Theme Of Symbolism In Gattaca

Superior Essays
Register to read the introduction… Bars and glasses were the most common ones in the film Gattaca. Not only they signify hopes, they represent as both visible and invisible barriers. Bars are everywhere fro m the first scene of the film and in scenes where characters face struggle. Before becoming Jerome, The character Vincent Freeman works as a cleaner at Gattaca. Whenever he looks up through the windows, there are genetically enhanced employees ascending from the escalators inside the Gattaca Crop, always having glass barrier between them. Everytime he looks up through skylights at Gattaca's rockets rising, leaving him below, there is glass barrier above him. These glass barriers are imposed by genetic discrimination, depicting Vincent's exclusion by the society's prejudices; as an invalid degenerate kind in the world of Gattaca. In the first scene of the movie, "shadows criss-cross Vincent’s body like bars when he scrubs away his body materials, conveying a sense" that he is trapped in the cage. But these barriers give him hope and motivations to reach to his goals. However, at the end of the movie, when he walks thought the gates there is no barrier between him and his goal. This shows that the struggles are all gone leaving him freely to achieve his dreams as degenerate God-Child like him. The conclusion scene of this is depicted by the scene the rocket is elevating towards the Great Titan which Vincent refers as …show more content…
Using the character Vincent Freeman ,the inclusion as a protagonist, is essential to show the ideas presented in Gattaca, while he escapes the trap of genetic determinism proving that the importance of the whole genetic makeup in Gattaca is too much of over reaction. From his early childhood, Vincent knows that his "destiny was mapped out before"him . However He initially accepts the identity he got, he realizes that his potential is not written in his genes by a victory over his genetically modified brother , Anton on the game called "Chicken". His fulfillment of his dreams gives hopes to other characters in the movie. Irene's potential is limited by the society because her genetic profile has a predisposition for heart problems. Since she is raised in the society in the Gattaca, she accepts her limitations and believes that she just have to live with it her whole life. She tries to be perfect but it wasn't until she met Vincent that she let her hair down.Vincent gives her hopes by showing that he can overcome his genetic flaws. This realization transforms her. While Trene is held back by her genetic makeup, Anton and Eugene are "unable to live up to the expectations created by their flawless genes". "The expectations put upon the genetically enhanced to live up to their genetics are almost debilitating as the discrimination against the unenhanced", suffering "under a different burden, that of perfection". When Vincent saves Anton from drowning in the swimming game, he realizes that his brother is "not as strong as" the engineering promises which that incident gives him hope to start going for his dream as a "faith child". The burden of perfection is worse for Eugene, when he understands that, based on his genetic profile, he "was never meant to be one step down on the podium". But Eugene comes to see that the invalid Vincent is "better at being" jerome than Eugene himself,

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Bambara does not explain what kind of neighborhood this is but the reader is able to get an image of it through the language. " And the starch in my pinafore scratching the shit outta me and I'm really hating this nappy-headed bitch and her goddamn college degree" (Bambara 136). This sentence gives the image that this is a poor, low class neighborhood. The reader is able to identify that this is not a high-class place, but one possibly in the slums.…

    • 993 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In Never Let Me Go, Hailsham gives the children hope that they can live out their dreams, however, in Gattaca from an early age what you are determines if you are "invalid" or not, and whether you fit into society. This declines them of living a life they dreamed. Vincent’s determination to achieve his dreams allows him to overcome the physical and metaphorical boundaries society has constructed around him. By focusing on perfection at a genetic level in the world within Gattaca, individuals potential and abilities are overlooked and a sense of individuality is removed. "I belong to a new underclass, no longer determined by social status or the colour of your skin.…

    • 961 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In the book “Stardust” by Neil Gaiman, it is about Tristan Thorn’s journey to find the star and to bring it back to his love, Victoria Forester. The main message that the author has brought to the readers is to jump out of our comfort zone because it can enhance readers’ experiences and knowledge. The author showed this theme through the glass snowdrop, a village shop called Monday and Brown’s stocking system, and Tristan’s character development. In my opinion, this theme is still relevant in today’s society.…

    • 1009 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    1984 Symbolism Essay

    • 1451 Words
    • 6 Pages

    When reading 1984 by George Orwell, the first thing that becomes apparent is the near-omnipresent use of symbolism. By using symbolism throughout the novel, George Orwell paints a bleak future that could very well become a reality. From a totalitarian corrupt government to brainwashed citizens and surveillance that blankets the world, the dystopian future depicted in 1984 could easily become our future if we are not careful, and George Orwell wants to make sure that it doesn’t. By placing symbols throughout the book that warn of the perils of a dystopian future, Orwell did all he could to warn us of an unfortunate, yet possible reality.…

    • 1451 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Andrew Niccol presents Gattaca as a world destroyed by the pursuit of perfection and raises the question of what it means to be human. Niccol explores how personal identity and happiness are destroyed by pursuing perfection through the characters of Irene, Vincent and Jerome. Irene and Vincent struggled with their personal identities because of their genetic imperfections and Eugene suffered from the burden of perfection. Nonetheless, Niccol shows that these issues with perfection and imperfection can be overcome through the character development of Irene, Vincent and Jerome. Personal identity is destroyed by the pursuit of perfection and Niccol demonstrates this through the characterisation and costuming of Irene and Vincent.…

    • 800 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Dan Brown’s The DaVinci Code is a world renowned novel known for its controversial depiction of the Catholic church and the use of secret societies to tell his fictitious tale of finding one of the world’s most famous artifacts. A devout Monk, Silas, of Opus Dei (a secret Catholic Society) is sent by an unknown Teacher to find the hidden location of the famous Holy Grail in Paris. After confirming the location with 3 members of the Priory of Sion (keepers of the Holy Grail), Silas shoots Jacques Sauniere, the master of the secret society. Unbeknownst to him, all the members, including Sauniere, had given him a false location.…

    • 937 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Symbolism In The Matrix

    • 313 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The symbols in “The Matrix” enhanced how the movie was to be perceived, often of the difference between reality and an illusion. The most striking part of the main characters within the Matrix is their sunglasses, which are worn by those in the Nebuchadnezzar and the “agents”. These sunglasses, which cover their eyes (a symbol of understanding), symbolize their state of sleep or ignorance. As the crew, who are asleep, wear the sunglasses to represent sleeping and being in the matrix, the agents wear them as well – particularly Smith who hated the Matrix and wanted to be free by gaining knowledge. A symbol that directly portrays confusion is smoke, an ideal example is when the Oracle is seen smoking a cigarette.…

    • 313 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Symbolism In Grendel

    • 304 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In John Gardner’s novel, Grendel, Grendel’s last words are meant as a curse towards mankind and the animals who gather to watch him die. Grendel is seen throughout the story adopting a hatred towards humans which makes these words a curse. Grendel hatred first shown when he states “I was Grendel, Ruiner of Meadhall, Wrecker of Kings” (Gardner 80). Grendel is split now between believing the truth that he does not alone exist or continue to carry out his killing spree on humans but in turn, proves the humans actually are independent creatures. When Grendel first appear in the story, he can be seen as an intelligent being that adopted solipsism, throughout the story his personality changed drastically which causes him to curse the humans at the…

    • 304 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Symbolism In Grendel

    • 335 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The American Library Association created a list of books that are prohibited to read in schools. Due to violence and “mature” content, parents challenge books because they don’t find them very comely for their children to read ; the parents believe the books will sully their child’s mind. The list of banned and challenged books includes the story of “Grendel” and The Alice Series. “Grendel” by John C. Gardner tells the 8th century epic of Beowulf from Grendel…

    • 335 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Gattaca Nature Vs Nurture

