i agree with everything in this post! also you brought more enlightening to kuja although i had him understood to the T mainly. but your proposal of him defying death is a much better look on what he did to defy everything he was made to do.
i also wrote an article on not only kuja but zidane and they're connection with each other - the two sides of the same coin effect (article here:https://www.reddit.com/r/FinalFantasy/comments/8mx8u8/ff9_is_my_favorite_game_because_i_relate_with_the/). for me, you cannot talk about kuka without his brother. as zidane admitted, he would have done the same if he was in his older sibling's shoes. and in a way, he WAS becoming his brother, when he had his small breakdown ("I... I am...an... empty...vessel..."
"I don't know... who I am...") and even viciously lashed at his friends ("Shut up! Just shut up, you stupid brat!") and tried to make his individuality strictly his own ("I can take care of myself.").
what made kuja is half because of garland and half unluckiness. poor guy grew up having no friends and no-one to relate to. his is an extremely relatable character and i was so glad he regretted what he did in the end when he saw the light, his little brother.
Orah's comments