Frankenstein and Bladerunner Comparative Study

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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. Women are often seen from Romanticist perspective as givers of life, all that is natural and to be valued. Women are part of nature therefore are objects of which the society of blade runner and the Character Victor within Frankenstein repress and objectify. Few women are present within the film bladerunner all of which are used and abused by the dystopian society. Rachael is treated as “nothing more than experiment”, a product to be used, for “commerce is our gaol here at Tyrell”. She is objectified by Deckard in the ‘Date Rape’ scene as nothing more than an object for him to use to quench his perverted lusts. The other female within the film is Priss introduced at the beginning of the film as a “basic pleasure model” created for the sole purpose of being an object for man and humanity to use. Towards the end of the film, Deckard coldy ‘retires’ her, unable see value in women and nature which reflects the society of the film. Roy, who has lived in the off world colonies separate from the earth society and so still is able to value nature, forms an intense compassionate relationship with Priss and so as he enters the scene to find her dead he profoundly morns her loss, the loss of nature posed to the audience by sad stirring music and high angle shots of Roy kissing her body and weeping. These women in Bladerunner are parallels of the treatment of women in Frankenstein. Victor is given Elizabeth as if she is a prize that he posses. “A pretty present for my Victor” demonstrates that the value Victor sees in women is as objects and only in their physical beauty rather than appreciation of women as natural givers of life and equal beings, “I looked on Elizabeth as mine- mine to protect “The view that women need guardian angels to protect them communicates a belittlement of women and repression, that they are at the mercy of man and need man to save them demonstrating the, that humanity that is blinded by egotistic scientific endeavours loses the ability to connect with nature and so see value in femininity.

Sciences effect on humanities address of nature can also be seen within both texts by the address of the environment. The environment as a natural element is one of the most obviously effected by humanity if under the negative influence science. Bladerunner addresses the concept that if science progresses too far without valuing our environment we will ultimately kill nature. This is shown by the establishing shots of the city of Los Angles that is full of fire and pollution and steal and industrialisation. The progress of science by humanity concerned with nature has polluted the earth to the point where nature can no longer survive. Roy’s death scene demonstrates the tragedy of the loss of the environment as he still feels compassion for the natural world. He urges to Deckard to consider the beauty of natural environment with his inspiring account of the unsullied off world colonies “I have seen sea beams sparkle in the darkness” and he weeps for the loss of nature “like tears in the rain” (real rain rather than acid rain) His soliloquy is both used to juxtapose the disconcern of nature in the society of bladerunner as well as directly address the audience warning them we will lose our environment and it will be tragic “like tears in the rain” if we don’t heed the warning and remember to value nature. This address of nature is parallel to that within Frankenstein as he endeavours into his scientific and gives in to sciences evil influence. Images of the beautiful of nature cease as if he (as humanity) is unable to admire and appreciate the beauty of nature due to his relationship with science. When Victor again pursues unethical science on the woman monster he’s is located on the island in the Orkneys of which he describes as “barren, inhabited by miserable beings, scarcely affording pasture”. This island may in its own way be one of sheer beauty, yet if so Victor is unable to see it. Both Frankenstein and Bladerunner communicate to the audience that sciences has a detrimental and often catastrophic effect on humanities concerns for the environment.

Natural sexuality is also unable to be valued or understood by those that endeavour into ego-driven science. Both texts warn of the effect that science can have on the very nature of humanity expressed through perversion of natural sexuality, absence or not understanding compassion. Within Bladerunner this is demonstrated by the scene where Zhorras act in introduced. Deckard watches her act “as she takes the pleasures from the serpent” and looks away, repulsed by such confronting sexuality. Sceince causing perversion of nature sexuality is also shown by the humans of bladrunner only participating in uncouth unnatural sexuality eg the date rape scene of Deckard’s unnatural sexual relationship with Rachael. Roy and Priss are replicants not affected by the unconscionable science on their humanity express an emotional, natural. After Priss death, Roy is revolted by humanities inability to value natural sexuality and so directly confront Deckard with the “you better get it up or I’m gonna have to kill you”.
This is also apparent within Frankenstein as Victor, a representation of humanity influenced by science responds to all natural sexuality with either distain or absence (only present in prevented unnatural forms of sexuality). Victor is from the 18th century where marriage is ones first only chance to consummate and therefore much anticipation, excitement and passion should be stirred in Victor when it is proposed he marry the beautiful Elizabetha. Instead victor sees their marriage as a “union” with which he may allow him to acquire “peace of mind”. His address of their marriage is formal, detached and compete lacking passion as if he hasn’t even realised the implications of their marriage as to then be ‘consummated’ of which should be the first thing on his mind. Through Frankenstein the effect of science on humanity is shown through the distortion and removal of natural sexuality and all that natural and beautiful.

The scene following Priss’s death is one that challenges Deckard to reanalyse what he has done and how distorted the values of his society have become and in doing so challenges him to rise above such a society, feel compassion for nature and recognise the importance of the natural world. Roy pulls Deckard off the cliff and gives him a second chance to live, to start over. In Roy proposing this consideration to Deckard, Riddly Scott is actually directly proposing these same themes to the audience. The Text Bladerunner is a fabolic warning of the dystopian near future we will create if we don’t value the relationship between science and humanity therefore in this scene Riddely Scott is directly asking his audience, are you going to let this be your future? In leaving this scene as a cliff hanger, unsure as to what happens after the movie Riddely scott is proposing to an audience that what happens next is up to us. We can wither chose to head his warning and avoid this dystopian near future or ignore his warning and suffer the same consequences.