The Euphemism Of Greed In Michael Bay's The Island

“Greed is not a financial issue. It is a heart issue” –Andy Stanley. In today’s advanced, economy-based world, the true meaning of greed is often lost. The definition of “greed” is not strictly limited to financial lust. True greed is the desire for power over others and the world as a whole. Michael Bay’s The Island very accurately captures this true definition. The film portrays a dystopian society in which humans pay large sums of money to have an exact clone made of themselves. These clones are kept in a subterranean world living simple, quiet lives. The clones are fed lies regarding the world they live in. They believe that one day they will be sent to “The Island” and live out a happy life of peace and indulgence. However, the viewer learns that “The Island” is a euphemism for a much more sinister fate. Michael Bay’s The Island depicts exactly how greed drove a power-hungry society to such despicable measures. It is not until late into the film that the viewer sees the motive behind the futuristic society’s actions. This motive is greed, which has clouded the ethical responsibilities of those involved in the cloning process. This society is greedy for longevity. The sole aspect of human …show more content…
The film addresses the innate yearning to cheat death and portrays such desire in a way that leaves the viewer in a pensive state. By extrapolating a current technological advancement, such as stem cell research and three-dimensional organic tissue printing, Michael Bay warns of us the dangers of stripping a human life of its sanctity in this clearly dystopian work of fiction. The Island serves as a warning to humans, showing how slippery of slope greed can be. One may believe that inequality and oppression of this magnitude are not feasible in today's world; however, one must simply look back only a couple centuries to fully grasp what human overcome by greed are capable