Similarities Between Blade Runner And Frankenstein

The Blade Runner by Ridley Scott and Frankenstein by Mary Shelley both shares similar characteristic of that of most non-fiction literature in the way in which writers represent “monsters” and robots. The conflict in this type of genre is usually “us versus them” and to a broader extent science and humanity.

The replicants in the film Bladerunner and the “monster” in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein clearly depicts how these creatures can be antagonistic towards human and yet similar in some ways. In each of these examples the creatures possess human-like characteristics (some, like the replicants in Bladerunner appear almost exactly human) yet are still “monsters” and not quite human. Thus each of the human societies shuns and despises these creatures for what they are. It is ironic though that the protagonists in both pieces of works are portrayed with “monster” like characteristic, a role reversal between the monster and the hero of the work.

The role reversal of monster and hero(us vs them) is never more apparent than in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.

In today's culture Frankenstein is mistakenly associated with the “monster” of the novel. This case of mistaken identity accurately describes Victor Frankenstein for what he is: Frankenstein is in many ways more monstrous than the actual monster.

Frankenstein’s initial reaction to his creation was ghastly, he was “Unable to endure the aspect of the being” he created and “rushed out of the room,” he tries to avoid returning to his now-haunted apartment. After returning home he was relieved to find no sign of the creature. Frankenstein also denies the similarities that are so apparent between Frankenstein and the monster when he says to the creature, "Begone! I will not hear you. There can be no community between you and me." Frankenstein seems to be in denial of the relationship between himself and his creation and condemns the

monster.

In Ridley Scott's Bladerunner the “monsters” can be interpreted as the replicants. However, they share such similar characteristics of that of human that the company decided to use the slogan, "More human than human.” Similar to the creature in Frankenstein, four main replicants try to contact their creator in order to receive help, unfortunately society in which the replicants live bans any replicant to exist. Once again, the role reversal comes into play: the Bladerunner, Deckard, who seem monstrous when he ruthlessly execute the female replicant dancer. Ironically, it is the replicant, Roy, that teaches empathy to Deckard when he saves and spares Deckard's life and says moments before his own death, "Quite an experience to live in fear isn't it. That is what it is to be a slave.”

Both pieces of work poses a serious moral message about the dangers of trying to play God, and about the potentially destructive results that can occur when a creation becomes more powerful than its creator. The Blade runner scene depicts an industrialized society where Technology is supreme. The climate appears to be dark, musty and constantly raining acid. The city is full of human misery. Frankenstein is more of a cautionary tale, warning about the threat to a diminished humanity posed by Science. ‘That moment that his face I see / I know the man that must hear me: / To him my tale I teach,' Frankenstein warns Watson about the dangers of trying to rise above the natural order by creating the creature without thought to his responsibilities or the outcomes of his experiment. In both pieces of works humans lose control over their man made creations and seek to destroy these artificial human beings. When facing that threat, the creatures would react violently and oppose their destruction.

A major difference between Frankenstein and The blade runner is that in Frankenstein humans are considered 'human' through their appearance, thats why the creature was rejected because he looked different. But in Bladerunner the replicants are almost the perfect human form, yet they are rejected by society because of lack of emotions (Voight Kumpf test). Another differences is the motives between the two creators, such as Victor is driven to make the creature for recognition and to defeat/overcome nature and to be 'blessed as its creator and source' whereas Tyrell's motive is only commercialism.