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View Full Version : Would the Na'vi understand Shakespeare?



exostrike
04-15-2012, 11:10 AM
I seriously dobt that the Na'vi would be able to understand human literature.

Think about it, everything the Na'vi know is ewya and they don't seem to imagine different worlds, so would they be able to accept/understand the idea of different mythos between stories.

The works of Shakespeare are an obvious example, a Na'vi would try and fit the stories into a single world view like thier own stories build up ewya. Yet I think they would find it hard to mesh the ghosts of Hamlet, the witches of Macbeth, the fairies of Midsummer Night's Dream and the magician Prospero of the Tempest into a single mythos since they don't seem to be based on a single idea or logic thread. It would also be confusing when comparing these mystical works to the down to earth, historical plays such as Henry V and Julius Caesar where gods or magic have little presence.

The result is a confused Na'vi and a disappointed Grace.

ScottWashburn
04-15-2012, 03:52 PM
I think they'd understand some of the basic themes. Clearly the Na'vi do share some of the same emotions as humans. Love, hate, jealousy, envy, pride, we saw all of those in the movie. No, they wouldn't understand some of the specific details, but the underlying themes might translate for them. Jake & Neytiri = Romeo & Juliet? :)

MarkD
04-16-2012, 07:05 AM
They'd have trouble understanding what language it is in as it does not sound like modern english at all. I know, I got stumped trying to understand it.

Kira Argounova
04-18-2012, 07:02 PM
not at first but they will learn to understand it. everyone experiences the themes in life. the possible destruction of their world was as tragic as any play when you think of it. so would they understand it? no but they certainly would if it was translated.

exostrike
04-19-2012, 12:14 AM
It would be interesting to see what would happen if the Avatar project put on a play of Shakespeare.

RD-701
04-24-2012, 07:35 PM
Well, apparently the children at Grace's school enjoyed the Lorax. :an-rotfl:

I didn't find Shakespeare difficult to understand, it was pretty annoying at times though. I'm not sure how bad it would be for a non-native speaker.