    • 1142 Words
    • 5 Pages

    To get into the space program Vincent bought Jerome, a healthy person’s DNA to get in the space program called “Gattaca” since his DNA shows “invalid” and Jerome’s DNA shows “valid” Although buying others DNA has many consequence, Vincent gave all his commitment towards the program to make his dream possible. Vincent pretended to be Jerome, used his blood everyday to get into the program, and used his urine for random checkups. In the end of the movie, he did the impossible, he not only lived past his life expectancy, he also achieved his life-long dream of going to outer space. This movie proves that the genes inside of you that planned what your life is going to be can changed, like Vincent’s life. He was only planned to live for about 30 years by his genetics, and his dream was a joke.…

    • 1142 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    An important symbol in “The Alchemist” is the desert. The desert symbolizes the hardships and obstacles one must undergo before he can achieve his dreams and ultimately his destiny. Santiago had to endure scorching heat, tribal feuds, and barrenness of the desert in order to find his destiny and his true love. Santiago’s willingness to achieve his destiny, emphasizes the importance of being determined and resolute. When Santiago had all his earnings stolen, he did not give up but instead worked a whole year to gain the money to travel to Egypt.…

    • 272 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Gattaca is a science fiction film about the idea of science and technology in the late 20th century, that created an imaginary and futuristic society based on genetic engineering. Gattaca features the actors, Ethan Hawke (Vincent Anton Freeman), Jude Law (Jerome Eugene Morrow), Uma Thurman (Irene Cassini), and Loren Dean (Anton Freeman), to relay the story of a young boy who was conceived outside the eugenics program, and struggles to overcome genetic discrimination and fulfill his dream of traveling into space. In Vincent's society eugenics is very common, and although genetic discrimination is illegal, people are still classified as “invalid” or “Valid” using the biometric system. “Invalids” are naturally conceived specimens, that are…

    • 1281 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Over time society has come to recognize certain objects, like the Red Cross, flashing lights, and hospital signs, as being the universal symbols of aid. However, many of these symbols do not necessarily need to be tangible objects in order to represent something greater, but can be a concept even as subtle as a colour that, when repeatedly shown in certain contexts, comes to symbolize the same as an ambulance responding to an emergent call. Some of the strongest symbols in literature include this type of symbolism, which subtly makes a reading more interesting and powerful, even if the reader does not initially comprehend what the symbol is. In Yann Martel’s novel, Life of Pi, the colour orange is a symbol that portrays Pi’s eventual return to safety, through the presence of various objects, animals, and a personification of Pi himself onto an unsuspecting wild creature. In essence, objects like life jackets and whistles are automatically a representation of hope and survival, however, within Life of Pi, both of these objects also appear as being the colour…

    • 1181 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “How does the author of Gattaca use one or more of the following techniques to develop ideas: Symbolism, Juxtaposition and flashbacks.” Andrew Niccol’s ‘Gattaca’ presents us with a futuristic utopia where genetic enhancement is a normality and society now has discrimination down to a science. The film explores the life of Vincent Freeman, a degenerate who is denied the opportunity to achieve his dream of becoming an astronaut due to his inferior DNA. Vincent adopts the identity of renowned swimmer and genetically engineered Jerome Morrow, in order to pursue his lifelong dream of obtaining a position in the Gattaca Aerospace Corporation and travel to space. Niccol uses juxtaposition, symbolism and flashbacks to convey the idea of a natural…

    • 1030 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    In the world of Andrew Niccol’s film Gattaca, tinkering with human genetics has become the norm in the search for perfection of body and mind. The practice has become so widespread that those conceived naturally suffer discrimination on the basis of their DNA which in turn creates a class divide between the two groups. In the film genetics, and the imperfection drawn from them is overcome by means of raw determination by the protagonist and these concepts are explored through a variety of cinematic techniques utilised by Niccol, notably those exclusive to the medium such as mise en scene, soundtrack and camera angles. Niccol’s film tells the tale of Vincent, a ‘god child’, one born through natural conception with little engineering performed…

    • 850 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays