Preview

Comparative Study of Frankenstein and Blade Runner

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1445 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Comparative Study of Frankenstein and Blade Runner
Shelley’s Romantic novel Frankenstein (1818) compares and reflects values of humanity and the consequences of our Promethean ambition against the futuristic, industrialized world of Blade Runner (1992) by Ridley Scott. The notions of unbridled scientific advancement and technological progress resonate with our desire to elevate humanity’s state of being, mirrored amongst the destructive ambition to overtake and disrupt nature and its processes. The disastrous implications of overreaching the boundary between progressive and destructive power and knowledge are heeded through the ultimate and inevitable loss of self and identity, transforming humanity into a form of monstrosity.

Shelley heeds the destructive thirst for knowledge in the pursuit of superiority, foreshadowing the moral ramifications as a result of this unnatural intervention and disruption of both the physical nature and the innate spiritual self. The Promethean ambition possessed by man ultimately leads to loss of the essence of humanity in an attempt to usurp the natural order of the world. The connotation of the subtitle, “Modern Prometheus” foreshadows the heavenly retribution and consequences Victor Frankenstein has wrought upon himself in his obsessive quest for knowledge and power. His God-like transgression against nature through his ‘ardent desire for acquisition for knowledge’ unleashes a cycle of tragedy leading ultimately to his mortal downfall of mental and emotional instability. Shelley furthermore emphasises the cruelty of mankind when conscience and moral responsibility are abandoned through the symbolic creation of the Monster as the very condemnation of unchecked industrialized ‘progress’. The juxtaposition of the classical Promethean myth with the dystopic realm Victor Frankenstein has created is highlighted through the rejection of the Monster as ‘breathless horror and disgust filled [his] heart’, further underlining the moral irresponsibility Frankenstein has shown towards his

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Frankenstein Blade Runnar

    • 926 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Although the comparative study of texts in time offers insight into humanity’s changing values, it is the portrayal of common, contextually resonating concerns which continue to engage us timelessly. Despite their divergent media and compositional milieus, Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein (1818) and Ridley Scott’s film Blade Runner (1982) share ongoing anxieties regarding unrestricted technological growth and social decay. By examining these texts together as social commentaries which are shaped by their Regency and contemporary contexts, we come to a heightened understanding of human nature and its flaws.…

    • 926 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Mary Shelley’s science fiction novel “Frankenstein” written in 1818 and “Bladerunner”, Ridley Scott’s 1982 cult classic film have nearly two hundred years separating them, yet they raise similar societal concerns.. Both raise the question of what it is to be human and explore the pursuit of eternal life which can be examined using the literary and cinematic techniques prevalent in the texts.…

    • 1190 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Both Mary Shelley’s Romantic Gothic novel Frankenstein (1818) and Ridley Scott’s postmodern science fiction film Blade Runner (1992) explore the implications of egotistic humans overreaching the natural order: humans who “dare” to “sport” “with life”. Despite Frankenstein springing from a context of Romantic passion an Enlightenment rationalisation and Blade Runner from economic rationalism and increasing consumerism both texts explore the dehumanizing and environmentally degrading consequences of scientific or commercial hubris in recklessly creating “life”, thus overriding the natural order.…

    • 949 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Mary Shelley’s nineteenth century epistolary novel, Frankenstein (1818), and Ridley Scott’s late twentieth century post-modern film, Blade Runner (1992), bear striking similarities when studied as texts in time, as they both aim to warn humanity about attempting to usurp of the role of God in creating life. However, their respective contexts mean that the way in which they present notions about humanity differs. Shelley and Scott have extrapolated their various concerns born from their respective contexts regarding the confusion and anxiety that results when mankind pursues their knowledge without regard for their responsibilities. Shelley presents us with humanity’s flaws, which are evident in the way they have neglected what they have created. Scott portrays a futuristic world that has become horrifically debased and inhumane, as mankind has failed to maintain the natural order after overstepping scientific and technological boundaries. Both composers conceptually focus on the parental duties of creators toward their creation and the consequences of abandoning them. Through their different styles and techniques relative to their respective audience, each composer is extremely successful in presenting the changing values and attitudes respective of their eras.…

    • 1116 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The desire for social progression has always shrouded society. Both Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818) and Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner (1982) were produced during eras of technological exploration. Through depicting technology breeching moral boundaries through context, characterisation and intertextuality, both Scott and Shelley highlight the dangers of progression with the absence of ethical emotion – a timeless social issues which binds these two texts.…

