Blade Runner and Frankenstein Comparative Essay free essay sample

Despite a significant time difference between the novel, Frankenstein; or The Modern Prometheus, written by Mary Shelley in 1818, and the film, Blade Runner, directed by Sir Ridley Scott in 1992, both composers use characters to warn future societies about the consequences of distorted values by emphasising a lack of key values. The characters who; do not respect the role nature has in life, value their own personal desires over everything else or ignore the importance of parental responsibility are shown to have detrimental effects on their lives. Animating these fears of distorted values urges the audience to alter their own values and attitudes and influence further impact on the world. The importance of respecting the omnipotence and the crucial role of nature in the world are emphasised by characters that are stripped of the glory of the natural world. Victor Frankenstein, the relatable protagonist in Frankenstein, was at first inspired by the glory of nature and was overwhelmed by its majesty. We will write a custom essay sample on Blade Runner and Frankenstein Comparative Essay or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This admiration and wonder was soon replaced by a â€Å"fervent longing to penetrate the secrets of nature†. Frankenstein decides that he alone can replicate nature and bask in the eternal praise and glory of the â€Å"creation of an animal as complex and wonderful as man†. This delusion ultimately leads to his punishment by the very force that had inspired this pursuit, nature. Personification is used to create imagery of the fierce power of nature. â€Å"I might be driven into the Atlantic, and feel all the tortures of starvation, or be swallowed up by the immeasurable waters that roared and buffeted around me. Similar to Frankenstein, Scott uses a relatable protagonist named Rick Deckard to guide the audience through the artificial world of Blade Runner, set in Los Angeles in the near future. This world creates a link between the intimidating lack of nature and the degradation of human nature. The landscape is dominated by large industrial sky-scrapers that spew pollution and fire into the sky. Neon lights are a motif, contrasted to the otherwise dreary washed out blue colour pal let. This emphasises the lack of natural light. Deckard is contrasted against a busy and rude foreign culture. The society has no noticeable emotional reaction to the brutal murders of Replicants by Deckard suggesting that it is normal to not care about others. Shelley explores direct and instant consequences that swept away every joy or hope that Frankenstein had experienced. Scott explores the inability of any character to recognise a slower deterioration of the world and society. Both of these possible consequences highlight the necessity of nature by exploring the wreckage that is left without it. The religious teachings of humility and morals are privileged by highlighting the pride and selfishness that comes from impatient, egotistical efforts of scientific endeavours into the unknown and overreaching human potential. Eldon Tyrell takes advantage of the scientific advancements into eugenics to create human ‘Replicants’ to work as slaves to increase his annual profit. â€Å"Commerce is our goal here at Tyrell. More human than human is our motto. Rachael is an experiment, nothing more. This narcissistic obsession with power leads Tyrell to become engulfed by sins such as gluttony, greed and pride and helps slowly corrupt the world. Tyrell’s apartment is dressed in religious allusion such as white robes and curtains and candles which suggest a deistic self-image. Earth in Blade Runner has been deserted by the elite of society and only the dregs remain. People are forced to breathe in pollution and work in strip clubs to make money. â€Å"Do you think Id be working in a place like this if I could afford a real snake? Frankenstein’s creature is also an example of the suffering that comes from selfish experimentation. Frankenstein was unable to replicate the perfection and beauty of man and thus a creature was gifted life only to suffer torture and anguish until death. â€Å"Cursed, cursed creator! Why did I live? Why, in that instant, did I not extinguish the spark of existence which you had so wantonly bestowed? † The use of rhetorical questions highlight the emotional turmoil and loneliness that the creature is experiencing. The imperative voice also emphasises the emotional frustration. Shelley’s and Scott’s characters both explore and embody corrupted values that stray from the religious teachings of values and guidance. The suffering and misery that comes as a result of pride and selfishness leads the audience to recognise the risks of close-minded passion and the importance of humility and respect. Human development is greatly affected by the presence of support and guidance from a nurturing figure. Characters in these texts explore the importance of fulfilling parental responsibility. Frankenstein’s ideal family is portrayed as a loving relationship and bestowing inexhaustible stores of love and affection. Despite having a â€Å"deep consciousness of what they owed towards the being to which they had given life†, Frankenstein abandons the being to which he had recklessly gifted with life. This gigantic grotesque creature is born alone in an unknown world and is forever cursed and feared as a monster. â€Å"There was none among the myriads of men that existed who would pity or assist me. † Despite the companionship and relationships between the Replicants, they are alone in a world that they do not belong in. This highlights the lack of any support and guidance from a nurturing figure. This is further emphasised with the killing of each Replicant over the film. â€Å"I don’t think there is another human in the world that would have helped us†. Roy’s desire for parental consolation is highlighted when he asks for forgiveness. â€Å"I’ve done questionable things. † When the Replicants start to develop emotions, they are left to make efforts to manage and understand those feelings such as anger, grief and love, without any guidance. Leon’s solution to the Voight-Kampff test is to murder the innocent human. When Roy confronts Tyrell and kills him, he suffers great anguish characterised by his facial expression and the high pitched music. The significant impact of a nurturing figure on individual development and quality of life is clearly explored by characters in both texts. A lack of parental guidance is shown to lead to a disturbed personality and development in life which is contrasted to the ideal childhood that leads to a healthy and happy personality. During this comparative study of these texts, I have discovered that despite the immense time difference, they are remarkably similar in the way they tell their stories and why. Both texts use a relatable protagonist to connect with the audience and allow them to imagine themselves in these worlds. The characters guide the audience on a journey that overwhelms them with confronting distorted future scenarios. These scenarios represent the impact that a lack of key values has on the world. The composer’s attach negative connotations to the values that lead humans to these futures and then allow the audience to come to their own conclusions about the important values that are missing from these worlds, such as respect and appreciation of the role that nature plays in the world, humility, morals, virtues and the importance of a nurturing figure.