Symbolism In Gattaca

Analyse how the beginning and end show a character’s change in the visual or oral text(s).

Gattaca is a dystopian film directed by Andrew Niccol. It is set in the 'not-too-distant future' where discrimination is based on your genetic makeup and has become the defining factor of your societal class. One character that changed throughout the film is Jerome Morrow. The beginning portrayed him as a cold and depressed valid that had been in an unfortunate accident, costing him his legs. As the film progressed, due to Vincent, Jerome became more compassionate and caring, although still depressed over his failure to live up to his genetic potential. Niccol used camera angles, dialogue, and symbolism to effectively show Jerome’s change of character.
They believed that your genes determined everything about you and because Jerome’s were so perfect, they convinced Jerome that he was meant for nothing but first place. Vincent mentioned this unfair pressure in a voiceover when he was saying how he’d suffered discrimination because of his invalid genes but “Eugene never suffered from the routine discrimination of a 'utero', or a 'faith birth' or an 'in-valid', he suffered under a different burden, the burden of perfection.” Jerome struggled to live up to the expectations set for him when he was conceived, of being the 'best of the best' as predicted by his genes. This is symbolized by the medal he received for second place. In one scene he shows it to Vincent who is impressed. Jerome, however, is clearly upset at the fact that he was not good enough for first even with his enhanced and superior genes, claiming that “Jerome Morrow was never meant to be one step down on the podium.” This showed how this failure meant everything to him because he was expected to be perfect. The receiving of the medal led to Jerome’s downward spiral which was represented by him living at the bottom of the double helix staircase as he was now at the bottom of the genetic ladder. Niccol used Jerome to show the danger of these immense pressures placed upon people and how the manipulation of genetics to ‘improve’ a person may not always work in the long term.
Niccol used dialogue, camera angles, and symbolism to effectively show the transition from uncaring to devoted friend and supporter. Vincent had shared his dream and made good use of Jerome’s body when he couldn’t. Through the character of Jerome, the negative impact of genetic enhancement was conveyed, showing the dangers of the pressures that society places on seemingly perfect people. In reality no one is perfect and people shouldn’t be pressured to live up to a certain expectation just because their genes say that they