    • 799 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Values are a direct result of context, thus a change in context leads to a development and alteration in values. Some values are timeless, however, just as those depicted in Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel Frankenstein and Ridley Scott’s 1982 film Blade Runner (Director’s Cut). These didactic texts are therefore still applicable to today’s society, as the moral lessons may be related to current societal values. Shelley’s Frankenstein and Scott’s Blade Runner present similar values, however they are explored in a different manner due to the contexts of their composers. Mary Shelley was raised at the end of the 18th century in a time before many major scientific advancements had occurred. Galvanism, however, was beginning to emerge while Erasmus Darwin took on evolutionary theories. There was a strong Catholic influence at the time which Shelley composed Frankenstein, thus her novel questioned the beliefs in society that life could be created by another man. Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner was released post WW2, during a period of rapid development in science, communication, technology and commercialism. The use of genetic engineering and artificial insemination which was developing was still questionable amongst the religious society.…

    • 1301 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The texts, Frankenstein and Blade Runner reflect changing contextual values; however the treatment of content remains the same. Mary Shelley’s didactic Frankenstein published in 1818 centres on scientific advancement of the Industrial Revolution, as presented through a consolidation of Gothic and Romantic elements in response to the shifting paradigms of the Enlightenment Age. Similarly, Blade Runner directed by Ridley Scott in 1982, transforms the notions of Frankenstein to position its postmodern audience to consider the negative ramifications of the Cold War and the rise of capitalism. These contextual ideas will be explored through the thematic concerns pertaining specifically to the destructive potential of abusing scientific power, the flawed responsibility of man as creator and the nature of humanity. Indeed, Blade Runner is a realisation of the sublime warnings highlighted by Shelley’s Frankenstein in 1818.…

    • 1515 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    “A deeper understanding of disruption and identity emerges from considering the parallels between Frankenstein and Blade Runner”…

    • 1477 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    To what extent has your comparative study of Frankenstein and Blade Runner developed your understanding of the personal struggles experienced by individuals?…

    • 834 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’ explores a deeper understanding of disruption through questioning the morality and consequences of creating human life. Written in 1818, Shelley both reflects and foresees the dangers scientific exploration could bring if it advanced too far. This period of scientific advancement (seen through Darwin and Galvini) is mimicked through her…

    • 962 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Mary Shelley’s, ‘Frankenstein’ and Ridley Scott’s, ‘Blade Runner’ both take social fears and reflet them. They show aspects of Film Noir, Gothic literature, Romanticism, The impact of Science and natural philosophy, Crime fiction and Post modern literature. The two texts, although different in overall context, have many themes, ideas and values which closely link them to each other while still portraying differences. The image that I have chosen to portray these similarities and differences is a self composed drawing of a monster who ‘is’ destruction and a little girl reaching for the flower that destruction is holding out too her. This illustration, at first glance, shows death and destruction brought about by humanity, the darkness within humanity and possible reconciliation of peace.…

    • 957 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Analyse how Frankenstein and Blade Runner imaginatively portray individuals who challenge the established values of their time.…

    • 936 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Shelly and Scott reflect, nature and the natural world in the texts they create, Frankenstein and Blade Runner using literary devices and societal context. In Blade Runner, Scott uses the aspects of the 20th century tradition of dystopias and film noir as literary devices. Throughout Shelly's work of Frankenstein, the romantic and sublime themes of the era are examined as literary devices. The appreciation for the natural wonder of the world is evident throughout Frankenstein when Shelly emphasises to the reader, the sweeping landscapes that are stark, barren and majestic, nature therefore is used as a literary device to simulate the readers sense of emotions, an example of this is when Victor walks through the Alps to relieve himself from…

    • 362 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The creators of each abomination to ethics had different reasons for embarking on their projects. In Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein wishes to test what he has learned from alchemists, and their ability to give life through chemistry. He uses various human body parts to construct a being, which he gives life to. When he discovered that it was an ugly mistake he flees.…

    • 2021 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Both Mary Shelly and Riddley Scott share similar concerns as to the capacity of science to corrupt humanity resulting in humanity objectifying, repressing and destroying nature. Within both texts science has progressed to the point where we are able to control and create life (victor animating the monster and Tyrel creating replicants) but valuing only self-glorification, commerce or personal gain rather than nature..Science results in humanity believing that we’re in control of nature, resulting in objectification and repression of the natural world either for profit, commerce or self indulgence. In balderunner Tyrel controls life of the replicant and so equates himslef to god; a “God of science and commerce”. His scientific advancements have caused humanity to lose its gratification of nature. Within Frankenstein the character of Victor has successfully reanimated life into a corpse and so thinks himself to be “hailed as the god of a new species”. Whilst Victor endeavours into rampant science he is “blinded to the beauties if nature”,. The importance of the relationship between science and humanities address of the natural world is stressed within both texts via use of women, the environment and natural sexuality.…

    • 1410 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays