Neytiri.....Such powerful stuff, I'll be damned if I don't dream about her more often than not.

Yes, even a touch from a Sky Person would be a grim reminder of the brutality shown to Sylwanin and the other Na’vi at Grace’s school. And this could only evoke the smoldering anger she still feels.

That’s why I felt compelled to explore this area more deeply, in an attempt to understand and resolve this seemingly incongruent behavior on her part.

And what hasn’t been mentioned yet is the burden of guilt she must have felt living the life intended for Sylwanin. Being groomed to be tsahik, as well the mate of Tsu’tey, would have been a constant reminder of this. Also, though certainly no one blames her for her sister's death, she must have gone through that terrible day at Graces's school in her mind ten thousand times, each time wondering if there were something she could have done to prevent the tragedy. What a terrible burden this would have been for such a young girl to bear.

Though it would not be logical, it would almost seem to her that she had somehow stolen Sylwanin’s life. This would certainly explain why she would have lived her life so fiercely and intensely in an attempt to be worthy of her new role within the Clan. And yes, being tasked to teach one of the ‘demons in a false body’ would have put a huge additional strain on her.

And this is just one more reason Why We Love Neytiri. She has an eternal flame of goodness and optimism that can never be extinguished, even when the most challenging and excruciating circumstances and events are thrown her way (even Job from the Bible would say, "Damn, girl... I thought I had it bad!").

I have to say, Tawtsamsiyu--having this exchange of ideas with you has greatly added to my understanding of both Neytiri and Sylwanin. After I wrote the Sylwanin poem, I realized that an added benefit was that I now had the makings of a new Commentary. However, after the excellent comments you made regarding the poem, and the subsequent exchanges we’ve just had, I feel the Commentary has already been completed! Consider yourself co-author of this one!

Teng, ma ‘eylan! :)

I agree, and you make a very good point. Not only living what would have been Sylwanin’s life but simply surviving her sister’s shocking execution-style murder at the hands of enraged SecOps mercenaries would have left her not only aggrieved but also with an acute condition of survivor’s guilt. Feeling both obligated to take on her sister’s responsibilities and also remorseful for being alive instead of her older sister would have left her torn. She might even have wished it had been her and not Sylwanin that had been put to rest in the ground, her spirit with Eywa. Yes, a terrible burden to resent yourself for being happy in your sister’s stead. This explains why Neytiri seems so serious and distant most of the time; this only starts to change midway through Jake’s training when you can just catch glimpses of her natural exuberance through her purposeful countenance.

Quite right. She seemed indeed to be almost possessed with an unnatural desire to push herself to the extreme to prove above all to herself her right to live what she felt was rightfully her sister’s life. This is exemplified during one of the final scenes in the battle of the Tree of Souls when she is ready to single-handedly attack the human forces despite being outnumbered a hundred to one, disregarding her mate’s pleading entreaties not to do so.

Losing your home, your mate and your father in one day – nay, a few hours – and still managing to assist your mother in relocating your entire clan – or at least the survivors – would indisputably have crushed anyone else’s spirit. That is some serious inner strength and resilience, not only to overcome all of that but not lose your generous nature in the process, to the point where you can forgive your mate’s betrayal when he conclusively demonstrates that he was worthy of your love and trust in the first place. Wow.

Well, if someone had not taken a second look at a blurry 3D photograph stuck to a refrigerator door, and felt such a powerful and above all emotional current of inspiration, we would not have had the privilege of knowing Neytiri and Sylwanin so intimately. It is an honour and it gives me great pride if I have managed to assist you with one of your phenomenal commentaries.

Irayo ma ’eylan! :)

Thank you, Tawtsamsiyu! Again you honor me with your words, and I'm glad for all the interaction we've had on this topic. You've made some excellent points in your comments, and the Neytiri-clan has benefited greatly from them. I didn't respond to some of your recent remarks because, quite frankly, you had already skillfully fleshed out the points I was trying to get across. There really wasn't much of anything to add! :)

By the way, Why We Love Neytiri-Part VI is almost done. It's pretty long, so be sure to pack a lunch before you read this one! (Okay, it's not that long....) ;) I should be able to post it before the day is out. And for any Tsu'tey fans, a fairly large section of the Commentary is devoted to him.

Why We Love Neytiri-Part VI-a
 

One of the benefits of writing Neytiri: To Sylwanin, Dying Young was that I felt there was enough material there to inspire a commentary as well. But after the stimulating and thought-provoking discussion that resulted from observations and insights posted by Tawtsamsiyu and others, I felt the subject of that commentary had been covered pretty thoroughly. There no longer seemed a need for it, and I felt that all the postings spawned from the poem could be viewed as an informal version of that planned commentary.

However, two nights ago I was further contemplating the poem and the impact Sylwanin’s life and tragic death must have had on Neytiri. I fell asleep, and when I awoke the germs of the following commentary were waiting in my brain’s ‘Inbox’.

Special thanks go to Tawtsamsiyu for his part in sparking many of the ideas that follow. As always—this is for you, the Neytiri clan. I hope you like it. It turned out to be so long I had to break it into two pieces, Part VI-a and Part VI-b.

Why We Love Neytiri-Part VI-a

Hope Springs Eternal

Neytiri and Sylwanin

After the young Neytiri witnessed the brutal murder of her beloved sister at Grace’s school, she no doubt went through a period in her life characterized by anger, fear, guilt, bitterness, remorse, and a plethora of other emotions. She could have succumbed to this immense burden and lived the rest of her life in sorrow, anger, and fear. But she didn’t.

To honor Sylwanin and her sparkling, sunshiny personality, Neytiri became a skilled and accomplished member of the Omaticaya. She dedicated herself to others, pushing herself to the limit so that one day she could be a worthy Tsahìk —a role that would have fallen to her sister. And though she was the daughter of the Olo’eyktan and Tsahìk of the clan, she never set herself above others; never expected special treatment from anyone.

This is yet another reason why we love Neytiri. There is a wellspring of strength, joy, and optimism at the core of her being that cannot be stemmed, even by the most difficult and painful of circumstances. It is like a fire that may smolder at times, but which never goes out. It is like a perennial flower that has been left parched and withered by the harshness of the season before, yet is ready to burst forth into blossom when the first signs of spring fill the air. And just as the perennial flower is strongly and deeply rooted in the ground, Neytiri is strongly and deeply rooted in Eywa.

This resilient nature was shown in Neytiri’s first meeting with Jake. Much of her joy was still absent, and her mistrust of Sky People was high. Yet, she still listened to that voice of eternal optimism within her—which I believe is why she hesitated to kill Jake. She then heeded the omen of the atokirina landing on her arrow and spared his life. No one in her Clan would have blamed her for killing the uniltìranyu, or ‘dreamwalker.’ In fact, most would probably have praised her for it. But something she never lost was that most precious of qualities—hope.

Neytiri viciously struck Jake down with her bow soon after saving him from the viperwolves. But he didn’t take the hint, and started following her along the giant tree branch that ran dozens of feet in the air. She pushed him away to show her displeasure, but was careful not to push him hard enough to send him plummeting to the ground far below. This was because of that inner reservoir of hope. Though she may not have realized it at the time, she believed—as Anne Frank did—that all people are, at heart, basically good.

Tsu’tey

Tsu’tey’s emotional journey after Sylwanin’s cruel death must have been somewhat similar to Neytiri’s. Before the incident, he was probably carefree, exuberant, and full of laughter—a brave warrior who was clearly taking his role as future leader of the Clan seriously. Having grown up around the charming, effervescent Sylwanin, he would likely have fallen in love with her from an early age. He would have been proud to think of himself as one day being worthy of such a fine young woman; his step would have been light, and his days would have been filled with optimism and joy.

Then one day she would have come to him, imploring him to join her and two of their friends in an attempt to stop the Sky People from killing their trees and spoiling their land. He would have thought she was making a jest—since her nature was so gentle, nurturing, and non-violent. Or he would have shrugged off her appeal as a fruitless venture with volatile and potentially dangerous consequences.

After Sylwanin’s death, and that of the other two friends, the light would have gone out of Tsu’tey’s eyes. He would have been almost as overwhelmed by guilt, anger, and sadness as the young Neytiri. And his resentment and mistrust of the Sky People would have been as great as her own. Yet he would have envied her because she had at least been at the Compound and in a position to try and stop the Terran demons; his duties that day had placed him too far from the Compound to be of help.

He could not even have the satisfaction of knowing he had done all he could to prevent the tragedy. He never even had the chance to say goodbye to his lady love as she died. He would have been a distraught young man, so torn up inside that he would have subsequently been only a shell of his former self.

But he would have shouldered his burden and continued his role as future leader of the Omaticaya, learning all he could while teaching the younger members of the Clan. And from the moment of Sylwanin’s death, he would have been fiercely protective of Neytiri, seeing her as a ‘little sister’, and his last connection with Sylwanin. But he would have forgotten how to trust and how to laugh.

It is to his credit, however, that even though he openly showed his resentment of Jake—a representative of the Sky People—Tsu’tey did not interfere with his training by Neytiri; nor did he question the decisions of the Tsahìk or the Olo’eyktan. Though his anger and guilt and broken dreams were always bubbling just beneath the surface, he was enough of a man to swallow his pride and accept Jake. He showed this after Jake passed his test of manhood and became one of the People. Tsu’tey’s hand was one of the first placed on Jake’s shoulder, signifying his acceptance. This was not the act of a man consumed by jealousy and hatred.

