Uncle" Iroh is a fictional character voiced by Mako (in the first and second seasons) on the American animated television series Avatar: The Last Airbender. The elderly Iroh is a Firebending master, former Crown Prince and heir to the Fire Nation throne, retired General of the Fire Nation, and older brother of Fire Lord Ozai. Iroh now accompanies his exiled nephew Zuko on his quest to capture Aang, the long-lost Avatar, in order to restore the young prince's honor and rights to the throne.
In July 2006, Mako died of esophageal cancer. Selection of another voice actor has been confirmed; although no names were mentioned, the new voice actor studied underneath Mako on a Broadway show they did together and eventually served as Mako's successor upon his departure from the stage show. Evidence suggests that this new actor is Ernest Abuba, who starred in the 1984 revival of [1] Pacific Overtures, taking over Mako's role as "The Reciter" and starring alongside him in the original 1976 version of the play. Ernest was also Mako's understudy in the broadway play [2] Shimada, which premiered in 1992 and closed after only a few performances. The creators feel that Iroh's new voice actor captures Mako's spirit and acting [3]. In Chapter 15 of Book 2, "The Tales of Ba Sing Se," the short story "The Tale of Iroh" was dedicated "In Honor of Mako."
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[edit] History
Iroh was the firstborn son of Fire Lord Azulon and Fire Lady Ilah. Iroh was destined to succeed Azulon as Fire Lord of the Fire Nation, but because of the mysterious events surrounding Azulon's death, and Iroh's abandonment of the siege on Ba Sing Se to grieve for his son, Lu Ten, Iroh's younger brother, Ozai, succeeded their father to the throne.
Three years before the start of the series, an indulgent Iroh allowed his beloved nephew to observe a meeting of Ozai's war council—a mistake he would soon come to regret. In the council, Zuko spoke out against a General who planned to sacrifice an entire division of novice troops in battle as a diversionary tactic. Though Iroh silently agreed with young Zuko's assessment, the Fire Lord demanded that Zuko participate in a fire duel, the Agni Kai, for his insubordination. Zuko accepted, under the mistaken impression he would be dueling the General he'd insulted. However, because Zuko had spoken out in his father's war room, Zuko had disrespected his father. Iroh bore witness in the audience when Zuko fell to his knees in the arena, pleading for forgiveness and refusing to duel his own father. When Iroh's brother badly burned his own son's face, permanently scarring him as punishment for his cowardice and disrespect, Iroh looked away, unable to stand the sight.
Zuko was afterward stripped of his birthright and exiled from the Fire Nation. However, one condition could restore his honor and throne and allow him to return home. Zuko was instructed to find and capture the Avatar. The Avatar was a perpetually reincarnated spirit of the planet manifested in human form, master of all four elements, and maintainer of balance between the Four Nations. This powerful being was the only threat to the Fire Nation's victory in its imperialist war against the other nations. Yet the Avatar had vanished a century ago—shortly before the Fire Nation's first strike. Three generations had conducted fruitless searches, and Zuko was to be sent on a quest that seemed little more than a fool's errand.
Undeterred, Zuko sought to do the impossible, and Iroh accompanied him. The pair spent two years at sea, searching in vain for any sign of the centenarian Airbender the Fire Sages had described. Though Iroh was resigned to the futility of their mission, and wiled away his days with games, finally a day came when a strange beacon lit the skies off the coast of the South Pole. When Zuko investigated, he discovered that the Avatar had reappeared at last. Improbably, the long-sought old man was actually Aang, a twelve-year-old boy recently woken from a hundred years of suspended animation. Thrown off-guard, Zuko underestimated the boy, who managed to escape his grasp. Zuko and Iroh quickly engaged in hot pursuit, tracking the Avatar and his friends across the globe.
