Science, Bad?...
Science, Good?
When it comes to classic
Halloween monsters a certain flesh golem would surely enter one’s mind, the one
and only Frankenstein’s monster. Frankenstein, a classic horror story written
by Mary Shelley, is about a baron gone mad scientist who experimented on
electricity for the purpose of reanimating the dead. The product of his experiments
is none other than the Frankenstein’s monster, a not-so-intelligent but highly
misunderstood giant flesh golem whom the villagers want to kill. The story of
Frankenstein has earned its place in literature’s hall of fame and in the
memories of people. What most people don’t know however is that there’s a
sequel.
The Bride of Frankenstein, a
cinematic sequel to the original Frankenstein story, revolves around the idea
that both the baron and the monster are alive and that the baron’s former
mentor, Dr. Pretorius, wants to make another monster with him this time female.
The movie focuses mainly on Frankenstein’s monster’s interaction with different
people, like the blind man, and his learning of human emotions and a small
knowledge of right and wrong and the creation of his “bride”, a female flesh
golem. The ending was both comedic and unexpected in a way. The movie ends with
the bride successfully animated by the Doctor but instead of marrying the
groom, she harshly rejects him. With Frankenstein’s monster now hurt, he
destroys the castle along with the Doctor and his bride but spares the baron
and his wife as he sheds a tear.
The movie was certainly
entertaining but in a deeper perspective, I think it sent out messages that
highlighted two important ideas during that time period. One of which was that
the general public during that time was afraid of how science was progressing.
With the dawn of electricity and all of its potential, people thought that
harnessing electricity might lead to disastrous consequences especially if it
were to be used to “play God”. The public’s fear of scientific development was
shown clearly in Frankenstein and was honestly how people felt during that
time, they felt science shouldn’t cross the lines set by nature and that by
doing so is an evil act. However, in the sequel, a different message is brought
to the audience. It showed the benefits of science, how science can be
beautiful in its own way and it gives the audience the idea that scientific
progress is far from bad. Overall, Frankenstein and his bride have a single
message to deliver; science can make dreams come true when it is used for good
but if it’s pushed too far, it may just turn into a nightmare.
Walang komento:
Mag-post ng isang Komento