Being a romantic writer Shelley was disillusioned with the manner in which technology developments had lead to a loss in man’s contact with the natural world. Due to the romantics seeing nature as a potential source of enlightenment they were weary that science and technology had/will cause a dislocation within what they considered the natural order. Hence one of Shelley’s key themes is he potential disaster and dystopia that could results from unbalance scientific developments. Through the characterization of Victor and the Victor’s narrative (a result of the Chinese box structure which enables several narratives within narratives) it positions us to see the romantic view on science. Shelley warns her audience of the perils of unrestrained developments. “Learn from me…how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge… he who aspires will be greater than his nature will allow.” Similarly Scott warns us of the possible effects of unrestrained science in “Blade Runner”. Through his setting, the low lit, dystopic Los angles of 2019 he presents us with a much bleaker outlook of the future of the natural world. He offers no hope positioning us to believe that environmental decay is inevitable and irreversible.
In relation to the theme of responsibilities of creator/god it is clear that through both texts they represent a different stance mainly due to different religious contexts. In Frankenstein the idea that Victor has created life would have been shunned upon by religion as there is only one God, who creates all. By creating life Victor has gone against the great chain of being, disrupting the established natural order and ultimately in the after creating the monster he realizes this. “How dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge…he who aspires to become greater than his nature will disallow?” In contrast Blade runner presents a much more hopeful outlook as the creation of the replicants is virtually perfect. “You're quite a prize… extraordinary things; revel in your time.” Furthermore Scott suggests that we can create life that is better than humanity. (Shelley because of the Christian paradigm would not go there.) – But Scott agrees that we cannot bear the moral or ethical responsibilities of being creator.
In regards to social fragmentation/alienation it is apparent that both texts explore the idea of alienation as it is a function o the human condition. In regards to Frankenstein it is apparent that the text represents an individual’s othering from society, as the monster is clearly not accepted by others. “I am alone and miserable; man will not associate with me.” In relation to Blade runner one can clearly see that the sense of social fragmentation/alienation is apparent but at a more cultural level. Many migrants are stranded on earth separated from the more wealthy who have left earth. Also the manner in which replicants are addressed “it” shows the othering, by humans, in regards to replicants. “She's beginning to suspect, I think. Suspect? How can it not know what it is?”
His particular image forms a symbol which is known as the all-seeing eye.
The all-seeing eye is a freemasonic symbol. The eye represents the Great Architect of the Universe (which is the freemasonic concept of god) and derives from an Egyptian symbol called the eye of Horus which represent the eye of the Egyptian god Osiris. The pyramid indicates the relationship of freemasonry with the Egyptian mysteries
eye symbolism in the film is that eyes are used to determine if a person is a replicant or not: replicant eyes and human eyes are different. Firstly, they do have a physical difference: replicants have slightly glowing eyes. This differentiation, however, is only visible to the audience, as the characters of the films do not seem to be able to distinguish between replicant and human eyes by vision (McCoy, 1995). More importantly, an eye is the means that enables differentiation using the Voight-Kampff machine. The VK test is described to be based upon empathetic responses that have an effect on the contraction of the iris. In simpler words it determines if the subject has feelings and that is measured by only looking at his/her eyes. This beautifully demonstrates that even Scott believes that eyes are the gateway to the soul.
There is another very interesting scene where eyes play an important role. It is the scene that Deckard says to Rachael that her memories are implanted. The concept of memory in the film is tightly linked with vision; recall Roy's quote “I have seen things you people wouldn't believe”. When Rachael is accused that her memories are fake she defends herself by saying that she remember seeing these things. Her words are significant because our character is structured mainly by memories, and memories in most cases include visual information. Our memories determine the way we see the world and largely determine the way we behave (Saini, 1996). In Rachael's case seeing is not believing. She has fake eyes, therefore fake memories and therefore fake (replicant) behaviour. The other replicants are aware of that fact and perhaps from insecurity they celebrate their own memories, hence, “I have seen things you people wouldn't believe”.
Eyes in the film constitute the means by which the audience comes in contact with the replicants. Most of their characteristics, actions and beliefs are associated with eyes. Eye symbolism is finally the means by which the parallel of Tyrell and human god is achieved.
