The Idea of an Essay, Volume 2

164 portray the land of Pandora and the Na’vi people as superior to Earth and its inhabitants. In contrast to the intriguing world of Pandora, Jake’s spaceship is unappealing and drab, lacking beauty and color. The Marines and scientists rip each other to shreds with their sarcastic and bitter comments, creating a destructive and degrading atmosphere. In contrast, the world of Pandora is magical and enchanting with its glowing vegetation, misty waterfalls, lush ferns, and psychedelic plants. It appears as though a rainbow melted over Pandora, dousing the creatures and natives with vibrant hues of cobalt blue and mossy green. Unlike the team from earth, the Na’vi people extend friendship to Jake and create a sense an atmosphere of and acceptance. Throughout the film, the visual artists purposefully contrast Jake’s hopeless surroundings of his spaceship to the intriguing and iridescent world of Pandora. Discrediting the racism charges even further, Avatar suggests that Pandora’s power cleanses and renews minds that have been “poisoned” by earth. Although Jake and Grace lead miserable lives at the beginning of the film, both are transformed by Pandora as they spend more time in the cleansing environment. While on earth, Jake suffers from much from sorrow and heartache. Paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair, he is unable to move freely or keep pace with the other marines. In addition to his physical limitations, he is also tethered by emotional baggage as a result of the death of his twin brother. Lacking passion, contentment, and friendship, he views himself as “just another dumb grunt” (Cameron). When he first arrives in Pandora, he stands out sorely against the backdrop of this captivating land, taunting the flora and fauna, treading on the natives’ tails, and stumbling into perilous situations. Because of his arrogant disrespect and inconsiderate behavior, the Na’vi people greet him with hostility. But as time elapses, Pandora’s magic penetrates his heart and frees him, both physically (paralysis has no power in Pandora) and emotionally (Jake finds friendship and acceptance in the Na’vi tribe). Believing that Pandora is superior to Earth, Jake realizes, “Everything is backwards now. Like out there is the true world and in here is the dream” (Cameron). The testy, miserable Grace Augustine also experiences renewal in this nirvana. In the beginning of the film, this demanding, acidic, disrespectful woman has heartened her heart to the plight of the Na’vi people. Her only concern lies with obtaining the prize, no matter the cost or