Gattaca essay
Section 1: Question 1 – The society of Gattaca works to repress rather than to enhance the potential of human beings. Discuss.
In a society where genetic superiority and engineering to create the ‘perfect’ person is a priority over all else, it would be a normal assumption that society would be a better place and people would be much happier, but in Gattaca it is quite the opposite. From the beginning of the film we see haunting images of the uniformity and soulless behaviour of the Gattaca employees. All people regardless of race, gender, class or age should have an equal opportunity to strive to their full potential if desired, but the society of Gattaca represses the potential of many capable people simply because they are conceived the natural way.
From the moment Vincent was born he was faced with a list of negative problems he would have to overcome in the future: “ADHD, manic depression, heart failure, and an early fatal potential of 30.2 years”. Those unfortunate enough to be born as an INVALID citizen were automatically assumed to be worthless and were never given the opportunity or choice to reach their true potential or even think that they had the capability to do so. For Vincent, life became more and more difficult as he got older; he was refused the right to enter kindergarten, and every job he tried to get he was immediately rebuffed after a DNA test was taken. Vincent had his heart set on travelling through space and becoming an astronaut but was laughed at and consistently put down by even his own father who said “Son, the only time you’re going to see the inside of a spaceship is if you’re cleaning it . Anton was always favoured over Vincent as he was ‘superior’ to him in many ways; he was stronger, taller, a better athlete this is a good example of how much of a minor thing such as someone’s DNA can have such a huge impact on society.
Good genes define perfection in the society of Gattaca, all individuality and personality becomes
In a society where genetic superiority and engineering to create the ‘perfect’ person is a priority over all else, it would be a normal assumption that society would be a better place and people would be much happier, but in Gattaca it is quite the opposite. From the beginning of the film we see haunting images of the uniformity and soulless behaviour of the Gattaca employees. All people regardless of race, gender, class or age should have an equal opportunity to strive to their full potential if desired, but the society of Gattaca represses the potential of many capable people simply because they are conceived the natural way.
From the moment Vincent was born he was faced with a list of negative problems he would have to overcome in the future: “ADHD, manic depression, heart failure, and an early fatal potential of 30.2 years”. Those unfortunate enough to be born as an INVALID citizen were automatically assumed to be worthless and were never given the opportunity or choice to reach their true potential or even think that they had the capability to do so. For Vincent, life became more and more difficult as he got older; he was refused the right to enter kindergarten, and every job he tried to get he was immediately rebuffed after a DNA test was taken. Vincent had his heart set on travelling through space and becoming an astronaut but was laughed at and consistently put down by even his own father who said “Son, the only time you’re going to see the inside of a spaceship is if you’re cleaning it . Anton was always favoured over Vincent as he was ‘superior’ to him in many ways; he was stronger, taller, a better athlete this is a good example of how much of a minor thing such as someone’s DNA can have such a huge impact on society.
Good genes define perfection in the society of Gattaca, all individuality and personality becomes