Frankenstein and Blade Runner Essay
“Although times change, human concerns about aspects of the world remain the same.” How do your prescribed texts considered together support or challenge this idea?
Through the use of numerous techniques, the prescribed texts demonstrate that although times change, human concerns about aspects of the world remain the same, or very similar. This is apparent in a comparison of Mary Shelly’s novel, Frankenstein, and Ridley Scott’s film, Blade Runner. Techniques like imagery, atmosphere, camera angles and contrast, portray contextual concerns so that despite the texts being composed 164 years apart, we note parallels demonstrating that aspects of the world can remain very similar over time. In particular, the attitudes concerning the need for scientific responsibility, artificial procreation of humans and the human desire for status and wealth are trans-contextual concerns.
Through the characterization of Walton, the narrator, and Victor, Shelley’s Frankenstein depicts the passions fuelled by desire for renown, that drive people to discover, reflecting contextual concerns over scientific irresponsibility. In 1818, there was excitement about both geographical and scientific discovery, with Walton symbolising the former and Frankenstein the latter. Walton’s “great purpose” of discovering a northern passage to facilitate trade parallels Victor’s desire to, “banish disease…and render man invulnerable”. Ironically, despite their voiced altruism, neither are responsible. Imagery depicts Walton endangering his entire crew with his ship trapped in, “irregular plains of ice…no end”. Fortunately, Frankenstein’s story alerts Walton to his irresponsibility and he returns his men to safety. A Revenge Tragedy convention, the deaths of innocents, highlights the destructive capacity of scientific irresponsibility. Frankenstein’s failure to uphold his patriarchal responsibilities expected of a man of his era causes irreparable mistakes bringing William, Elizabeth,
Through the use of numerous techniques, the prescribed texts demonstrate that although times change, human concerns about aspects of the world remain the same, or very similar. This is apparent in a comparison of Mary Shelly’s novel, Frankenstein, and Ridley Scott’s film, Blade Runner. Techniques like imagery, atmosphere, camera angles and contrast, portray contextual concerns so that despite the texts being composed 164 years apart, we note parallels demonstrating that aspects of the world can remain very similar over time. In particular, the attitudes concerning the need for scientific responsibility, artificial procreation of humans and the human desire for status and wealth are trans-contextual concerns.
Through the characterization of Walton, the narrator, and Victor, Shelley’s Frankenstein depicts the passions fuelled by desire for renown, that drive people to discover, reflecting contextual concerns over scientific irresponsibility. In 1818, there was excitement about both geographical and scientific discovery, with Walton symbolising the former and Frankenstein the latter. Walton’s “great purpose” of discovering a northern passage to facilitate trade parallels Victor’s desire to, “banish disease…and render man invulnerable”. Ironically, despite their voiced altruism, neither are responsible. Imagery depicts Walton endangering his entire crew with his ship trapped in, “irregular plains of ice…no end”. Fortunately, Frankenstein’s story alerts Walton to his irresponsibility and he returns his men to safety. A Revenge Tragedy convention, the deaths of innocents, highlights the destructive capacity of scientific irresponsibility. Frankenstein’s failure to uphold his patriarchal responsibilities expected of a man of his era causes irreparable mistakes bringing William, Elizabeth,