Theory 3 : Is Karzahni the devil ?

[PaleoTiatan]

So, I've been wondering ... Is Karazhni the devil in the Bionicle Universe ? Karzahni is the "brother" of Artakha whose job is that of  punishing the Matorans that aren't efficient in the job they do. That makes him kind of like the devil (the punisher of bad people). Karzahni (location ) is obviously the .

What's your opinion on the theory , was it good ? was it bad ? Comment below !

 BTW I'm not a religious person (I'm an Atheist ) so this post wasn't about  sharing an ideology.

[Boidoh]

In concept, I would agree. If I remember BIONICLE Legends #2 correctly, there was fire that was cold, and you would turn into a statue if you sat down. Seems very opposite-of-heaven-like to me. Though he wouldn't be a literal devil, I think. 

 

I also agree with this since Karzahni would rather have his illusion do the battling rather than him getting in a big fight. 

[Dorek]

I would say the parallels are somewhat accurate. The idea is that "bad" Matoran (broken or poor workers) get sent to the netherworld, Karzahni, and the "good" Matoran (excellent workers) are permitted to enter the exclusive location of Artakha. Certainly when we first learned about them, that was the impression we were supposed to draw.

 

However, it ended up being a lot more nuanced, which is much appreciated. Karzahni turned out to be "broken" himself (mentally), and Karzahni the location was revealed to have initially been a place for repair, so that everybody could be more productive to society. Artakha, meanwhile, turned out to be enigmatic and aloof, rather than benevolent and helpful (although his is ultimately helpful, so that's something) and the "good" Matoran end up building and building and then tearing down and building again with no other point to their lives. It's all shades of grey.

[Pohatu: Uniter of Stone]

He might be.

 

However, religious topics like this aren't allowed. A "Is Matoro Jesus?" topic got shut down a few months ago. It's a good theory though. 

[Archon~]

The Bionicle story draws its core mainly from different cultures of the world, including Maori, Roman, "urban", etc. I wouldn't be surprised at all if there are some Abrahamic Religions parallels in the story. The comparisson you're making can be applied to several characters, for example: is Mata Nui/ Artakha God, is Makuta the Devil, is Matoro Jesus, is Nidhiki Judas, are the Makuta fallen angels, is Vakama moses (since he led Matoran to a new land), is alt Takanuva moses (since he led MU pop to new land in the Kingdom), are the Toa Mata Templars, and so on and so on.

You can draw multiple parallels, but these simply have similar themes, as do many other works, but it doesn't mean the story was necessarily inspired by them.

[Rahkshi Lalonde]

Karzahni is the gritty grimdark edginess of 2006 embodied into a corporeal form.

[Nidhiki of the Shadows]

I would say the parallels are somewhat accurate. The idea is that "bad" Matoran (broken or poor workers) get sent to the netherworld, Karzahni, and the "good" Matoran (excellent workers) are permitted to enter the exclusive location of Artakha. Certainly when we first learned about them, that was the impression we were supposed to draw.

 

However, it ended up being a lot more nuanced, which is much appreciated. Karzahni turned out to be "broken" himself (mentally), and Karzahni the location was revealed to have initially been a place for repair, so that everybody could be more productive to society. Artakha, meanwhile, turned out to be enigmatic and aloof, rather than benevolent and helpful (although his is ultimately helpful, so that's something) and the "good" Matoran end up building and building and then tearing down and building again with no other point to their lives. It's all shades of grey.

Yeah, I actually really liked that. 

 

I also did like how Karzahni and Artakha also reflected Mata Nui and Makuta's relationship as well, in a sense. 

 

-NotS

[Archon~]

 

I would say the parallels are somewhat accurate. The idea is that "bad" Matoran (broken or poor workers) get sent to the netherworld, Karzahni, and the "good" Matoran (excellent workers) are permitted to enter the exclusive location of Artakha. Certainly when we first learned about them, that was the impression we were supposed to draw.

However, it ended up being a lot more nuanced, which is much appreciated. Karzahni turned out to be "broken" himself (mentally), and Karzahni the location was revealed to have initially been a place for repair, so that everybody could be more productive to society. Artakha, meanwhile, turned out to be enigmatic and aloof, rather than benevolent and helpful (although his is ultimately helpful, so that's something) and the "good" Matoran end up building and building and then tearing down and building again with no other point to their lives. It's all shades of grey.

 

Yeah, I actually really liked that. 

 

I also did like how Karzahni and Artakha also reflected Mata Nui and Makuta's relationship as well, in a sense. 

 

-NotS

It rather foreshadowed the Mata Nui Makuta relationship, no?

[Nidhiki of the Shadows]

It rather foreshadowed the Mata Nui Makuta relationship, no?

I don't think it really foreshadowed it, since we already knew what happened between them but it definitely did help to reinforce it (which any good side-plot should do). Honestly, I was pretty disappointed we never got to see Karzahni have a showdown with Artakha. 

 

-NotS

[Sharnak the Bohrok Lord]

I always saw Mata Nui and Makuta fitting the God vs Satan parallel but that's just me.

 

If I recall correctly, the realm of Karzahni was supposed to an anti-Mata Nui (the location, not the guy). Both islands were named after beings and the Matoran were deformed in someway and not native to the land. However, while Mata Nui was a tropical paradise that was host to many plants, environments and wildlife. Karzahni was a barren wasteland where everything was backwards. You would not last very long living there. Mata Nui Matoran persevered through hard times, led by their wise and kind Turaga. Karzahni matoran were led by a madman who broke not just their bodies but their spirits as well. Mata Nui Matoan believed and were faithful to the Great Spirit while Karzahni himself didn't even know who he was until the Inika Matoran came into the picture.

[IcarusBen]

Oh, good God. It's one of those theories.

 

At least it's not Mata Nui/Makuta equals God/Lucifer, or Matoro is Jesus. I could probably take any religion and put it through Bionicle. Hinduism, Abrahamic religions, paganism, etc. etc. 

 

Karzahni is probably inspired by the Lucifer aspect of the devil. A being of great power and good intentions fallen from grace. Same thing for Makuta. Still, I don't get a "god" vibe from Artakha. He's not all-powerful or omnipotent, so... Yeah. Not quite an exact approximation, but still.

[Archon~]

 

It rather foreshadowed the Mata Nui Makuta relationship, no?

I don't think it really foreshadowed it, since we already knew what happened between them but it definitely did help to reinforce it (which any good side-plot should do). Honestly, I was pretty disappointed we never got to see Karzahni have a showdown with Artakha. 

 

-NotS

 

I meant more along of lines that it was a foreshadowing to the Matoran Universe and what would eventually happen to it, you know with Teridax rebeling and all that.

[bonesiii]

He might be.

 

However, religious topics like this aren't allowed. A "Is Matoro Jesus?" topic got shut down a few months ago. It's a good theory though. 

This is actually a gray area, as our rules do allow some parallels to such topics to be drawn if it's focused on Bionicle content; one of the S&T rules mentions this. However, as (if memory serves, and I checked with another staff member who thinks the same was the answer then) this actually counts as a coincidence topic, it will be closed anyways. Let's note that while the devil specifically may not be in view, it does seem like Karzahni's realm may have been somewhat of an intentional allusion to 'heck', and Artakha to heaven, in the ways the Matoran came to see them. But we're still basically treating it as a coincidence topic, as coincidences of almost any sort could be allusions too, but we don't really know that and if we do hear from an official source that it is, the question is then answered anyways.

 

So in short, the topic will now be closed.