His anger and outrage were apparent, however, when he learned that Neytiri had mated with Jake. For this ruined his chances of ever pairing with Neytiri as the future Tsahìk. It could also have been viewed as an insult to the Omaticaya, and must have been a terrible shock to him personally. Yet again, to his credit Tsu’tey controlled himself and did nothing disruptive.

When Jake’s deception was revealed prior to the destruction of Hometree, and Tsu’tey went to kill the ‘demon in a false body’, it could be argued that this was done more in an effort to protect the Clan than as an excuse to eliminate a rival. And when Neytiri leaped to the helpless Jake’s defense, Tsu’tey quickly backed down. When Jake returned as Toruk Makto, he again showed his manhood by placing his hand on Jake’s shoulder and saying, “I will fly with you.” In doing so, he abdicated his new position as leader of the Clan, and took a lesser role at Jake’s side. Not many men could have shown this level of humility. And, of course, we all know how bravely and loyally he fought in the final battle.

Tsu’tey is both a likeable and tragic figure when seen in this light, and is deserving of our respect and admiration. He certainly displayed elements of strength, humility, and loyalty. But there was a step he was unable to take within himself—a step Neytiri was not only able to take, but to transcend. For Tsu’tey, though largely able to control his emotions and actions, was never able to completely let go of the bitterness, anger, and sorrow Sylwanin’s death had embedded deeply within him—Neytiri was. (Continued)

Why We Love Neytiri-Part VI-b
 

Why We Love Neytiri-Part VI-b

Hope Springs Eternal

Neytiri

According to Greek mythology, Pandora, the first woman, opened a box (or more accurately a jar or urn) that unleashed all the evils of the world. She did so from curiosity, not malice, yet the damage was done nonetheless. It’s interesting that the moon Neytiri was born on was named Pandora by the Terrans. And according to Colonel Quaritch’s description of what existed outside the walls of the human Compound, it was such a hostile, inhospitable environment that it was aptly named.

But the last thing that was left in the urn Pandora opened was hope. For me, Neytiri symbolizes the first true woman, and embodies that underlying quality of hope. She demonstrated this time and again with Jake as her attitude toward him changed from one filled with mistrust, resentment, and frustration to one teeming with pride, joy, laughter—and even love. This was only possible because of her undying quality of hope.

The span of time that occurred between the sequence of events in which Mo’at questioned Jake and sampled his blood, to the moment she announced that Neytiri would teach him the ways of the Na’vi always seemed far too brief and abrupt to me. However, I now believe that this decision was reached partly in an attempt by Mo’at to help her daughter heal the lingering wounds suffered when Sylwanin was killed. She had gotten the measure of Jake, and seen that his heart was good. And she purposely paired the two of them up—not only so the Clan could gain additional knowledge from a warrior of the Sky People—but also as a possible way to help Neytiri complete the final stage of her healing and move into a state of wholeness.

During the next few months, that final healing took place, and Neytiri’s willingness to let hope spring forth and override the painful experiences and attitudes from the past was shown at Utral Aymokriyä, the Tree of Voices, when she fully opened her heart to Jake and freely gave herself to him as his mate for life.

This quality of hope was demonstrated perhaps even more powerfully during the events surrounding the destruction of Hometree. Jake’s duplicity was revealed and she understandably felt used and betrayed. Her home was destroyed by the same race that gave rise to Jake; and her revered father, leader of the Clan, became a casualty of that destruction. Many others were killed or injured as well. Again, Neytiri was devastated, probably on a scale equal to the cataclysmic upheaval her life went through when she saw Sylwanin murdered before her eyes.

Yet amid this soul-wrenching pain, Neytiri maintained her perennial roots—thought of the Clan before herself—and found the inner strength necessary to help her people survive. She no doubt spent most of her time helping the wounded, and consoling those who felt the future of the Omaticaya—and their world—was now filled only with bleakness and despair. By her works, her example, and the sheer force of her indomitable spirit she gave them all—young and old—hope.

When Jake returned, she had already forgiven him; had already moved forward with her life. She was the perennial flower already bursting forth and blossoming once again. And as I mentioned previously, it didn’t matter that Jake returned as Toruk Makto; it mattered that he returned. He could have arrived on a flock of stingbats lashed together, and it would not have mattered to her.

The Hope Diamond, housed in the Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., is one of the most beautiful gems in the world—and at 45.52 carats, is one of the largest at well. I’ve been fortunate enough to see this magnificent, multi-faceted jewel up close on 3 separate occasions, and it is stunning. But a large part of its appeal for me is its color—a rare and beautiful deep Na’vi blue.

