frankenrunner essay
New Essays: Module A
Any text, which highlights universal aspects of human nature to the respondent, will always retain its relevance throughout time because of the unshakeable constancy of human nature, this being our thoughts, emotions and desires, which often drive us to dark actions. The resurfacing of common elements of the human psyche in texts that are separated by time can be seen in the commonalities between Mary Shelley’s hybrid gothic science fiction tale “Frankenstein” which draws attention to man’s pretentious short sightedness in his pursuit of knowledge and the power that such knowledge bestows and Ridley Scott’s cyber punk science fiction film “Blade runner” which explores the dystopic and dehumanising consequences of a world where emotionless empiricism has triumphed over the human race, leaving it empty and devoid of the very things that define humanity. Both texts can be interpreted as cautionary tales warning against the arrogance and cruelty that technology can bring.
In her novel Frankenstein, Shelley explores the driving force behind the heedless scientific advancements that her romanticist leanings warn against, this being the arrogance and hubris of mankind. Shelley’s Aristotelian hero, a Victor Frankenstein’s pretentiousness in his attempt to supplant the role of creator reflects Shelley’s thoughts about the nature of technology and the evils it could be used for. Frankenstein’s arrogance drives him to create the monster, which in turn destroys everything, that matters to Frankenstein, his wife and family. This symbolises the misgivings Shelley held about the hubris and arrogance that are intrinsic to human nature and the dire consequences she predicted if these emotions are allowed to dominate humanity. This is further reinforced by the dichotomy between Frankenstein and Walton, who like Victor, is driven by a sincere belief in the absolute power of empirical knowledge, demonstrated when he calls the arctic a “country of eternal
Any text, which highlights universal aspects of human nature to the respondent, will always retain its relevance throughout time because of the unshakeable constancy of human nature, this being our thoughts, emotions and desires, which often drive us to dark actions. The resurfacing of common elements of the human psyche in texts that are separated by time can be seen in the commonalities between Mary Shelley’s hybrid gothic science fiction tale “Frankenstein” which draws attention to man’s pretentious short sightedness in his pursuit of knowledge and the power that such knowledge bestows and Ridley Scott’s cyber punk science fiction film “Blade runner” which explores the dystopic and dehumanising consequences of a world where emotionless empiricism has triumphed over the human race, leaving it empty and devoid of the very things that define humanity. Both texts can be interpreted as cautionary tales warning against the arrogance and cruelty that technology can bring.
In her novel Frankenstein, Shelley explores the driving force behind the heedless scientific advancements that her romanticist leanings warn against, this being the arrogance and hubris of mankind. Shelley’s Aristotelian hero, a Victor Frankenstein’s pretentiousness in his attempt to supplant the role of creator reflects Shelley’s thoughts about the nature of technology and the evils it could be used for. Frankenstein’s arrogance drives him to create the monster, which in turn destroys everything, that matters to Frankenstein, his wife and family. This symbolises the misgivings Shelley held about the hubris and arrogance that are intrinsic to human nature and the dire consequences she predicted if these emotions are allowed to dominate humanity. This is further reinforced by the dichotomy between Frankenstein and Walton, who like Victor, is driven by a sincere belief in the absolute power of empirical knowledge, demonstrated when he calls the arctic a “country of eternal