ENL 003 Post #7

The cyberpunk film Blade Runner draws many parallels, both in plot and theme, with the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and the play R.U.R. by Karel Capek. In comparison to Frankenstein, the creature and replicants are very similar in the potential their creators grant them, constructing them with the physical aptitude to outdo any normal human. Although both artificial humans demonstrate their raw power in intimidation and murder throughout the story, Victor’s creation and the replicants are also intellectually gifted, suggested by the text to even outshine their creator. This is shown in Frankenstein by the creature’s astute deciphering of Victor’s location and actions and by the rogue replicant leader Roy as he manages to checkmate the head of the Tyrell Corporation in the elevator. Another similarity is seen in how these scientific failures are dealt with hunting and termination, a vain tactic against the creature that eventually kills Victor and the way of the law that Deckard must follow in “retiring” the rogue replicants.
This film also shares several connections with R.U.R., most notably the human appearance of the androids and their original purpose. As Rossum’s robots and the replicants are nearly indistinguishable physically from human beings, it introduces an unnatural element into both stories as science has progressed to the point whereas flesh and blood can be synthesized. The robots and the replicants also share a purpose of labor, with Domin mass producing Rossum’s work to liberate man toil and the Tyrell Corporation providing a source of menial work for space colonization. However, it is from this exploited disposition that the robots and replicants are able to become self-aware and develop human emotions towards their own situation and each other.
As one of the most memorable scenes in the film, Roy’s decision to spare Deckard during their final showdown provides much insight into many of the replicant’s motivations. Informing Deckard of the overwhelming fears replicants feel due to their ignoble origin and predetermined life span, Roy effectively shows the humanity that he has achieved in just a few years despite it being denied to him as he was treated as a slave to toil on foreign planets. Although Roy acknowledges that he has made a difference in sparing Deckard’s life, a sign that he held compassion towards all life, he laments his own impending expiration since all of the unique evolution he has realized in his short life will go unnoticed by the world that only views him as a rogue replicant that can easily be replaced.