Blade Runner vs Frankenstein
Comparing Blade Runner and Frankenstein is challenging as they are interconnected, with Frankenstein being the source for the film Blade Runner. Frankenstein, written by Mary Shelley in 1818, and Blade Runner, directed by Ridley Scott in 1982, have similarities due to their shared subject matter. However, Ridley’s directorial style makes Blade Runner somewhat different from Frankenstein.
Key Takeaways
- Frankenstein is a Gothic novel written by Mary Shelley, often considered one of the first examples of the Science Fiction genre, whereas Blade Runner is a sci-fi film directed by Ridley Scott.
- Both Frankenstein and Blade Runner share the premise of scientists creating artificial life and the uneasy relationship between these beings and the rest of humanity.
- In Frankenstein, the scientist Victor Frankenstein creates the monster, while in Blade Runner, the creatures are made by Tyrell Corporation.
More about Frankenstein
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is structured as a nest of stories with narratives inside each story, providing different perspectives on the events. The novel has a subtitle called “The modern Prometheus,” referring to the Greek myth of Prometheus, who was punished by Zeus for giving fire to humans. Like Prometheus, Frankenstein goes against God’s will by bringing the dead back to life and suffers as he loses his loved ones to the monster.
More about Blade Runner
Blade Runner is set in a futuristic Los Angeles in 2019. Deckard, a Blade Runner, hunts down replicants (artificial humans) one by one, while another group of replicants tries to find their creator to save themselves from Deckard. The replicants appear more human than humans themselves, and Deckard is challenged by the thought that he himself might be a replicant.
What is the difference between Blade Runner and Frankenstein?
Despite both belonging to the science fiction genre, there are differences between Frankenstein and Blade Runner:
- Frankenstein shows the creation of humanoids and the creator’s dilemma, while Blade Runner depicts replicants as enemies and explores the “monster within.”
- Frankenstein suggests that people should be punished for playing God, with the scientist paying for his sin as the monster kills his loved ones. In contrast, Blade Runner explores whether humanity can replicate itself through replicants.
