The Character Parallels Between the Film Avatar: The Way of Water and the Novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Faculty Mentor
Chris Valeo
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Start Date
May 2025
End Date
May 2025
Location
PUB 323
Primary Discipline of Presentation
English
Abstract
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley has been a tool for discussion for morals, ethics, and science fiction inspiration since its publication in 1818. Avatar: The Way of Water, directed by James Cameron, is a film with the potential to teach the world about ethics and morals in a similar way to Frankenstein. What did James Cameron take from the original science fiction to benefit the interactions of his characters on Pandora? Avatar: The Way of Water relates to Frankenstein through the idea of creating a new human unethically with themes of altering the human lifespan, disregarding humane ethics, the loss of self control, and the consequences of these ambitions on both the creator and the creation with a need for vengeance and the resulted alienation. I consider these themes through parallel characters Cameron adapted from Shelley such as Colonel Miles and Jake Sully, who both simultaneously reflect Dr. Frankenstein and his creation. While both characters experience a change to their human life and go through a loss of self control, Colonel Miles acts against humane ethics by creating Jake Sully and abandoning his own son, Spider. Jake Sully finds his place amongst the Na’vi after feeling alienated, but continues to be hunted by Colonel Miles, echoing the obsession between Dr. Frankenstein and his creation. These parallels are important for understanding the ethics of creating life without individual agency in Shelley’s Frankenstein; it can offer an insight into this 19th century novel’s examination of the intricate relationships between creator and creation, and the multifaceted roles of characters. Because Avatar: The Way of Water is a popular sci-fi film adaptation, it can be used as a fresh lens to examine Frankenstein’s emphasis on the consequences of human ambition in creation.
Recommended Citation
Shah, Kaylani Maniben, "The Character Parallels Between the Film Avatar: The Way of Water and the Novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley" (2025). 2025 Symposium. 10.
https://dc.ewu.edu/srcw_2025/op_2025/o4_2025/10
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The Character Parallels Between the Film Avatar: The Way of Water and the Novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
PUB 323
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley has been a tool for discussion for morals, ethics, and science fiction inspiration since its publication in 1818. Avatar: The Way of Water, directed by James Cameron, is a film with the potential to teach the world about ethics and morals in a similar way to Frankenstein. What did James Cameron take from the original science fiction to benefit the interactions of his characters on Pandora? Avatar: The Way of Water relates to Frankenstein through the idea of creating a new human unethically with themes of altering the human lifespan, disregarding humane ethics, the loss of self control, and the consequences of these ambitions on both the creator and the creation with a need for vengeance and the resulted alienation. I consider these themes through parallel characters Cameron adapted from Shelley such as Colonel Miles and Jake Sully, who both simultaneously reflect Dr. Frankenstein and his creation. While both characters experience a change to their human life and go through a loss of self control, Colonel Miles acts against humane ethics by creating Jake Sully and abandoning his own son, Spider. Jake Sully finds his place amongst the Na’vi after feeling alienated, but continues to be hunted by Colonel Miles, echoing the obsession between Dr. Frankenstein and his creation. These parallels are important for understanding the ethics of creating life without individual agency in Shelley’s Frankenstein; it can offer an insight into this 19th century novel’s examination of the intricate relationships between creator and creation, and the multifaceted roles of characters. Because Avatar: The Way of Water is a popular sci-fi film adaptation, it can be used as a fresh lens to examine Frankenstein’s emphasis on the consequences of human ambition in creation.
