What Are The Similarities Between Frankenstein And Blade Runner

Despite being separated for over a century, Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818) and Scott’s Blade Runner (1982) are linked by the examination into the essence of humanity. Shelley’s Romantic Gothic novel explores the dehumanisation and isolation resulting from the Industrial Revolution and the Age of Enlightenment while Scott’s futuristic film, through film-noir style, warns of a post-modernist dystopia potentially resultant from the excessive pursuit of profit, in a world obsessed with technological advancement. Both texts despite their varying contexts elicit how elemental human qualities are lost in the excessive pursuit of science and technology in the name of progress.

Shelley critiques the arrogant and overzealous pursuit of scientific development

Replicants are employed as slaves, referencing the questionable morality of IVF and cloning in the 1980s. Tyrell’s comparison of Roy to an object in “you’re quite a prize” reveals his lack of emotional insight and instead, accentuates his compulsive desire for wealth through a pursuit of science and technology. This is comparable to how political leaders like Reagan and Thatcher sought economic integration and overlooked areas humanity required such as education and social welfare. Like Frankenstein’s creature, Roy expresses genuine emotion, for Pris, which the humans ironically lack. This is depicted through close-up shots of Roy’s grief when he is mourning over Pris’s death, ironically making him more human than his creator. Moreover, characters living in solace like Deckard, the protagonist, become a recurring motif portraying the isolation of people in a society separated by this economic desire for wealth. Despite this portrayal, Deckard’s desire for connection is depicted through non-diegetic Vangelis soundtrack. The synthetic instrumental music contrasted to the gentle piano lullaby when Deckard is with Rachael, conflicts directly with the distressing theme recurring throughout the film. Therefore, Scott promotes alertness to the depleted moral responsibility and compassion resulting in a loss of connection in a society devoted to the pursuit of