Asuka Langley Soryu : Self-worth and fighting passivity

A thread highlighting some of Asuka’s traits that makes her a truly fascinating character and not just « the annoying teen ».

All 3 children had a traumatic past and I think the way they deal with it mirrors quite accurately their personality. Rei is as stoic as it gets, Shinji is overwhelmed by his emotions and Asuka is pretty much a force of nature.

Shinji and Asuka are two sides of the same coin, they both develop almost opposite defense mechanisms and that’s also what makes their dynamic so interesting.

Bold, confident, loud but also so greatly insecure, the tragedy of her character manifests when she feels she’s not good enough. Despite all of her achievements, Shinji surpasses her in the only field she lives for.

It’s safe to say Asuka’s self-identity is deeply related to her role as an Eva pilot, once she can’t do it, it’s like she’s not even there anymore. The one that so proudly displayed herself is devastated by her loss.

I really love the way her backstory helps us to understand her decisions, it eventually all makes sense. Before killing herself next to her, her mother abandoned her for a doll. Imagine trying to grow and build a sense of self-worth after that.

She somewhat succeed and went to college but surrounded by dummy parents, the nature of her relationship with others seems superficial. She rejects, she doesn’t want to remember, she’s basically carried by the image she projects of herself.

« Her kind of loneliness » is something truly haunting: Can I exist outside of what I can do for others?
She’s not an object used for a purpose, she’s a human in her own right and she suffers a lot from it.

Her behavior while fighting with the Eva series is something so impactful, despite all of this she still have the will to not give up, not being passive. I think it also reflects well why she can’t stand Rei, she’s asserting herself rather than fighting for her life.

I have honestly much more to say but it’s getting long :)
Please excuse any spelling errors, I wrote this on the go and English is not my native tongue.
Thanks for reading, have a good day!