Frankenstein & Blade Runner: Revenge

"Ah, revenge. It’s one of the classic literary masterplots, where the protagonist believes he’s been wronged and seeks to retaliate against the antagonist. But did you know that revenge can also be a literary theme?.."

"Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is one of the most widely read novels of all time. Its two central characters, the scientist Victor Frankenstein and the being he creates, have gained mythic status in their own right. Engaging with the novel's characterization is crucial to gaining a real understanding of its themes and contexts, including education, gender difference, imperialism, personal identity, revolutionary politics, and science..."

What is the theme of Frankenstein? We can’t say that there is one main one. Among the key themes are fate, love, revenge, family, nature, and science.

"...The Theme Tracker shows where, and to what degree, the theme of Revenge appears in each chapter of Frankenstein. Click or tap on any chapter to read its Summary & Analysis..."

As the novel progresses it becomes increasingly obvious that Frankenstein
and the creature cannot escape from a destructive cycle of revenge.
When Frankenstein refuses to accept and care for his creation, the
creature sets out to wreak his revenge – though not before he has given
Victor the chance to do the right thing.

BBC Bitesize presents their analysis of Frankenstein which includes plot, characters, themes and more.

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is one of the most widely read novels of all time. Its two central characters, the scientist Victor Frankenstein and the being he creates, have gained mythic status in their own right. Engaging with the novel's characterization is crucial to gaining a real understanding of its themes and contexts, including education, gender difference, imperialism, personal identity, revolutionary politics, and science. This study includes: an introductory overview of the novel, including a brief account of its historical and literary contexts; its reception history; discussion of the major themes and narrative structure; detailed analysis of, the representation of main characters, such as Walton, Frankenstein, and the creature; and a conclusion reminding students of the links between the characters and the key themes and issues."

"Okay, but a question: is there such a thing as "moderate" revenge? Is revenge an emotion that you can even feel moderately—like, wanting a little revenge?.."

" At its core ... Shelley's Frankenstein is a contemplation on what it means to be human, what it means to chase perfection, and what it means to fear things such things as ugliness, loneliness, and rejection ... "

"As rogue replicant Roy Batty reflects on imminent death at the end of Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner, he expresses regret that his memories will be lost forever ‘like tears in the rain’. A connection between Batty’s world and that of the archivist does not readily come to mind during this climactic encounter between Blade Runner Rick Deckard and the leader of a group of Nexus 6 biorobotic androids. Yet Roy’s emotional soliloquy points to the important role of the archivist in the preservation of memory, and its place as a defining element of human identity ... "

" ... In Philip K. Dick and Philosophy thirty Dick fans and professional thinkers confront the fascinating and frightening ideas raised by Dick's mind-blowing fantasies ...

"Perhaps nothing is more emblematic of Ridley Scott’s 1982 dystopian film Blade Runner than the Voight-Kampff test administered by the movie’s titular law enforcers, including Harrison Ford as Rick Deckard. The series of questions in the fictional test ... are designed to separate out humans from replicants by provoking a physiological response indicating empathy. Only true humans, not replicants, feel that emotion ... "

"The opening scene of Blade Runner presents us with the vision of a futuristic city that breathes fire, lightning and smoke like a fantastic and primeval dragon; but then it also ruptures this atavistic vision by conjuring multiple spaceships from an imaginary of the ‘future’ that whiz past our point of view. And then we are presented with our ‘point of view’- an all-seeing eye that fills up the frame and brackets the scene we have witnessed before as if reproducing our own experience of watching the scene ... "

"Blade Runner 2049 will go down in history as one of the longest gaps between original and sequel, and seems likely to make a number of "best movie" lists for 2017, but for me it made for a vaguely frustrating viewing experience. If you have three hours to spare, check it out and make up your own mind…"