Should Death Be Feared In Avatar And William Cullen Bryant

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Morgan Zamora
Ms. Najd
English 3
25 January 2023
Death Should Not Be Feared
“Death is not the opposite of life, but a part of it.” -Haruki Murakami. This quote turns an outcome that most people fear into a natural event that they should be accepting of. The idea that death is part of the circle of life, is presented by Jake Sully in the film Avatar, and in William Cullen Bryant’s works. In both James Cameron’s Avatar and Bryant’s Thanatopsis, the author guides the audience to the comprehension that death should not be feared. The author of Avatar had the purpose of educating his audience on the fact that death is not something that they should be afraid of. “I'm with her, Jake. She’s real,” were Grace’s last words before she died. In spite …show more content…

She considered it all a part of the circle of life. Bryant’s work Thanatopsis, has a quote with a similar significance. “Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch about him, and lies down to pleasant dreams.” This quote demonstrates how every individual should live life to its fullest, so that when death comes, they are ready to go. Bryant recommends a noble acceptance in the face of death, because it is an inevitable event that every living thing must undergo. Also, the metaphor “pleasant dreams” refers to heaven, and the peace that death provides. In addition to this, Sully stated, “Every person is born twice, the second time is when you earn your place among the people.” Cameron brings up the idea that death introduces a new beginning; reincarnation. He focuses on the idea that death is not something that one should fear, because the energy is going to be repurposed to make something new and beautiful. He also points to how death unites man with all of humanity, rather than cutting him off from it. In Thanatopsis, Bryant establishes a similar point, “Earth, that nourished thee, shall claim thy growth, to be resolved to Earth again.” He is describing the circle of