Similarities Between Gattaca And Brave New World

INTRODUCTION

Andrew Niccol’s Gattaca and Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World are both works of science and dystopian fiction with societies that often blur the line between utopia and dystopia. Focusing on worlds that pride themselves upon perfection and discrimination of the genetic lower class, with a true lack of empathy and understanding for those different to them. These works create incredible windows that manage to display the sheer tenacity of the human spirit, something that resides within all people and marks us as truly human. Both Brave New World and Gattaca’s representation of the human spirit, while different both work as a shared concept and relevant theme within both works.

PARAGRAPH ONE/ EVALUATE add a small section speaking about

the human spirit itself.
The human spirit is nearly ever present through Niccol’s Gattaca serving as an undertone for the sepia, almost monochromatic world Vincent struggles to find acceptance through.

Brave New Worlds representation of the human spirit is more encompassed with multiple characters but largely settles on John the Savage, a character that acts as a clever portrayal of the morals and way of thinking the reader is able to identify with today. John the Savages arrival is almost too little too late with the readers exposure and desensitizing of this dark world having already taken place. His horror and questioning of The World State is a massive relief with the reader finally getting the release of someone acknowledging how horrific these practices are. Within Gattaca Vince’s tenacity and his portrayal of the human spirit can be seen more as a sign of hope. Vince swims against his brother a genetically perfect being compared to him but in the end, Vince manages to defy all odds twice beating genetics and proving that being an invalid isn’t what defines

you.
TECHNIQUE ANALYSIS/SCENE BREAKDOWN remember to use quotes and draw back to theme
Within Brave New World and Gattaca there are key scenes that serve as a way for the human spirit to come to light and be showcased within the characters journeys. During the course of a Brave New World The World State lacks much human spirit at all, A reliance on drugs and lack of faith to each other leaves The World State unwittingly enslaved. The only ones who think about more than what they know in the early stages of the novel are Bernard and Helmholtz, Even Helmholtz knows there is more but doesn’t have the ability to articulate it saying “Im thinking of a queer feeling I get, a feeling that I’ve got something important to say and the power to say it only I don’t know what it is and I cant make use of that power.

(59) When John arrives a character that is able to comprehend and strive for more he is deemed a savage and gets used for Bernard’s personal gain, When John realises that the ideals Shakespeare’s works have taught him are non-existent in The World State he’s horrified. Johns ideas and expressions of The World State harness emotive language and creates a tone distinct to John using language utilised by no other character within the novel. His dismay evokes sympathy from the reader and engages them similarly To Vince’s struggles within Gattaca, as the characters are both deemed unworthy and struggle to find acceptance and understanding through these sterile societies. Within Gattaca a turning point for Vince’s character and a true indication of his relentlessness and human spirit, is the two times he swims against his brother and wins. While his brother has the upper hand in almost every way

Vince still gives 100% and uses all his energy to strive for what he wants something his brother was ultimately unable to achieve. Vince throughout his whole life was told that he could never amount to anything that his brother couldn’t do better, but with his hard work he beats genetics and proves that he belongs in Gattaca valid or invalid. Throughout the film there are three swimming scenes, the first two take place during Anton’s childhood and are significant moments that shape his character. The first swimming scene is the audiences first introduction to the dangerous game the brothers play starting with dark classical music that darkens the tone of the scene accompanied by an aerial shot of Vincent and Anton surrounded with nothing but a large expanse of water. Anton is able to swim ahead reinforcing the stigma around invalids and their inability to triumph over those genetically superior. The second swimming scene starts relatively the same Anton asks Vince if hes sure he wants to do it because he knows he will lose, the same aerial shots and music is used until Anton begins to struggle with close up, low angle shots of him struggling under the water. The aerial, low angle and close up shots create a sense of dread and anxiety as the dangerous game the brothers play nearly claims one of their lives. Vincent saves Anton accompanied by a voiceover stating that this was the first time Anton might not have been as strong as he believed, An incredible triumph for Vince after a childhood spent in his brothers shadow. The third swimming scene unlike the others takes place at night, The darkness surrounding the brothers makes their last contest all the more nerve wracking. In the end Vincent proves that beating his brother wasn’t a fluke and his constant dedication towards success is what helped him triumph over his brother’s genetics with Vincent telling Anton “You want to know how I did it? This is how I did it, Anton: I never saved anything for the swim back.” This reflects Vince’s attitude throughout his entire journey he pushed himself to himself to his breaking point and strove for more than a life dictated by his genetics.
These shared thematic concerns while conveyed differently do an excellent job of showcasing the human spirit and just how much it can achieve.