The replicants are artificial, the memories are artificial. Technology has well and truly taken over. Akin to Frankenstein, Blade Runner acts as a severe warning to the depressing future we may have if we try to push advances of science and technology further and further beyond the limit. As before mentioned, it is the hubris of the protagonists in each text that causes the highest diminution of humanity. In both texts, both protagonists seek earnestly to become God-like by taking on the role of creator, Frankenstein with the monster, and Tyrell with the replicants.
It suggests that an ambitious person will surrender moral integrity in order to achieve power and success. This is portrayed through Tyrell, the Creator of the Replicants and possibly the mastermind behind the world’s rapid propulsion into a world of science. Bladerunner is a dystopic science fiction that holds similarities to Huxley’s Brave New World (1932) and George Orwell’s 1984 (1949). Both these texts have influenced the themes present in the film regarding contemporary society’s failings and the speculation on the potential consequences of continued scientific pursuit. This pursuit of knowledge and progress is not unlike that of the Nazi regime.
He must then deal with the consequences unable to tell anyone what has happened and who really killed his friends and family. Victor ventured seemingly too far into science providing more pain then any gratification, because some mysteries are not meant to be understood by man. When Victor could have easily saw his native town as his world and made a better place for himself there. Victor decides to go further into science after
His concealment causes his obsession, a lack of preventative measures against the creature, and his fear of appearing to be mad. The nature of Victor Frankenstein secret derives from pride and the prevention of humiliation. Frankenstein discreetly gives life to a being in an attempt to escape what seemed to be inevitable; death. This hidden creation ultimately turns into a deranged monster who successfully seeks vengeance on Frankenstein and his family. Knowing that he is indirectly responsible for the tragic events that have transpired; Victor Frankenstein
The Obsessions of Love, Hatred and Fame Obsession comes in many forms, but it’s the obsessions with love, hatred, and fame that can make or destroy a person. Obsessions can be put to good use when used as a tool to drive a person forward to obtain a goal. But more often they become a consuming force that blinds and stifles a person’s view purpose. In Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, obsession is clearly evident throughout the story with the characters Victor Frankenstein and Robert Walton. It is these obsessions of love, hate and fame that eventually destroy Frankenstein and defeats Walton.
Through the characterisation of Victor Frankenstein, Shelley explores the concerns of the two prominent socio-cultural ideologies of her own context. Victor by his very essence is a symbol of the scientific pursuit and discovery for knowledge and society playing with powers beyond human understanding in the enlightenment period; this reflecting the paranoia and concern of gothic romantics. Victor, challenging established values of the enlightenment period, attempts to “pursue nature to her hiding-places” and “learn the hidden laws of nature”. This is reflective of the lack of boundaries that industrialization and the enlightenment period were to bring according to romantics. Victor’s use of religious connotations when discussing his hubristic ambition and thirst for knowledge, is representative of the contextual fear that scientific advances will remove societal values of religion and the sublime.
Unfortunately, progress is often disrupted by failure to meet lower level needs. Victor Frankenstein in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, has a very prestigious rise to self-actualization in the book. Victor also has a very dark, and deep downward spiral back towards the most basic deficiency needs as all of his mental abilities for relationships, esteem, and love are lost due to his actions in the novel. Victor Frankenstein supports Abraham Maslows theory of needs by proving it through his life’s story. Victor Frankenstein can be used to prove Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, thus giving persuasion and justification to Maslow’s theory.
Ernest is described in terms with positive connotations such as “spirit”, while Frankenstein is described in pejorative terms such as “loathing”. The juxtaposition allows Shelley to critique the Enlightenment and promote Romantic ideals. Humanity * Example: Frankenstein: “I ardently desired the acquisition of knowledge”. * Technique & Effect: Shelley uses the technique of dramatic irony to highlight Frankenstein’s error in the acquisition of knowledge, as the reader is already aware from the start of the novel the failure of
In the novel Frankenstein we see Victor’s technological ambition turn into repulsion as the creation of the monster help him realize the magnitude of his mistakes. “The beauty of my dream vanished, breathless horror and disgust filled my heart”, this shows that Victor was blinded by his ambition and by giving up morality and using technology for his own selfish needs he was not able to foresee the inevitable horrid consequences. On the other hand in Blade Runner the ethical issues of science and technologies are not only portrayed through the creation of the replicants but also by the destruction of nature and its environments. During the beginning of the movie a camera shot from above shows a dark, industrialized city filled with fiery explosions while ominous music is played in the background, the image of the city and non-dijectic sounds portray and emphasise how society has lost sight of what really matters and no longer prioritize
We have talked about a similar topic in class on why the monster was isolated from the society, and while the discussion I thought that it was the monster’s lack of self-esteem that eventually caused his exile from the society. I understand that he would not have any self-esteem before his education of language and knowledge, since before the monster learns to express himself, his actions are no less than terrifying which would only make