Frankenstein and Blade Runner share many common attributes, most importantly, that time has demonstrated both

texts significance to society. A comparative study of Frankenstein (1818) and Blade Runner (1992) reveals a critique on society and societal values that is reinforced across the passage of time. The similarities between these texts include the dangers of playing God and the sentimentality of creations. However, the dominant thread between these two texts is the advice and moral guidance which they present to the societies of their own contextual eras. Shelleys Frankenstein, a hybrid of the Gothic and science-fiction, testifies to an introspection into the errors of society amidst early 19th Century England where Enlightenment discourse and Romantic ideals were prominent. This text condemns the adverse effect of society to isolate individuals and the notion of scientific revolution overpowering the rational thoughts concerning the creation of life. Yet, Frankenstein also praises society for respecting nature, reflecting Romantic values. Ridley Scotts Bladerunner is set amongst the contextual backdrop of late 20th Century America, with Reaganomics, environmental degradation and rampant commercialism. The progression of time allows for a modern translation of this societal appraisal to a visual form and an adaptation of the societal values highlighted by its predecessor, Frankenstein. With changing times and thus context, Blade Runner conversely presents the impact of society harming nature and the notion of commercial greed of society tainting the value of creation and the emotional security for individuals. Texts are significant to society when they can appraise and assess societys relationship and treatment with the natural world, acting as important sources of guidance. Shelleys novel Frankenstein is grounded in a post-Industrial age, yet the reverence for nature as an omnipotent force, reflecting Romantic ideals of the power of and respect for nature. When Victor leaves Geneva after the death of Justine, he welcomes the serenity and sanctuary offered by nature. The verdant visual imagery in my spirit liftedas I plunged into the ravine, highlights the joy he feels when he escapes the confines of society and embraces the freedom of nature. In addition, the positive relationship between nature and society at large is furthered by the experience of the Creature through the personification in the pine woodsbade me peace. This extends the positive aura that nature bestows upon individuals when they respect and cherish it. Although a fruitful relationship between society and the natural world is evident in Frankenstein, the film Blade Runner is contrasting in that it condemns society for exploiting nature. The opening panning shot of the film highlights the dystopic, gloomy, pervasive atmosphere of LA 2019 and the close up shots of the hellish flames. These subvert the sacred Promethean flame of knowledge as a modern adaptation of Frankenstein. It evokes the degradation of the environment, stemming from contextual concerns such as the 1989 Exxon Valdez Oil Disaster. From this, it is evident that society undergoes scrutiny from both texts in regards to their relationship with nature.

The importance of Frankenstein and Blade Runner are that they offer an insight into the reality that despite the progress of time, society can still harbour fear and resentment of outsiders. Frankenstein depicts the exclusion endured by the Creature at the hands of a callous society. When escaping the towns violent mob, the Creature finds shelter from the barbarity of man and the seasons. The use of zeugma heightens the fear of society, a social outcast shunned and isolated. Furthermore, Victor, in epitomising society itself, displays coldness and abject superiority over his creation, remaining detached from his very creation thus exacerbating the creatures discomfort in society. The subversion of the religious allusion in I ought to be thy Adam portrays an afflicted individual without a loving, compassionate mentor or father-figure. Parallels can be made with Blade Runner where the modern society is at an impasse with the Replicants. Bryant, indicative of authority, illustrates this resentment of the artificial humans through the derogatory connotations of skin jobs. This mistreatment of individuals by a ruthless, unforgiving society is captured through the chiaroscuro lighting across Rachaels face and the discordant Jazz music, when she is told that those arent you memoriesthey are Tyrells nieces. They accentuate her fractured identity and emotional vulnerability. Thus it is readily apparent that a critique on societys attitude to outsiders is present in both texts, embodying their significance to society. This comparative study communicates a reproachful evaluation of societys value of creation evolving from one of scientific enterprise to economic endeavour across time. In Frankenstein, Shelley depicts societys appreciation of life as a mere step in the progress of scientific pursuit, encapsulating the Enlightenment discourse prevalent at the time. This sense of intellectual aggrandisement is epitomised through the use of the zealous, ambitious tone in both life and death appeared ideal bounds and all creatures would bade me their creator reflect the grandiose aspirations of Victor to achieve the pinnacle of science. This spark of life desired by Victor is representative of society at large, reinforcing the danger of unchecked scientific development to degrade the value of life and creation. This element of societal recklessness to gain power and control of creation as a transient stage of progress is mirrored in Bladerunner. Here, instead of a scientific goal, creation has become a part of the business cycle and the product of spiralling, rampant capitalism in the late 20th Century America. Here, Tyrells motto of more human than human has a robotic and insensitive tone, which captures the essence of societal decay due to a lack of empathy to individuals and the goal of creation. It is evident that the comparative study heightens the inadequate value placed on creation by societies in both contextual eras. The texts Bladerunner and Frankenstein fulfil their role as critiques on the moral and psychological attributes of society, making them an important reference in time. These texts reveal the depravity of society isolating individuals, explore the relationship of respective societies with nature and criticise society for devaluing the goal of creation. The synergistic value of this study is that it provides the opportunity for society to re-evaluate its own treatment of individuals and its intrinsic values.