Frankenstein and Blade Runner

‘A deeper understanding of disruption and identity emerges from considering the parallels between Frankenstein and Blade Runner.’ Compare how these texts explore disruption and identity. (2009 HSC)
“I wander through each chartered street, near where the chartered Thames does flow, and mark in every face I meet, Marks of weakness, marks of woe.” This is William Blake’s protest about the degradation of mankind as a result of men’s progression. William Blake as a first generation Romantic is significant during Shelley’s time as he develops these ideas on humanity. Nature in the presence of scientific advancement and the changing treatment of the underclass are ideas which exist in Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” and Ridley Scott’s “Blade Runner.” The values of scientific improvement circle around the limits that are exploited by mankind leading to consequences which are detrimental. Whilst, in the context of the Industrial Revolution during the 19th century, the noticeable rise of the merchant class breached barriers of ethical and moral considerations on how the underclass were treated. I, Danny, seek to nourish you as my audience to understand how these values and ideas illuminate their context and essentially impose universal meaning and timelessness.
During Shelley’s time the Industrial Revolution was a colossal movement, which displayed the rise of urbanization. Imagine this: you are walking down an aisle sandwiched between two escalating torn factories with black smoke roaring, clawing towards the murky sky. These were the conditions which led the Romantics to value the powers of nature. In respect to these notions gothic imagery is displayed in nature “the moon gazed my midnight labors” Shelley imposes supernatural elements of nature which emphasize a sense of thrill and excitement which existed during Shelley’s context of scientific capabilities. Furthermore, nature itself has the ability to console the individual. We identify this in “the sky was serene […] saw the lightnings in the most beautiful figures […] the heavens were clouded.” Can you picture it? Shelley elaborates on the majestic realm of nature and it liberates our senses in our imagination to picture this scene as wonderful and fantastical. Essentially, the value explored within Shelley’s “Frankenstein” is represented by Victor playing the role of God, as he is rhetorically questioned by the creature, “How dare you sport thus with life?” to enhance pathos in the suffering endured by creature. As a result, creature becomes a message, warning of the dangers of potential damage that can be caused by manipulation of life and science.
As time progresses, society has been dominated by industry and commerce. The empowering roles of these two forces congregate and choke society from all means of nature explored in “Blade Runner”. Immediately viewers are introduced by an extensive panning shot of the decayed and damaged form of civilization enveloped in industrial imagery. Furthermore, artificial life of animals and humans is dominant within the world Scott establishes. Scott emphasizes the estranged relationship established between humanity and nature. Scott imposes the same messages depicted in Shelley’s “Frankenstein.” As humanity dwells into playing the role of God, consequences follow. Tyrell’s death is provoked upon him in a sequencing of symbolic gestures of creator establishing no ethical consideration for the creation. This demonstrates men’s folly in procreating life whilst manipulating the boundaries of nature resulting in a form far superior than humankind “It’s not an easy thing to meet your maker”. Therefore Shelley focuses on the sublime and rejuvenation of nature whilst Scott reinforces a damaged and ruined state of nature. In essence, as the powers of nature and scientific values are questioned and displayed differently, revealing how the same ideas and values can be changed and modified to illuminate their context to create conflicting perspectives.
The Industrial Revolution not only degraded the powers of nature, it also induced the aristocratic breakdown in response to the rising merchant class. As a result Shelley focuses on the treatment of the underclass in response to social change. In a letter exchange between Elizabeth and Victor, Justine’s “manners are more refined and moral.” However, the creature is detrimentally impacted and suffers as the creature becomes symbolic for the treatment of the underclass, better known as “the other.” This notion is validated in Shelley’s use of narration in creature “I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend.” The metaphor of “misery made me a fiend” and Victor’s mistreatment of the creature is depicted in his hubristic outrage of “Begone, vile insect! Or rather, stay, that I may trample you to dust,” to reinforce the neglect by a lower member of a higher class member. Therefore, the changing treatment of the underclass reflected in the rise of the merchant class has mistreated the underclass by a lack of consideration for their livelihood. The breakdown of ethical and moral consideration is the ideas and values which illuminate Shelley’s context.
The underclass during Scott’s age experienced a sense of neglect grounded by the greedy commercialized society established in “Blade Runner.” The audience is introduced to Tyrell’s company by a low angle shot of a ziggurat structure. This reinforces the dominance he has over the social realm that exists in Scott’s proposed world. Furthermore, the treatment of replicants as representations of the underclass is introduced early within the film in the scroll down of text “This was not called execution. It was retirement.” A sense of euphemism is employed to shade the reality on the inhumane treatment of the underclass. This is reflected during the 1980s as the sacking of employee’s was identified as retrenchment. A symbolic scene between Tyrell and Roy echoes the reunion between Frankenstein and creature. Within the reunion, Tyrell lacks any parental concerns exhibiting only selfish, profit –driven motivations in creating his creature “would you like to be modified? […] What seems to be the problem?” This lack of compassion to repair the longevity imposed on Roy leads to the death of Tyrell. Therefore, can we notice how the underclass is portrayed to be mistreated in both texts?
The texts are divergent in how they represent scientific treatment of nature; one projects a sense of tranquility and sublimity whilst the other enforces dangers and intoxication. However, both texts are consistent in showing the mistreatment of the underclass as a result of the threats imposed in the Industrial Revolution impacted on society. Therefore, as these values and ideas illuminate their context, a complex understanding of mankind is made, thus we claim these ideas to be timeless.