Through this, Mary Shelley illustrates different forms of power as an unchecked capability of society, and expresses their dangers to humanity. In understanding her context, we see Shelley’s intention to compose a didactic message regarding the limitless ability of nature and man, and the threats it poses to humanity. Blade Runner, created almost two centuries later, was composed under vastly different circumstances, yet still voices the same concerns. Through its discussion, we see how Ridley Scott evolves from Shelley’s ideas to present a speculative, dystopian film where humanity has failed to adhere to Shelley’s message, and warns of the consequences when the power she describes is not used responsibly. One of the most dominant concerns shared between Frankenstein and Blade Runner is humanity’s defiance and disrespect to nature and the environment.
Throughout Frankenstein, Mary Shelley’s warning against the abuse of power and interference with natural forces permeates through the character of Victor, whose obsession with power taints his moral compass and subsequently causes him to tamper with nature. This is highly influenced by the distinctive 19th century context of Romanticism, as Shelly criticizes Victor’s desire for control over nature by integrating the creative arrogance of Romantic literature into his character as well as Promethean qualities and ‘hubris’ with overwhelming ambition to acquire power. As the 19th century had yet to deal with industrialisation and technologicalisation on a mass scale, Shelly simultaneously ponders the cost of such abuse of power and intrusion of natural force. Victor states that “no one can conceive the variety of feelings which bore me onwards, like a hurricane”. The use of simile equates Frankenstein’s desire for power over natural order
Frankenstein was composed during the Romantic period; which involved challenging previously accepted, scientific statements, regarding the practical and ethical possibilities arising from human enquiries into the sources of life and human knowledge in general. Romantics such as Shelley held firm views in the rejection of science and rationalism, espousing the sublimity of nature and emotional experiences. This ideology involved the concept that mechanical production, such as seen through the Industrial Revolution, led to the alienation of man from essential human nature. Shelley’s Gothic writing style was heavily influenced by such ideologies; evident through her use of vivid imagery, juxtaposing the beauty of natural elements and the hideousness of scientifically manufactured beings, a symbol of the Enlightenment; “I watched
Texts reflect the social, economic and historical contexts of which the author compose their work in. Both Mary Shelley’s 19th century gothic novel “Frankenstein” and the science fiction film “Blade Runner” directed by Ridley Scott propose similar concepts even though their work were compose during different era. As a Romanticist, Shelley put down the idea of man playing ‘God’, Scott’s responds to Shelley warning is also condemn man’s thoughtless ambition. However the context of greed and mass industrialisation shifts the criticism onto the pursuit of commercial dominance. Both texts have used many language techniques and features to describe similar dystopian visions result from man’s abandonment of nature.
Throughout the novel Frankenstein, author Mary Shelley defines morality based on a nature and nurture of ones and it plays relevant role on a person life. Shelley explains sometimes a mankind’s morality can be bad and she mentions it through her the characters Victor Frankenstein, the creature and Robert Walden. Frankenstein’s great desire of creating life endanger his family and goes against nature, his careless disregard for a naïve creature turns it into vicious exterminator and Walden’s unachievable fantasy of finding north pole put his crew in deadly
Dr. von Koenigswald is a “bad scientist,” who represents the hybrid between science and religion. The value of religion enhances lives more effective than science does. In order to represent Vonnegut’s view on science, Felix Hoenikker characterizes all the corruption science causes worldwide. Felix is the father of three unstable children, the atomic bomb, and ice-nine. His inventions, along with his children, lead to the destruction of the human race.
In pursuit of knowledge and technology, society begins to lose a sense of humanity. The 1818 gothic novel, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and 1982 science fiction film, Blade Runner directed by Ridley Scott although composed over one hundred years apart contain the same concepts on the nature of humanity. Through context and a variety of film and literary techniques both composers were able to convey their purpose of a cautionary warning about the consequences of playing God. This was achieved through the dislocation of the natural world and mans attempt to play God. The texts present a view that questions the ethics of science which progress is unchecked.
Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein,' an epistolary Romantic novel inspired by elements of the Promethean myth, and Ridley Scott's 'Blade Runner,' a science fiction film known for its promotion of film/tech noir elements are two texts which have come to challenge the dominant paradigms of their time. Through the study of these texts, the reflection
Both Shelley’s novel and Scott’s feature film are examples of texts that transcend the age they are created in – they serve as warnings to humanity about the dangers of scientific alteration of the natural cycle Shelley’s Frankenstein was composed during an era of rampant social and scientific change; although this change was not necessarily progress. Shelley’s novel examines the moral responsibility of the scientist, and offers the consequences of annihilation of nature. During the 19th Century, the environment stopped being a source of beauty and inspiration and largely became another commodity; a casualty of the Industrial Revolution. Shelley continues the Romantic theme of emphasis on nature with her repeated
The parallelism between Victor Frankenstein and Prometheus is seen through both of their actions of trying to play God by giving life. Both Frankenstein and Prometheus tried to create their own being or race to worship them, and were punished in the end for their endeavors. In “Frankenstein”, one can see the power struggle between Frankenstein and The Creature. Frankenstein becomes obsessed with his studies and project of creating a human, and in a way becomes power thirsty as he plays God by giving life. When his experiment comes to life, Frankenstein gets scared, thus giving The Creature all of the power he previously held.