As of Season Two, Iroh and Zuko had been branded traitors of the Fire Nation. After a confrontation with Azula, Iroh and Zuko learned of a plot to capture them and return them home imprisoned. After escaping from Azula's near victorious set-up, Iroh and Zuko cut their hair to symbolize their new life as fugitives unable to return home. (Perhaps the tradition occurred during the feudal era of Japan, when the cutting off of a topknot symbolized exile from one's home, as seen in the Japanese Muromachi period film, Princess Mononoke. Also, during the Qing Dynasty in China, the Manchu rulers decreed that all Han people wear pigtails according to Manchu tradition, and cutting off one's pigtail was deemed a sign of rebellion.[1]) The two later took refuge in random Earth Kingdom towns acting as homeless beggars. While Iroh was able to adjust to a life of simplicity, humility, and poverty, Zuko was not, and Iroh soon suspected that Zuko had been obtaining items for their day-to-day life by theft. The older man attempted to persuade his nephew that those who maintain hope in the face of adversity are the ones with true strength. However, Zuko thought otherwise, and the two separated. The two were soon reunited, as Iroh covertly followed Zuko in case he needed assistance. When Zuko got in over his head in a three-way battle with Aang and Azula, Iroh intervened, as did Aang's companions. The six of them confronted Azula together, but she managed to wound Iroh with a fire blast to the chest, and she escaped.
After recovering from his injury, Iroh decided to teach Zuko the advanced Firebending techniques he would need to defeat Azula. He first tried to teach Zuko how to create lightning, but his nephew's emotional turmoil prevented him from making progress with the difficult art. Instead, Iroh taught Zuko a technique of his own creation—to absorb and redirect lightning, which he developed after studying Waterbenders. Zuko soon demanded that Iroh attack him with lightning so that he can redirect it, but Iroh refused to perform such a dangerous test.
Iroh is a grand master of the secret society, the Order of the White Lotus; although what the group represents or does has yet to be seen. The Order of the White Lotus has members spread far and wide across the world—even in desolate remote villages of the Earth country. Iroh and Zuko sought their aid in avoiding the bounty hunters Master Yu and Xin Fu, who temporarily decided to seek the two fugitives from the Firebending nation rather than pursue the Avatar and Toph. Since the people who protected Iroh appeared to be of the Earth Kingdom, the organization of the group may itself be independent of any particular nation.
With the White Lotus Order's help, Iroh and Zuko are able to make their way to Ba Sing Se as refugees. Once inside, Iroh gets them jobs at a tea shop. During the episode "The Tales of Ba Sing Se," Iroh spends a day shopping in the city. In this episode, Iroh is displayed as a teacher as he grants wisdom and help to all those he encounters during his day of shopping. He later holds a small memorial service for Lu Ten, marking his late son's birthday, and tearfully noting he wished he could have helped Lu Ten.
After weeks in Ba Sing Se, Iroh is given the chance to run his own tea shop, but Zuko has other plans. When Zuko attempts to capture Appa, Iroh confronts Zuko and tells him rather bluntly to stop trying to live the life people say he has to live. Iroh convinces Zuko to give up his alias as the Blue Spirit and takes care of his nephew when Zuko is stricken by the negative effects of the mental metamorphosis caused by Zuko's actions. Iroh remains confident in Zuko and believes that Zuko will become the prince he was meant to be.
When Azula offered Zuko a chance to reclaim his honor by helping take over the Earth Kingdom, he agrees. Iroh was last seen defending the wounded Avatar and Katara, giving them time to escape before he peacefully allowed himself to be captured.
[edit] Personality
Easygoing and dryly good-humored, Iroh tends to treat his self-imposed exile as though it were an extended vacation.
Something of a hedonist in his old age, he focuses more on the pursuits of relaxation and amusements than on the pursuit of the Avatar. Iroh is particularly fond of a good cup of tea, the strategy game Pai Sho, and pleasant music. He founded a music night for the ship's crew (among whom he is popular), where he sings and plays instruments. He later displays skill at playing the liuqin, singing lullabies to pacify a crying child.
Most likely because of his love of tea, he has shown himself to be an amateur botanist with knowledge of many plants.
His morals (with the exception of honor) are slightly lax, as he once pocketed perfumes from an abbey.
Iroh can be quite the lady charmer when the need arises, as seen when flirting with various women throughout the series and addressed as "handsome" on multiple occasions.
He also demonstrates a respect and appreciation for all cultures, which seems to be a rarity among those of the Fire Nation.
