Results 1 to 2 of 2

Thread: GJ's motivation for avenging his father vs. YG's motivation for avenging his father

  1. #1
    Moderator Ken Cheng's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Posts
    24,367

    Default GJ's motivation for avenging his father vs. YG's motivation for avenging his father

    A different kind of Gwok Jing vs. Yeung Gor thread.

    One thing that Gwok Jing and Yeung Gor shared in common was a goal to avenge their slain fathers. Their motivations, however, contrasted greatly.

    Early in LEGEND OF THE CONDOR HEROES, Gwok Jing was determined to avenge the death of his father upon Deun Teen Dak. Later, when he discovered that Yeun Nan Hung Lit was the true culprit behind his father's death, Gwok Jing pursued YNHL with equal determination. Avenging his father was Gwok Jing's central goal for most of LOCH. This motivation, however, did not seem to come from within him...but from external sources (i.e. his mother; his Gong Nam 7 Freaks teachers). Gwok Jing never knew his father and, honestly, didn't suffer *that* much without him. Gwok Jing still had his mother and no shortage of excellent father figures while growing up (his archery teacher Jebeh, Genghis Khan and the Mongol generals, and the five surviving male members of the Gong Nam 7 Freaks). Gwok Jing understood that it was his duty to his father to avenge his death, but the motivation was always external. I don't know how much Gwok Jing could actually put his heart into avenging his father because he didn't personally suffer much from not having his father. Vengeance seemed more like an obligation and duty forced upon him by others rather than something he truly wanted to do of his own volition.

    Yeung Gor was a different case. His desire for vengeance against those whom he perceived to be his father's killers actually had some plausability behind it...because he genuinely suffered from the absence of a father (although given who his father was and what he had done, it was probably for the best in the long run). Yeung Gor's mother Muk Lim Chi died and left him alone when he was still very young, and the absence of a father meant that Yeung Gor endured quite a bit of abuse during his childhood years. He had a few father figure possibilities (West Poison Au Yeung Fung, Gwok Jing, the Cheun Jen Sect Taoists), but these all went awry in various ways (some self-inflicted, others by fate). The point is, Yeung Gor directly suffered due to the loss of a father. Nobody ever obligated him to avenge Yeung Hong; that was purely his own desire and choice.

  2. #2
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    NY
    Posts
    4,215

    Default

    Interesting way to look it.

    However, GJ has such stubborness in his character that I doubt he needed much prodding from his mother or masters to desire vegeance. In his youth, after he was beaten up by Dousi and his lackeys, GJ was so hellbent on revenge that he was not afraid to venture into the mountains alone late at night to meet the 6 Freaks.

    Of course, GJ's decision whether to pursue vegeance at all costs was quite easy, as his target was the "evil" prince of the Jurchens, who had inflicted much suffering upon the Han people, whereas YG's target was the people's champion - no, not the "Rock" Dwayne Johnson - but GJ. Can ya smelllllllllllllal what the Jing is cooking....

    Anyway, I digress....

    What wuz I saying? Heee.
    This account is retired.

Similar Threads

  1. GJ's, XF's, YG's, and ZWJ's internal energy
    By superboy in forum Wuxia Fiction
    Replies: 76
    Last Post: 02-16-24, 10:01 PM
  2. Motivation to Study Tips?
    By pemberly in forum Academia
    Replies: 49
    Last Post: 10-03-10, 06:27 AM
  3. Replies: 1
    Last Post: 03-27-08, 05:05 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •