1984 and Gattaca Essay PDF

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A high scoring comparative essay about 1984 and Gattaca, responding to the topic: ‘Despite the oppressive forces that control the individual, compare how the human spirit prevails in 1984 and Gattaca?’...

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‘Despite the oppressive forces that control the individual, compare how the human spirit prevails in 1984 and Gattaca?’ Science Fiction enables the reader to glimpse into future dystopian societies whilst warning us of the potential dangers associated with discrimination and oppression. In George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four and Andrew Niccol’s Gattaca, the overwhelming forces of brutal and predetermined regimes are designed to crush the human spirit. With these dehumanizing environments, Winston and Vincent both assert their humanity by defying and rebelling against the staggering power which forces individuals into devastating subservience. Our admiration for both protagonists is undeviating, particularly for Winston who takes greater risks, since he is poignantly aware that his rebellious act will propel him ‘one step closer to the grave’. While Vincent is assisted by others who ultimately come to share his dream, Winston is left isolated and betrayed, manipulated into submission. Ultimately, both men must be commended for their unyielding defiance, which ignites hope in both the audience and other individuals. Both Orwell and Niccol construct futuristic worlds where power and control are misused with destructive effects on individuals and society. In the world of Oceania, any notion of individuality or privacy does not exist as INGSOC permeates every aspect of daily life. The pervasive presence of the telescreens, a two-way telescreen that watches the citizens of Airstrip One as they watch it, literalizes the idea that “Big Brother is always watching”. Additionally, this fear of constant surveillance is reinforced by the posters that announce the watchful and inexorable “eyes of the party”. Furthering this, Big Brother employs psychological control through the Thought Police which makes it “terribly dangerous to let [ones] thoughts wander”. The fact that Parsons was denounced by his children epitomizes this inescapable and omnipresent infiltration of the Party. Similar to Orwell’s dystopic world, Niccol has created an oppressive society of rules and hierarchies designed to control its citizens. The division of humans into ‘Valids’ and ‘InValids’ has formed a society where human aspiration is repressed in favour of genetic perfection. An example of this is exemplified by the discrimination against InValids due to their inferior genetic code. This discrimination is shown in the workplace, where Invalids are relegated to low-level jobs “getting work where [they] could”, particularly as janitors. Hence, this prejudice suppresses the individuals’ freedom of choice as “no one exceeds their potential”. Furthermore, paralleling Orwell’s dystopian novel, Niccol accentuates the need for surveillance to control the citizens through fear. The uniform finger print and DNA samples are instruments of scrutiny as they “now have discrimination down to a science”, which mirrors the technological apparatus in 1984. However, Oceania’s control is far more insidious as it is ineluctable and “there was… no way of knowing whether you were being watched at any given moment”. Thus, through surveillance and fear, both Orwell and Niccol illustrate how a populous can be controlled and hegemonised. Though both the novel and film construct prejudicial societies that oppress citizens, the social order of Gattaca and the Inner Party’s authoritarian rule are challenged. Both Vincent and Winston, despite their subjugation, demonstrate their ability to defy and rebel against the rule of an overarching power. From birth, Vincent is conscious of his inferior social status as an InValid, “belong[ing] to a new underclass”. With his life and status already predetermined, as “only minutes old, the date and cause of [his] death [was] known”,

Vincent is consistently discriminated against. However, he refuses to be defined and is not dehumanised by his genetic code. Rescuing his genetically superior brother from drowning leads Vincent to the realisation that Anton was “not as strong as he believed” and that through pure determination, he can overcome the prejudicial limits imposed upon him by an elite society that perpetuates perfection. For Vincent, “it was the moment that made everything else possible”, motivating him to pursue his dream of space travel. Similarly, Winston’s defiance begins with the “compromising possession” of his diary, which symbolises freedom and self-expression in the tyrannical world of INGSOC. Living under “the assumption that every sound [he] made was overheard… every movement scrutinised”, Winston’s diary allows him to freely express ideas of dissent against the Party, ‘DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER’ in a perilous act of rebellion. Hence, Winston’s subversion of the Party leads him to question their regime and the oppressive tactics employed to stifle individuality. In contrast to Vincent’s intrepid duplicity, Winston’s actions are internalised. Whereas Vincent openly deceives the elite, Winston conceals his treacherous thoughts, fearing the inevitable consequences of his defiance “thought crime does not entail death, thought crime IS death”. Despite knowing the grave consequences, the protagonists of both 1984 and Gattaca demonstrate the durability and persistence of the human spirit and their willingness to defy the repressive forces that encircle them. Both Orwell and Niccol accentuate the intrinsic desire for love and connection that inspires individuals to resist their regimes. Vincent’s self-focused determination to defy Gattaca and Winston’s altruistic desire for social change are only achievable with the assistance from those who also resist governing ideologies and beliefs. Through Vincent, Niccol demonstrates how unconditional love can enrich one’s life. Irene’s acceptance of Vincent’s status as an ‘InValid’ allows him to further understand that his genes don’t have to define him, consequently increasing his motivation to travel to space. However, despite his persistence to achieve his dream, Vincent’s relationship with Irene reveals his reluctance to leave this oppressive society. His love for Irene meant that Vincent was “suddenly having a hard time leaving”. In comparison, Winston attempts to maintain his spirit and his dignity by bravely entering a forbidden relationship with Julia. It is this “political act” that gives Winston the courage the openly express his true emotions, as he feels that “life has ceased to be intolerable”. Furthermore, Winston’s love for Julia ignites hope, strength, and overall, the need to live, as “the desire for Winston to stay alive had welled up in him”. Whereas Winston’s relationship with Julia simply began as an act of rebellion against the Party, Vincent’s relationship with Irene had a larger impact, ultimately giving her hope against the oppression extant in their society. However, both relationships that the protagonists share nourish the characters’ lives, motivating them to resist their government’s oppression. Both 1984 and Gattaca highlight the inherent power of love as a motivating force against the brutal living conditions. While both Orwell and Niccol celebrate the unwavering determination of the protagonists in the face of insurmountable odds, Orwell demonstrates that in a world of rigid, hegemonic systems, ultimately, defiance is futile. Regardless of his perseverance, Winston’s human spirit is crushed. The Party’s deliberate attempt to corrupt Winston’s idealism “you shall be hollow, we shall squeeze you dry and fill you with ourselves”, epitomizes the absence of humanity in this distorted society. The Party utilizes Room 101 as a symbol of fear to instil the citizens of Oceania with a dystopic vision “never again will you be capable of love, friendship, or joy of

living”. Despite the nihilistic forces that prevail, conveyed in the terrifying image of “the boot stamping on the human face forever” and the inevitability of his death, Winston maintains a tenacious belief in the “spirit of man”. Faced with overarching forces, Winston refuses to submit to the Party. Nevertheless, his brutal and dehumanizing torture in Room 101 finally annihilates his free will and humanity. In contrast, the world of Gattaca is not as savage nor as nihilistic as 1984. Hope still exists, despite the societal expectations that are forced upon the citizens. This is exemplified by Irene’s relationships with Vincent. At first, the she was imprisoned by her genes, letting herself be defined by her genetic code. However, as their relationship progressed, Vincent’s defiance as a ‘borrowed ladder’ shows her that “[she] is the authority on what is not possible”, allowing her to discover that a genetic heart condition does not have to get in the way of her achieving her dreams. This hope is further epitomized by Dr Lamar as, despite his own status as a superior ‘Valid’, he still has hope that his son, an ‘InValid’, will be able to achieve his dreams. Yet, whilst the protagonist of 1984 ultimately succumbs to Room 101, a symbol of “the worst thing in the world” and one’s greatest fear, Niccol demonstrates how passion and perseverance can triumph over the oppressive forces that surround an individual. Antithetical to Orwell’s novel, the protagonist of Gattaca defies the oppressive societal expectations placed upon him and transcends his genetic make-up. Overall, both texts demonstrate the inevitability of dissent and hope against an authoritarian regime, although, Orwell suggests that this can be controlled through the use of fear unlike Niccol’s life-affirming conclusion. The indoctrinating societies of both texts engender perseverance and bravery, ultimately concluding in the triumph and destruction of the human spirit. Vincent’s removal of genoism and Winston’s desperate attempts to maintain the ‘spirit of man’ demonstrate how, in the face of insuperable odds, there are individuals who will rise up and defy the oppressive, dystopic regimes. Despite Winston’s destruction, both protagonists inspire the preservation of humanity, individuality and freedom....