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This is a rant that literally nobody asked for, but I just need people that share interest in these topics to get it right.
CW: MBTI and ATLA
the thread: (it's long; I'm sorry)
CW: MBTI and ATLA
the thread: (it's long; I'm sorry)
Zuko is and INFJ and Iroh is an INFP.
This really not up for debate for me. And I will explain. Let's start with Zuko.
He is a strong minded willful (Ni) and logical (Ti) person. This is largely consistent throughout his characterization.
This really not up for debate for me. And I will explain. Let's start with Zuko.
He is a strong minded willful (Ni) and logical (Ti) person. This is largely consistent throughout his characterization.
But you see his growth as a character when he makes decisions to help others (Fe). The parent (auxiliary) function is one of the last to develop in a person and it's the sign of true maturity. That's the literal function we see change over time that eventually leads to his growth
This informs his Ni that the path he's taking is not the right one. In Book 2, he literally gets sick when he becomes conflicted! You think an IxFP would do that?? ISFPs don't question their path, they question their knowledge, something that Zuko doesn't do (Te trickster).
Some people thought he was an INFP, but if that were the case, he would have always been questioning his path. Also, the very act of speaking out of turn in a war meeting to protect the lives of soldiers is just so xNFJ. An INFP would never.
People are so used to the old wise INFJ character trope that they don't know what an INFJ looks like when they're young and trying to figure things out in life. INFJs gain their wisdom through struggle.
Iroh is an INFP. Leave it to an INFP to think and explore better ways to understand their own bending by learning the bending arts of the other nations. That's on Te aspiration.
Iroh never once enacts his own will on Zuko. He helps and guides Zuko's path, but he doesn't tell him what to do. The only time he yells at Zuko is when Zuko is incapable of seeing the bigger picture before freeing Appa. This is such an Ne parent moment.
This is the clip in reference. Notice he asks Zuko (Ne to Ni) "What do you want?" He never tells Zuko to do something.
I've seen people type Iroh as an INFJ or ENFJ, but those types are much more abrasive than we think. They're direct and willful. Sure they tend to be caring and loving people, but they tell people what to do. They don't ask. They are also very stubborn.
I think people are so used to seeing the INFP as the depressed sad boi stereotype projected by so many in the MBTI community that they don't realize that INFPs (that are mature, developed and well read) are THE most brilliant types. They have a great propensity for wisdom.