Beneath the easy going exterior lies a wise man experienced in the world, a formidable warrior, a crafty and brutal strategist, and a powerful Firebending master. So impressive is his Firebending that he has displayed mastery of lightning, developed a new firebending technique, defeated multiple Earthbenders in combat, and even overpowered with ease a full squad of Fire Nation royal guards accompanying Azula.
[edit] The Veteran
In his younger days, Iroh was a great general and war hero, once known among his enemies as the "Dragon of the West" because of his unique firebending style of exhaling fire from his mouth. He first demonstrated this techique in The Crossroads of Destiny to fend off numerous Dai Li agents to give himself and Zuko enough time to make their escape. Though Iroh still commands a great deal of respect, he fell from grace with his one great failure. In a final bid for victory against the Earth Kingdom, he and his men laid siege to the capital city of Ba Sing Se for six hundred days. At one point, Iroh's forces even managed to penetrate the allegedly unbreakable walls, but they were soon driven back. Iroh gave up the assault when his son was killed. While many, including Iroh, viewed this failure as a disgrace, Iroh believed he did the right thing and later claimed that he and his men were tired after the long siege. As a result of his long service in the military, Iroh knows many of the Fire Nation soldiers personally.
In addition to his extensive military service, Iroh has endured other trials, including the death of Lu Ten, his only son, and a journey to the Spirit World, which has left him with respect for the other world and the ability to see spirits.
Iroh is also the inventor of a unique Firebending technique involving the absorption and redirection of lightning. This technique is seen in "The Storm", "The Avatar State," and "Bitter Work." He learned the technique from observing Waterbenders, who use their techniques to redirect enemy attacks back at the sender. Iroh taught the technique to Zuko but does not let him practice with real lightning.
[edit] Family
[edit] Prince Zuko
To his nephew, Iroh is a mentor, Firebending teacher, adviser, caretaker, and most simply, "Uncle." The tolerant and even-keeled foil to Zuko's impulsiveness and disrespectfulness, Iroh tempers Zuko's anger with practical words of wisdom and a wry sense of humor. Though Iroh is a hard instructor, his merciless drilling in Firebending basics has served to improve Zuko's skill.
Because of Iroh's own status as a failure in the eyes of his country, Iroh has much sympathy for Zuko and pleads that he not be so relentless in his search. Although Iroh often teases his nephew, who impatiently balks at his advice, they care deeply about each other. Iroh even thinks of Zuko as his surrogate child in place of his lost son and worries over him accordingly. In turn, Zuko deeply loves his uncle and is greatly touched when Iroh indirectly praises him. When Zuko was once confronted with the choice of tracking the Avatar or saving a kidnapped Iroh, he chose the latter with little hesitation.
At first, both depended on each other in exile, becoming practically inseparable. However, as of the episode "Avatar Day," Zuko separated from his uncle to travel on his own. When Zuko and Iroh reunited in "The Chase," Iroh was severely injured by Azula, and Zuko became emotionally devastated, showing his deep concern for his uncle. Shortly after recovering, Iroh demonstrates to Zuko a technique he invented from observing Waterbenders on redirecting lightning-based attacks but would not let Zuko practice with real lightning, seeing the risk as too great. In "The Crossroads of Destiny," Iroh was betrayed by his nephew when Zuko and Azula took over Ba Sing Se. Near the end, Iroh became ashamed by Zuko's decision.
[edit] Fire Lord Ozai
Though little is known of Iroh's past relationship with his brother, his present feelings toward the Fire Lord seem cool at best. Quietly disapproving of his brother's methods in war, Iroh knows his brother is not a man given to understanding. Thus he is far more sympathetic to Ozai's son, Zuko, whose punishment at Ozai's hands was far too cruel for Iroh's liking. Ozai considers Iroh a traitor for his recent actions during the failed invasion of the Northern Water Tribe.
Iroh is Ozai's older brother—their father, Fire Lord Azulon (son of Sozin), apparently favored Iroh and wished for him to inherit the throne. However, when Iroh's only son died, Ozai argued that Iroh should be set aside, considering Iroh had failed to capture Ba Sing Se (the Earth Kingdom capital) because of weakness, and because Iroh's son was dead, the bloodline would not continue. Azulon, enraged, threatened to inflict a great punishment on Ozai (the death of Zuko, according to Azula in another flashback), but mysteriously died before anything happened. Iroh was too broken to challenge his younger brother as Ozai was crowned Fire Lord.
[edit] Princess Azula
Princess Azula, who is Zuko's younger sister, Iroh's niece, and a Firebending prodigy, has been tasked with capturing Zuko and Iroh, who are considered traitors to their country (as of season two). Vindictive and ruthless, Azula has no sympathy for her quarry, regardless of family ties, even going as far as severely injuring her uncle. Iroh and Zuko likewise appear to return little affection. While Zuko, despite his rough attitude and constant irritation, respects Iroh, Azula thinks nothing of talking down to Iroh and giving him orders. This attitude was present even as a child; after another victory in battle, Iroh sent gifts to both Azula and Zuko, but Azula burned the doll he had given her. Iroh seems to see Azula as a spoiled brat with a shorter fuse than Zuko, but Iroh also knows that she is quite deadly in combat. He confides in Zuko that "She's crazy and she needs to go down." The only thing Iroh has in common with Azula appears to be their proficiency in Firebending—they are the only two characters so far who have demonstrated the ability to create lightning. In The Crossroads of Destiny, Iroh and Azula argued about Zuko's choice of helping her conquer Ba Sing Se or starting a new life.
[edit] Prince Lu Ten
Though initially not named in "Siege of the North, Part I," the name of Iroh's son was revealed as Lu Ten in the episode "Zuko Alone." Apparently Lu Ten fought alongside his father on the front lines and was killed in the Battle of Ba Sing Se. The picture that Iroh left under a tree in "The Tales of Ba Sing Se" describe him as a "Fallen General". With the loss of his son, Iroh collapsed emotionally and ended the six-hundred day siege of the Earth Kingdom capital.
After the death of Iroh's son, Ozai tried to convince Fire Lord Azulon to let him inherit the throne in the place of Iroh, who was his older brother. Because Lu Ten had been Iroh's only son (and only child), the bloodline would terminate at Iroh's death. Iroh, likely emotionally drained by Lu Ten's death, did not challenge Ozai's claim to the throne and came to see Ozai's neglected son, Zuko, as a surrogate son of his own.
A young version of Lu Ten was seen in a memory Iroh had during the episode "Bitter Work." They seemed to have a good relationship. Another memory in the same episode placed Iroh at the grave of his deceased son, where Iroh stated that he would meet with Lu Ten again. During the episode "The Tales of Ba Sing Se," Iroh went on a picnic alone, and held a small memorial for Lu Ten on his late son's birthday. The Chinese characters on the picture (洛將軍 得勝再見 忠心的兒子路騰), when read in the traditional right and vertical way, translate roughly into "General Luo (aka Iroh), we'll meet again after victory is ours. Your loyal son, Lu Ten." 路騰 ( Lù T'éng ) means "road to gallop over."
[edit] Fire Lord Azulon
Not much is known about the relationship between Iroh and his father, other than that Azulon vigorously defended Iroh's birthright to the throne after Ozai suggested to Azulon that he name Ozai as his successor instead of Iroh.
[edit] Relationships
[edit] Admiral Zhao
Iroh viewed Admiral Zhao, Zuko's ruthless rival in the quest to capture the Avatar, as being less honorable than his nephew ever since Zhao lashed out in anger after Zuko defeated him in an Agni Kai—an opinion which he shared with Zuko as a form of praise. Zhao outwardly respected Iroh as a national hero (while taking every opportunity to antagonize Zuko).
Zhao once offered Iroh a position as his general and military adviser when Zhao commandeered Zuko's ship and crew for an invasion of the Northern Water Tribe. After Zhao secretly engineered the apparent assassination of Zuko, Iroh accepted so as to provide covert support to the (still living) Zuko, who was hiding aboard Zhao's own ship. Once Iroh was in his service, Zhao revealed a genuine contempt for Iroh's failure at Ba Sing Se and his reverence of the spirits. He ignored Iroh's sage advice not to trifle in the matters of the Spirit World and doubted Iroh's loyalty. When Zhao threatened the Moon Spirit, Iroh promised that whatever Zhao did to the spirit, Iroh would return to him tenfold. When Zhao killed the Moon Spirit, Iroh's attack upon the soldiers guarding Zhao seemed to inspire fear in the Admiral, who then fled.
[edit] June
Iroh developed something of an unrequited schoolboy crush on the bounty hunter June. Reduced to a chuckling admirer in the face of her beauty and sneering insults, Iroh was not totally without guile. When she was temporarily paralyzed in battle, he managed to get close to her by catching her so she was lying on top of him while pretending to be paralyzed himself. (Iroh has since seen little potential for romance, aside from passing flirtations with the fortuneteller Aunt Wu and the ticket vendor at the ferry to Ba Sing Se.)
[edit] Toph
When Toph temporarily left the team in "The Chase," she felt Iroh's presence and attacked him with Earthbending, to which he simply responds, "That really hurt my tail bone." Apparently Toph apologized, as Iroh is seen next making tea for Toph and talking about how she is like his nephew, Zuko (Iroh never names him). After Toph understands what Iroh meant by trying to do too much alone, they said good-bye and Toph returned to Aang's team. Iroh saw Toph again later in the episode when she, Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Zuko pinned Azula in a corner during a fight. Distracted by seeing her again, he was struck by Azula's attack and was rendered unconscious for the rest of the episode and a small part of the next. Later, during the events of The Crossroads of Destiny Iroh approached her, Aang, and Sokka to enlist them to help in rescuing Zuko, and because of their friendship, Toph convinced the others to help him.
[edit] Aang
Iroh, unlike his nephew, holds no hostility towards Aang and his companions. The pair had occasional meetings, usually with only minimal exchange of dialogue, until "The Crossroads of Destiny." Aang, after learning of Toph's trust in Iroh, approached Iroh for advice. Aang wondered if he made the right choice of choosing his love for Katara over the power to control the Avatar State. Iroh reassures him that happiness is more important than power. Aang takes the advice to heart.
Later on, in the same episode after Azula's final attack on Aang, Iroh protected Katara and Aang as they retreated. He allowed the two to escape while he holds off the Dai Li.
[edit] Trivia
- In "The Desert," Iroh's name was listed on a Fire Nation wanted poster in Chinese as 艾洛(Ài Luò) which translates as Chinese mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) by the Luo river in Shanxi province. Medically, mugwort are dried and made into moxa which placed on the ends of acupuncture needles and set aflame.
- Iroh's one true love is tea, and he gets very upset in "The Drill" when Zuko throws his tea on the ground and Iroh responds, "I know you're not supposed to cry over spilled tea but, it's just so sad." Also, Iroh is angry in "City of Walls and Secrets" when he complains that the poorly made tea of the shop is simply "hot leaf juice." When Zuko says that all tea is just that, "hot leaf juice," Iroh mumbles that no relative of his would say that.
- Since "The Cave of Two Lovers," Iroh and Zuko are known as travelers Mushi and Lee. As a common Chinese surname, Lee or Lǐ (李) means 'plum,' which goes with the Mùshī (牧師) meaning of 'priest' in the Japanese legend of Shakujo no ume (priest's staff plum tree). However, because Zuko had been on a physical journey since his banishment and an emotional one since his mother's abandonment, Li can be 里 for 'mile.' Lì (力) also means 'strength' in Chinese. Mushi (虫) is a Japanese word for 'insect.'
- In The Crossroads of Destiny, Iroh revealed that he got his nickname "The Dragon of the West" not because of one particular incident or because of his ferocity in combat, but rather because of his aptitude at breathing fire. In Chinese mythology, the Dragon of the West is one of four Dragon Kings and is named Áo rùn (敖閏) or Ao Jun which translates as 'haughty intercalary.' Áo rùn is similar in pronunciation to Iroh's name. Also, the real Dragon of the West is yellow in color not like the red color Iroh was in Zuko's dream.
[edit] References
[edit] External Links
- http://www.avatarspirit.net - Cast&Crew Interviews, Info, Transcripts, and Screencaps.
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| Aang · Katara · Sokka · Appa · Toph · Zuko · Iroh · Azula Major secondary characters · Minor secondary characters · Creatures Waterbender · Earthbender · Firebender · Airbender |
