Gattaca Essay

“We were wondering if it’s good to leave some things to chance.”

In the world of Gattaca, is this a wise course of action?

Gattaca is a science-fiction thriller movie, directed by Andrew Niccol. It presents a story of the future prospect of genetic engineering and how it will affect human society. Gattaca gives one perspective of how the future of discrimination is no longer determined by social status or the colour of skin because the discrimination is now down to a science, Vincent: “I belonged to a new underclass, no longer determined by social status or the colour of your skin. No, we now have discrimination down to a science.” The better the genes in your body are the better job you will get. In the future world, like presented in this movie, we don’t leave our child’s ability to chance, but we choose it by ourselves. We can create our ‘dream child’ as long as we have enough money. In my opinion, it is a wise course of action to leave some things to chance, because I think natural conception is always a better way in terms of producing children who have soul, emotion and desire as in this movie is presented by Vincent, the God’s child.

“Some things” in that quote above refers to child’s ability. You can pay the doctor and create your own baby to be whatever you want; you can control every aspect of their child’s body, such as what is their gender, their colour of skin, hair, etc. Genetic engineering enables someone to be better, faster, stronger, and more-long-lived. “They used to say that a child conceived in love, has a greater chance of happiness. They don't say that any more”Children, whose DNA has been manipulated, are called Valid. All of the “abnormalities” of the genetic process are eliminated, such as in this movie, is when Anton, Vincent’s brother is genetically better after his DNA has been manipulated before he even an embryo.

Vincent Anton Freeman, the main character, is one of the last "natural" babies born into a sterile, genetically-enhanced world, where abilities, life expectancy are ascertained at birth. He was born with myopia and due to die at 30 because of a heart condition. Therefore he destines to be a second class citizen along with others born in the same way. “I'll never understand what possessed my mother to put her faith in God's hands, rather than those of her local geneticist”. Knowing that Vincent was born with all his conditions, his parents don’t want those things to happen again for their second child, so then they choose Anton to be much better in any way. Vincent has a childhood dream, and is to going to space. He wants to see what is up there. As a child, Vincent struggles to improve his physical weakness. Even the kindergarten rejects him as the insurance company doesn’t want to give him the coverage. Anton, who is genetically well-engineered is eventually appears to be taller than Vincent. He also always wins the swimming race between him and Vincent. Therefore, this things makes Vincent think that he’s weak and he is not as good as Anton or any other people who has a good DNA.

One thing happens, on the swimming race between him and his brother, this time Vincent wins the race. He even saves his brother’s life by saving him from drowning. This makes him change his mind. He thinks that he is not that weak. It is all of what you believe in, not determined by genes in your body. Then he decides to leave the house and go to the Gattaca to get all his dreams.

The world of Gattaca is cold. It demands perfection and this is guaranteed and protected by regular DNA testing. The artificial way has become a ‘natural way’ here. Valid people have what it takes to become the best. However, biological engineering could induce robotic