General thought: Frankenstein and BR show future dehumanising

effects related to scientific pursuit in defiance of nature and

playing God.
How does a comparative study of Frankenstein and Blade Runner make the issues
raised in Frankenstein relevant to a modern audience?

‘Frankenstein’ (written by Mary Shelley, 1818) and ‘Blade Runner’ (directed by Ridley Scott, 1982) are a
must have for any Science fiction lover. Frankenstein as old fashioned as it may seem, is still relevant to
a modern day audience. Frankenstein is considered to be one of the very first examples of the science
fiction genre; the scientific mind, Victor Frankenstein, ‘plays God’, artificially creating human life. The
mystery surrounding the creation and consequences of such actions is explored within science fiction to
this day, in a world which is the result of extraordinary scientific and technological advances. The
themes of ‘Frankenstein’ are expressed both similarly and differently in ‘Blade Runner’. ‘Frankenstein’s’
comparison with blade runner emphasises the environment feared in Frankenstein becoming a reality in
the present and not too distant future.

Frankenstein was written at the height of the Romantic era, so tension between the Romantic value
placed on wild ‘Nature’ and the previous Enlightenment era, in which man hoped to conquer nature
with science and reason, is expressed within the novel. Both science and have power in the novel. The
addictive strive for scientific pursuit shows the power of science “In a scientific pursuit, there is
continued food for discovery and wonder” - VF, the powerful positive awe inspiring language describing
nature shows power in ‘Frankenstein’s’ environment as both beautiful and terrifying “While I watched
the tempest, so beautiful yet terrific” - VF.

What makes ‘Frankenstein’ relevant to this day is that Frankenstein’s creation of the creature going
against the power of God and nature, the question ‘should we create artificial life?’ is still debatable to
this day. What makes’ Frankenstein’ relevant is the fact that science holds power over nature places
emphasis on the dangers of continued scientific development and its dehumanising effects on society. It
serves as a cautionary tale for what may happen if we also are to attempt to defy nature and create
beings such as replicants (Blade Runner) or the creature (Frankenstein).

In Frankenstein, the creature becomes the symbol of the dangers of striving for advancement and
utilisation of science, upon being treated with hate at many stages in the novel, this is the current
direction humanity is heading in making this relevant to the present. Hate from his creator causes the
creature to retaliate by murdering those Frankenstein cares for personally “How can I describe my
emotions at this catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had
endeavoured to form?”-VF. Disrespectful treatment and hatred cause the creature to rebel from society
“For the first time the feelings of revenge and hatred filled my bosom, and I did not strive to control
them, but allowing myself to be borne away by the stream, I bent my mind towards injury and death”-
Creature. ‘Blade Runner’ mirrors this situation with the confrontation between the creature aka the
replicant (artificial human) Roy Batty and his creator Dr. Tyrell of the Tyrell corporation, tracking down
and murdering his creator. ‘Blade Runner’ however provides a possible new outlook on the problem, If
the creations were to live among us peacefully, would they be of benefit?, this idea is overshadowed by
the general emotion of, fear felt towards the threat of the creation taking over humanity, present
heavily in Frankenstein.
In ‘Blade Runner’, the contrast to Victor Frankenstein’s character, Tyrell praises his ‘perfect’ replicant
creations, however they are not treated as human and have no human values shown toward them. By
updating this view on the issue of the treatment of the creature, ‘Frankenstein’s’ relevance to modern
society and audience is revitalised. Tyrell’s harsh language and tone emphasises that they are
“...nothing more than experiments, merely machines...”-Tyrell. The treatment of the replicants mirrors
the treatment of the creature in ‘Frankenstein’, in a modern context that can be almost related to by the
modern audience, as this future could in fact be a distant possibility. Mary Shelley uses irony to question
the true identity of the monster, Frankenstein is suggested to have no more human significance than the
creature “I beheld the wretch- the miserable monster whom I created.”-VF By rejecting human values,
they are dehumanising themselves and in-turn society.

The mis-en-scene of the constant rainy and dark world of Los Angeles in ‘Blade Runner’ emphasises the
dystopian environment contrast and heightens relevance. The viewer becomes dissatisfied with the
world presented and begins to blame the disregard for nature and primary focus on science eg. The first
frames of the Los Angeles environment present an apocalyptic display of dense urbanisation, gas
pollution and large flames emerging from numerous chimneys. These images symbolise the appearance
of hell, a result of defying nature in creating the replicants and artificial biota. The film noir style of the
film represents a dark dystopia full of mystery and dehumanising destruction. The modern day
apocalyptic setting ‘Blade Runner’ presents emphasises ‘Frankenstein’s Issue of ‘defying nature’ and
makes it relevant to modern day audiences as this dystopia may indeed be a possibility for the future of
Earth. This is a direct contrast of the beauty in the natural environment, Shelley describes in
‘Frankenstein “mighty alps, whose white and shining pyramids and domes towered above all”.-VF The
Epistolary gothic style of ‘Frankenstein’ as opposed to the film noir style of ‘Blade Runner’ shows human
values associated with family (writing letters to a sister) and caring for human life, the dehumanised end
results emphasised in ‘Blade runner’ continue to make the issue of dehumanisation due to playing God
and neglect of creation (whilst defying nature) relevant and relatable to modern audiences.

Shelley and Scott both explore the effects of devaluing nature and thus devaluing humanity, the
treatment and destructive result faced in ‘Frankenstein’ is emulated in ‘Blade Runner’ to revitalise and
modernise this train of thought Tyrell is blinded just as Victor was in his pursuit to defy nature. The eye
symbolism at the beginning of the film and Tyrell’s thick glasses show his own inability to see past his
obsession with ‘playing God’, in turn he loses sight of him humanity. His values lie in a God-complex,
science and profit rather than nature and compassion. His creations become “more human than
human”-Tyrell devaluing nature and humanity, humanity in itself is being diminished. The comparative
study of the two texts highlights these issues present In Frankenstein as real possible destructive forces
in the future, making it relevant to a modern audience. Are we dehumanising ourselves by playing God?
And just because we have the means does it justify the end?