Cidnee Minnard

Mr. Thompson
English 1301.15
November 10, 2016
Avatar
The major motion picture, Avatar, explains that the Resource Development
Administration, which is known as the RDA, tries to destroy a certain race, thus taking over their
planet, Pandora. One worker, of the company falls in love with a native of the plant Pandora, and
soon realizes the damage that his company is doing. He then betrays his company and fights to
save the planet Pandora, alongside his newfound lover and her people. The movie, Avatar, is seen
as insightful. The movie depicts real life situations that have happened in America's past. Some
critics describe Avatar as a "science fiction retelling of the history of North and South America in
the early Colonial period" (Acuna). The movie's main theme portrays Manifest Destiny, and is
supported many times throughout the movie. James Cameron uses the theme of Manifest Destiny
throughout the movie, Avatar, to portray the Exploration of America, the American Indian Wars,
and the Trail of Tears.
James Cameron uses the theme, Manifest Destiny, to allude to the Exploration of
America. The Na'vi's planet, Pandora, is "rich with an energy-yielding mineral called
Unobtainium" (Denby). This mineral is very rare and vital to the humans surviving on Earth.
Also in the movie, it is very clear that the RDA came to Pandora for the Unobtanium. Selfridge
explains that "this is why we're here. Unobtanium" (Cameron 16). Selfridge, the main boss over
the exploration of Pandora, only wants the mineral from the planet. This alludes to when the
British and Spanish empires crossed over the Atlantic and arrived in America for gold. In this

case the Na'vi, which are the indigenous natives of Pandora, allude to the natives in America.
The RDA alludes to the British and Spanish Empires that came from their mother country to
explore a new country in search of gold, and the gold alludes to the Unobtanium. This seizing of
the land, and exploitation of the native's precious mineral, drives them into a war with the human
race.
James Cameron uses the theme of Manifest Destiny to allude to the American Indian
Wars. As the movie progresses, there are a couple of wars fought between the Na'vi and the
humans. These wars, "derived from European contact and colonization", arose from the
invading of Pandora, by the humans (Martinez). For example, Jake explains that a "great evil is
upon us. The Sky People are coming to destroy Hometree" (Cameron 105). This causes a huge
war between the Na'vi and the humans. Some critics suggest that, "Native Americans may see a
direct reference to their own history of massive death through military action" (Martinez). These
wars during the colonial times in America, caused a major amount of casualties through America
and the Native American race. Specifically the America Indian Wars also caused a major
"disintegration of Native life" in America during this time, causing the race to be nearly extinct
(Martinez). Many of these wars cost the Native American's their land and many of them to
relocate to different areas in America.
Lastly, James Cameron alludes to the Trail of Tears. After the first devastating war of the
Na'Vi and the humans, the Na'vi were forced to move to different land, and abandon their sacred
tree, Hometree. This is shown in the scene when Selfridge asks Jake, "Our blue friends packed
yet?" (Cameron 80). Selfridge asks this because, the RDA are planning to destroy the home of
the Na'vi, and the company is giving them a chance to relocate to another area. This situation
alludes to the Trail of Tears during America's colonial time. To the viewer, the Na'vi are seen as

the Native Americans on their land and the humans are seen as the government, forcing the
natives to move to different areas. In America, the Trail of Tears was caused by the Indian
Removal Act of 1830. President Jackson forced the Cherokee Indians to relocate from Georgia to
Oklahoma. In the movie the Na'vi were forced to relocate to an area called, The Forest. Critics
explain this situation of the Na'vi as "the separation of the people from places sacred to them"
(Martinez). This specific separation is the separation of the Na'vi from their Hometree.
In conclusion, James Cameron uses Manifest destiny as a way to allude to the
Exploration of America, The American Indian Wars, and the Trail of Tears. All of these historical
events have lead to what Americans call Manifest Destiny today. America's has had it's past
repeated in many ways in the world. The movie, Avatar, provides many allusions to this Colonial
Period in America.With these allusions, specific groups of people can feel a connection to the
story Avatar tells. Through wars and tragedies, the Na'vi like Americans are still able to stand
firm no matter how hard they are knocked down.

Works Cited
Acuna, Kirsten. "James Cameron Swears He Didn't Rip Off The Idea For 'Avatar'." Business
Insider. 13 Dec. 2010. 5 Nov. 2016. <www.businessinsider.com>.
Cameron, James, director and creator. Avatar. Twentieth Century Fox, 2009.
Denby, David. "Going Native." The New Yorker, 4 Jan. 2010, p. 78. Literature Resource Center,
go.galegroup.com. Accessed 15 Nov. 2016.
Martinez Falquina, Silvia. "'El efecto pandora:' avatar, de James Cameron, y una perspectiva de
los estudios de trauma." Atlantis, revista de la Asociacin Espaola de Estudios AngloNorteamericanos, vol. 36, no. 2, 2014, p. 115+. Literature Resource Center,
go.galegroup.com. Accessed 14 Nov. 2016.