Similarities Between Frankenstein And Bladerunner

The novel ‘Frankenstein’, written by Mary Shelley (1818), and Ridley Scott’s film ‘Bladerunner’ (1982), are both texts that address and thoroughly explore the issue of the role of science and technology in society and how it impacts the human race. Although they were composed in different eras, both texts were composed under the influence of industrial, scientific and technological revolution. Both ‘Frankenstein’ and ‘Bladerunner’ address the issue of how science and technological advancements, such as Galvanism, have given humans the ability to create artificial life and act as ‘God’. As life is created, the question of ‘what actually is human’ arises, and as the relationships between creator and creation are seen, audiences are made to reflect
upon who demonstrates ‘real’ human qualities; the human creators or the scientific creations. Through a comparative study of ‘Frankenstein’ and ‘Bladerunner’, it is can become clear how Shelley and Scott were ultimately warning society of the dire consequences that can come of unrestrained scientific and technological knowledge and progress, and the ways those consequences can impact humanity.
The context of when the texts were composed heavily influences the main themes and ideas of ‘Frankenstein’ and ‘Bladerunner’, as well as how Shelley and Scott portray the scientific and technological issues of the time.
The 19th century was a period known as the Enlightenment Era, which encouraged rational thought and science was pursued in search for the unknown. In reaction to the clinical nature of enlightenment, the Romantic Movement was born encouraging society, particularly authors, to use their imaginations and exploring the endless possibilities of nature. Shelley composed ‘Frankenstein’ in response to both of these eras and is reflected by the way the protagonist, Victor Frankenstein, combines his obsession with natural philosophy and his desire to achieve more than any other scientist, and use science to break the barriers of nature and create life. His desire is evident when he quotes “one thought, one conception, one purpose” and “Life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should first break through, pour a torrent of light into our dark world.” Other issues at the time of composure were the Industrial Revolution, where technology boomed leading to humans being replaced by machines, and the rise of Galvanism, where through electricity, life could be given to inanimate objects. Galvanism directly link to ‘Frankenstein’, as it is believed that is how he was brought to life. “I collected the instruments of life around me, that I might infuse a spark of
being into the lifeless thing that lay at my feet.”
Although written in a completely different time period, ‘Bladerunner’ was also written in a time of great technological change. The computer industry was on the rise, with computer giants IBM and Microsoft booming, and computers were not only being used for business and science, but were found in most homes. Society was becoming capitalist, which led to mass consumerism and the upper classes living in excess, contributing to a growing class-divide. Advancements in the science field were rapidly increasing which reflects the setting of ‘Bladerunner’. In the opening scene, the audience is introduced to a futuristic Los Angeles in 2019; a dark, decaying city lit up by advertisement boards and large beams of unnatural light, with over-crowded, rubbish filled streets. It is devoid of natural beauty, instead filled with decaying infrastructure. This synthetic environment reflects how society has used technology to transform their environment, sacrificing their health and giving the majority of the human population worse living conditions. The class-divide becomes very apparent in ‘Bladerunner’ when the polluted, dirty streets of Los Angeles are contrasted with living conditions of Eldon Tyrell, the head of Tyrell Corporations and designer of the replicants. Later on in the film, JF Sebastian tells Pris “No housing shortage around here”, in answer to her questioning him about him living solitary in such a large building. This comment reinforces the ways of society at the time living in excess.
‘Bladerunner’ and ‘Frankenstein’ both raise the issue in whether it is moral and acceptable for humans to ‘play God’ and create life. In ‘Frankenstein’, Shelley used intertextuality to create a deeper meaning of this issue, repeatedly referring to the Greek ‘Promethean Myth’ (which is the novel’s subtitle) and ‘Paradise Lost’, which is the retold story of creation form the first book of the Bible. In the novel, Frankenstein’s creation questions Victor, “Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay to mould me man..?”, a direct reference to the Promethean Myth, in which Prometheus, the creator of humans, is punished for his actions. This parallels Victor’s situation as he is punished mentally and physically by the monster, which ultimately leads to his death; “Despair had indeed almost secured her prey”. Victor Frankenstein can also be paralleled to Adam in the biblical story of creation. In the Garden of Eden, even when he was forbidden, Adam took fruit from the Tree of Life in order to gain more knowledge, which relates to how Victor didn’t stop at anything to gain more knowledge, which had fatal consequences. With prior knowledge of ‘Paradise Lost’ and the Promethean Myth, audiences can see the links between the two and ‘Frankenstein’ and draw the conclusion that Victor will pay for his careless actions.
Abandonment is a common theme shared by both texts, and ends up being the source destruction in both ‘Bladerunner’ and ‘Frankenstein’.
The abandonment and of rejection of the creature forces him to lose faith in the human race and swear revenge on Victor. “Accursed creator! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turn from me in disgust?” and “You were my father… to whom could I apply with more fitness then to him who had given me life… unfeeling, heartless creator!” In Bladerunner, Tyrell was naïve in only giving the Nexus 6 replicants a four year life span, which led the rogue replicants, Roy, Leon, Pris and Zhora back to Earth to request modification. Upon meeting with Roy, Tyrell refers to him as “the prodigal son”. Opposed to Frankenstein, Tyrell was proud of his creation, Roy, as he was the supreme model of all
replicants.
Lastly, the downfall of both the creators in ‘Frankenstein’ and ‘Bladerunner’ was caused by their failure to realise the potential of the science and technology they were desperate to pursue and breaks bounds in. Victor’s monster and Tyrell’s replicants were advanced species to humans and had supernatural strength. Tyrell and Frankenstein also believed their creations to be objective beings, but throughout their experiences, became knowledgeable and learned emotions; “Increase of knowledge only discovered to be more clearly what a wretched outcast I was”. With an increase in knowledge, the creations were able to form their own opinions and emotions and they could determine for themselves when they weren’t being treated right. The creature and the replicants obtained the ability to hurt, and combined with their supernatural strength and abilities, became a threat to the human race. Due to carelessness in attempt to make something “more human than human” and discover advancements in the science and technology field, Tyrell and Frankenstein put the existence of humanity at risk.
By conducting a comparative study on both ‘Frankenstein’ and ‘Bladerunner’, the link between the role of science and technology to the context, characters and theme becomes evident, allowing comparisons and parallels to be drawn between the two texts. Through ‘Frankenstein’ and ‘Bladerunner’, Shelley and Scott warned society at the time to be careful when playing with science and technology, as humans can easily under mime its possibilities, some of which can be deadly.