Similarities Between Avatar And Transcendentalism
Transcendentalists valued their own consciences and individuality over the regulations set by the government. The value of one’s conscience connects Henry David Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience and James Cameron’s Avatar. Transcendentalism was a literary period in America between 1830-1860 and its messages of valuing one’s conscience, achieving a state of mind only possible through a person’s “innate intuition” (Byron), and bettering oneself are shown in James Cameron’s Avatar. Transcendentalists believe the ultimate power is within the mind and individuality of people. Henry David Thoreau is a strong believer of following your conscience no matter what even if it goes against what is considered to be the norm in society. According to Thoreau
and other transcendentalists if something goes against your conscience then you should not do it even you are breaking the law in the progress. Thoreau writes “there was a wall of stone between me and my townsmen, there was a still more difficult one to climb or break through before they could be as free as I was” (lines 202-207). Thoreau is saying that he stood up for what he believes in and is willing to sit in jail for it and he is happy with his decision because he knows that there are people who agree him ,but are too cowardly to stand up for what their conscience believes is wrong. This proves that the value of one’s conscience is ultimate according to Thoreau and he is willing to stand up for his beliefs no matter that cost. Everyone has a conscience and with that comes a way of life it wants you to live and it varies for each person. Each individual mind and conscience function differently creating different paths for people to follow. Thoreau writes “If a plant cannot live according to its nature, it dies; and so a man” (lines 241-242). A man must live how the mind and conscience desire to live and if the man chooses not live that way then they become miserable and regret many things. In Avatar, Jake the protagonist is a paraplegic who becomes mobile again through a machine which puts him in the body of a Na’vi in exchange for him becoming mobile again he has to infiltrate the Na’vi people to learn their ways. Jake becomes really attached the Na’vi people and their ways and decides to follow his conscience and help the Na’vi people fight against humanity. In the effort of helping the Na’vi people Jake betters himself by learning from the wise Na’vi people who appreciate nature and life. Jake says “Everything is backwards now, like out there is the true world, and in here is the dream” (James Cameron). Jake realizes that his conscience is telling him that what the humans plan to do to the Na’vi people is wrong and he needs to stop their plans to exploit the Na’vi’s natural resources.
and other transcendentalists if something goes against your conscience then you should not do it even you are breaking the law in the progress. Thoreau writes “there was a wall of stone between me and my townsmen, there was a still more difficult one to climb or break through before they could be as free as I was” (lines 202-207). Thoreau is saying that he stood up for what he believes in and is willing to sit in jail for it and he is happy with his decision because he knows that there are people who agree him ,but are too cowardly to stand up for what their conscience believes is wrong. This proves that the value of one’s conscience is ultimate according to Thoreau and he is willing to stand up for his beliefs no matter that cost. Everyone has a conscience and with that comes a way of life it wants you to live and it varies for each person. Each individual mind and conscience function differently creating different paths for people to follow. Thoreau writes “If a plant cannot live according to its nature, it dies; and so a man” (lines 241-242). A man must live how the mind and conscience desire to live and if the man chooses not live that way then they become miserable and regret many things. In Avatar, Jake the protagonist is a paraplegic who becomes mobile again through a machine which puts him in the body of a Na’vi in exchange for him becoming mobile again he has to infiltrate the Na’vi people to learn their ways. Jake becomes really attached the Na’vi people and their ways and decides to follow his conscience and help the Na’vi people fight against humanity. In the effort of helping the Na’vi people Jake betters himself by learning from the wise Na’vi people who appreciate nature and life. Jake says “Everything is backwards now, like out there is the true world, and in here is the dream” (James Cameron). Jake realizes that his conscience is telling him that what the humans plan to do to the Na’vi people is wrong and he needs to stop their plans to exploit the Na’vi’s natural resources.