From the bits and pieces that I have view of Blade Runner thus far in class it has been apparent from the beginning that themes spawned from Frankenstein are highly prevalent in the film. Both deal with creation of unnatural life that are “human” but yet still different as they are more or less copies of humans. Of course with similar happenings some of the same conflicts arise, even in the drastically unparallel settings of 16th century Europe and Futuristic Los Angeles. With the similarities of the plot and themes yet the differences of the settings and characters we can compare morals and ideas set forth by both.
For instance in the one scene of Blade Runner where Roy, a rebel replicate, finally meets his creator Tyrell he expresses a plea much like that of the Creature in Frankenstein. Both Roy’s and Frankenstein’s Monster’s self is that of manmade formation, and both have an unfair burden posed upon them in an artificial life that they believe should be as fair to them as it is to any ordinary human. In the creature’s case it’s the need for friendship and affection of an equal partner that he desires to become more human and live onward, which is eventually accepted and then denied by Victor, his respected creator. And in Blade Runner, Roy simply wants the ability to live longer that the set four years that his genetic make-up allows. Needless to say Roy is also denied as the change is deemed impossible by Tyrell. Both Roy and the Monster’s reaction is the same despite the differentiating circumstances: the destruction of their creators. Interesting as this supports that the creation has out-smarted the creator and due to the unfairness imposed upon them the creation conquered his master. But what of the human master, can humans not perform the same tasks and rebel towards God, the supposed creator of Man? Not just the Creator but also an oppressor, due to the punishments handed down to Adam and Eve. Why not conquer the Holy Lord? In the end we have an endless circle of questions that all focus on the essence of life, reilgion, and what it means to be “human”.