We love Neytiri because she has an eternal flame of goodness and optimism within her that can never be extinguished, even when the most challenging and excruciating circumstances are thrown her way. She is our beautiful gem; our own beautiful blue, multi-faceted Hope Diamond.

After Sylwanin’s tragic death, Neytiri must have walked a fine line between terror and wonder, and all the dark and lonely spaces in between. Here she could have remained, never fully actualized as the astounding person we have come to know and love. But in time she took that final leap of faith—a step Tsu’tey, with all his strength and determination, could not. She finally let go of all her anger, and fear, and sorrow—and embraced hope.

Nikos Kazantzakis, author of such amazing books as Zorba the Greek, The Saviors of God, and The Last Temptation of Christ said in one of his books:

“What is happiness? To know all sorrows. What is light? To gaze, with undimmed eyes, on all darknesses.”

Because of the love and inspiration Neytiri gained from Sylwanin—and from the events set into motion by her beloved sister’s death—she was able to find the strength within herself to know those sorrows; to gaze upon those darknesses. And throughout her monumental journey, she was able do this because she never lost sight of that eternal beacon of hope.

And to Sylwanin I would say, “You were a shining example of goodness and hope for your sister. You set her feet upon the proper path. You did not fail your sister that fateful day; your death did have meaning. Because of you, Neytiri was in time able to transcend her anger and sorrow, and embrace that shining quality of hope. And in so doing she ennobled us all. And now she has moved beyond the confines of the 3-D theater, and stepped into our hearts and minds—and into legend.”

No post in 4 days on this thread is just criminal.

Neytiri > *

NEYTIRI!!! <33333
Purrrrr

Neytiri... There really is nobody else like her, at all.

Although I wish there was

I do too... Neytiri just makes me feel so lonely, and I fear that there isn't anybody on Earth that's for me.

And this 4 day gap occurred immediately following a Commentary I spent several hours writing for you guys. And you think you're disappointed, zongtseng! :)

Well, I know that sometimes, the thought of Neytiri just makes me too depressed :'(
she's just so perfect, I really wish I could find anyone at all like her.

We will...someday we will find our Neytiris and/or Jakes.
<33333333333

This should inject some life into this thread!!!

http://i43.tinypic.com/1672dr9.jpg

OMG.. FIX 45.. AWWWWW *faints*

Neytiri can look so purrrrrty while still looking so innocent :D

*faints*

Neytiri is just so beautiful... I'm in love...

It must be love, love, loooovvvvee

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m...tar/htburn.jpg

<3

That makes me sad. Destruction of Hometree was a horrible scene. :'(

But sad Neytiri needs comforting, comforting that I can do :D

Maybe people just needed that much time to digest it all :D

You could be right, zongtseng. It was pretty long! :)

There's no such thing as being too wordy when speaking of Neytiri :) I just think, for many people, you lay out so well how and why people love her so much, that there isn't much left for them to say. I'm not really the type of person to put these kinds of things into writing, they just bounce around my head at various times. I envy the people that can though.

Thank you zongtseng. That was one of the nicest compliments I've ever received about my writing. :)

I put Neytiri as my Twitter background today.

I honstly love this picture of her , I don't know what it is , but it makes my heart melt and makes me want to take a bath in her golden orblike eyes .

I love all pictures of Neytiri, because she shows such emotions in all scenes that she plays in... her eyes, ears, her facial expressions... all show so much emotions. I feel that whenever I gaze into her eyes I feel what she is feeling. Like I can See her soul. Words cannot express how I feel for her :D

I'm just a lowly human. Just trying to describe Neytiri takes away from her perfection.

Quoted for truth. Oel ngati kameie ma tsmukan.

Neytiri is beyond beautiful when she is happy:

http://images2.fanpop.com/image/phot...8-1280-720.jpg

^^ those pictures just warm my heart :)

Ome.....So....beautiful.....

Neytiri is simply beautiful. She is just gorgeous.

Whenever I see any picture of her I start to get lost in her eyes and her pure beauty. *faints*

Human girls can't compare to Neytiri, nothing can. Neytiri is too amazing. <3

Her eyes! <3333

Her beautiful eyes... I could stare into them for hours...

What if they are shut ?
http://i44.tinypic.com/1674f92.jpg

Look at Neytiri in my signature...(the .gif)

Her eyes...

Her smile....

*faints*

She has plenty of other places to stare :P

Still beautiful even with her eyes shut.

Just wondering if anyone has had any luck with finding their Neytiris yet???

Her smile is just .....wonderful. I like the scene where the Atokarina are landing on Jake and she looks at him and smiles....

*Heart-melts*