Gattaca Social Hierarchy

1023 Words3 Pages

In his summary of Gattaca, Shaw comes away from the movie with the message that the force of one’s aspirations and willpower will emerge triumphant over any obstacle. He begins by saying that Gattaca is “obsessed with class differences”, the reason being that humanity is segregated into two distinct classes: the genetically superior valids and the lesser invalids. Shaw highlights this class difference in the various scenes in which invalids are looking up and conversely where valids are looking down; a literal and metaphorical act exemplifying the class difference between the genetically modified and the god-children. However, he claims that when Vincent gazes through a barred window at a rocket taking off, it is a look of “defiance”; a challenge …show more content…

Shaw takes note of when Vincent returns to tell Eugene that he was successful in getting the job and extrapolates this scene to show how unstable the social hierarchy is with respect to Eugene. One minute you can be on top of the ladder, but the next instant you can be at the bottom symbolized by Vincent being at the top of the double-helix like staircase and Eugene being at the bottom. Shaw continues to say that the only way to escape the confines of this unstable social hierarchy is to literally leave earth and that Vincent will never be able to escape by adhering to the physical and genetic rules of earth; which leads to Shaw’s main point: transcendence. Ultimately, he suggests that, as shown through Vincent, the immaterial willpower and aspirations can ultimately transcend the material genetic limitations and social barriers. I agree with Shaw’s overall claim that physical and social constraints can be transcended by one’s aspirations and willpower, however I would suggest these are merely the minimum …show more content…

On the surface it would appear to mean that Vincent would need to break his social and physical constraints in order to get into space, but on a more literal term this could mean that Vincent’s safe arrival to the Saturn moon of Titan is not assured. Shaw states that Titan, the utopian realm, is a place where “material details are replaced by immaterial dreams and aspirations”. All variables considered, Vincent’s journey to Titan is going to be accomplished through metaphysical means; and what is more of an embodiment of the metaphysical than luck? People can develop aspirations, people can develop will-power what can’t be developed and still remains a mystery is

More about Gattaca Social Hierarchy

Open Document