GATTACA Essay

“This child is still you, simply the best of you. You could conceive naturally a thousand times and never get such a result.” - Genetic Counselor. This quote is relevant to the movie GATTACA because it’s saying how they can make better more healthier versions of people. When Vincent was born they tested his blood and it said all the things wrong with him, and also the age he would die. Since he was conceived naturally he had a higher chance of illnesses, which he did have. Making a better version his parents created his brother, Anton, they chose the way he looked and he also had more of a chance to live longer. Since they conceived Vincent naturally he would never be as good as the modified versions of people they created.

A recurring symbolism is; genes as a persons race. This is saying that people are judged based on their genes. For example; Vincent is automatically thought of as weak and sick because he was conceived naturally. Anton, Vincent’s brother, isn’t thought of as weak or sick because he is modified. This is recurring in the movie GATTACA because Vincent always tries to get into GATTACA but he can’t because he isn’t modified. While Anton and other modified people can get into GATTACA easily because they are thought of as stronger. They also put naturally conceived people in lower jobs, like being a janitor, but for modified people they can be astronauts.

A theme is; perfection versus happiness. In the movie GATTACA the parents in the future world want their kids to be athletic and look perfect. This avoids all happiness, in my opinion, because the kids don’t get to choose what they want. The world isn’t as fun and exciting if everyone has the same amount of athleticism or perfectness. Since they are all the same I think the world is boring and not fun or exciting. They are expected to the same thing everybody else would do and can’t do what they want. For example, in the movie everybody that is modified has the same job working at Gattaca. All the naturally conceived people work as janitors because they are expected to work that spot. When Vincent tries to get into Gattaca he can’t because he’s not modified.