Jake Sully’s Motivation to Change: A Psychoanalytic Reading of Avatar

Abstract

Although human beings never remain the same, a big change in an individual usually attracts people’s attention. Understanding the cause behind the change helps an understanding of that change as well as one self. Because literature depicts human life, individuals may learn about changes in individuals from literary works so that they will be more tolerant and less judgmental. They will also understand themselves and other people better. As a film which describes human changing behavior, Avatar was chosen to be the research object. This research focuses on describing the protagonist’s changing behavior and attitude from the perspective of Psychoanalysis particularly the idea of unconscious and defense mechanism. The findings support Psychoanalysis’ belief that the protagonist’s changing behavior and attitude are caused by his unconscious which consists of his repressed disappointment and anger with his life and his unfulfilled desire.