Let Justice be done though the heavens may fall. The movie Gattaca presents both a Utopia, for the genetically superior ‘valids’, and a Dystopia, for the normal average ‘invalids.’ The movie itself revolves around Vincent, an invalid who rejects the view that an invalid has no place in Gattaca, the space program. Aside from the stereotypical man against the world presentation, Vincent endures many challenges before he obtains his fulfillment in the end, the movie is also a commentary on the dangers of ‘customized’ genetically-tailored society. This paper will be a review of the movie from a deontological perspective as it will focus on the rightness or wrongness of Vincent’s actions rather than the rightness or wrongness of the consequences (Olson 343).
In the movie genetically superior ‘valids’ are the new uber-class in society, they occupy all the best jobs and top ranks because of their genetic superiority. People have long since abandoned the vagaries of natural selection in favor of creating tailor-made babies who do not have the congenital flaws of their parents. Anton is one example of this new superior class of people. His genetic superiority is obvious, compared to Vincent, who is a natural-born, he is obviously better. At age 8 he is already taller than Vincent at age 10. He has perfect eyesight while Vincent needs glasses. More importantly, he does not have the congenital heart problem Vincent has. Poor Vincent and the rest of the ‘love children’ are condemned to be the new under-class of society confined to jobs like custodian services and denied the opportunity to advance in life.
The swimming scenes between Vincent and his brother Anton are symbolic of the race between the genetically inferior and normal ‘in-valids’ and the genetically engineered ‘valids’ in virtually all the races Anton inevitably wins because he is superior in every way. Not only is he taller, stronger, and hardier than his brother he also does not have Vincent’s congenital heart problem. But in the last two occasions that they swam, the last race they had before Vincent went to live his fraudulent life to get into Gattaca, and the race after Anton discovered that Vincent was the suspected murderer, Vincent won. Vincent famously says ‘I wasn’t saving anything for the trip home’ and ‘we are closer to the other side’ when Anton asks how he could keep going. In the end, Vincent seems to have outsmarted Anton. However, to me, it was more a triumph of the human spirit over the obvious defeat of the human body. This was the director’s way of saying that even if the inferior ‘in-valid’ was, objectively speaking, inferior to the ‘valid’ the bias against them discounts the possibility of an ‘in-valid’ transcending his genetic limitations and rising to the occasion. In fact, the whole movie is about this transcendence. Vincent the inferior ‘in-valid’ succeeds in infiltrating Gattaca and becomes one of its top astronauts despite being ‘dead already’ (based on his heart condition).
In order to succeed in his dream, Vincent is forced to become a ladder climber. He an invalid ‘Valid’ Jerome Eugene Morrow, who was crippled in an accident, make a deadly trade. Vincent gets a regular supply of Jerome’s genetic material for the frequent DNA tests done at Gattaca in exchange for keeping Jerome in the lifestyle he is accustomed to. The bargain is risky but Vincent is desperate. As he says no matter how hard he studies, no matter how much he lied, no matter how hard he worked to become qualified for a job a simple Urine or blood test would reveal him for what he was an inferior.
Uma Thurman’s character Irene has a deontological duty to follow the prevailing social construct (Waller 23). Her duty-based ethics and adherence to the genetically tailored social order are so strong that she takes a sample of Jerome Eugene Morrow’s hair to be tested at a laboratory to see if he is a genetically acceptable match. She adheres because she is on the winning side of the construct of a genetic ‘valid’ the most elite segments of society are open to her. In fact, she is in Gattaca which is itself an exclusive, elitist organization where only the best ‘valids’ are allowed entry. However, she does have a heart murmur that prevents her from ascending to the stars. Her condition is considerably less severe than Vincent’s own heart problem but it never the less makes her unsuitable for space travel. Her genetic flaw and the way it prevents her from ascending to the stars is another harsh critique of the genetically engineered world. Despite being otherwise perfect, she is praised in the story as being smarter than anyone else in Gattaca, she is denied the opportunity she has worked so hard to gain.
Another commentary is her strict adherence to the eugenics policy which evaporates out of love for Jerome. Formerly a strict advocate of eugenics, when she falls in love with him suddenly the whole idea of genetic compatibility flies out the window and she consents to the match. After all, she has been maltreated by the system despite her adherence to it.
Perhaps the most significant part of the movie is the series of the scene at the end. Jerome commits suicide preferring death to the idea of continuing to live life as a parasite and a potential threat to Vincent’s success by burning himself in the incinerator that they used to eliminate Vincent’s unwanted genetic material. He no longer wishes to live because he has already reached the peak of his career and is condemned to live life as no more than a provider of ‘acceptable’ genetic material. The burning of Jerome is contrasted with the launch of the rocket ship, as the fake Jerome finally reaches for the starts fulfilling his dream, the real one ends his life by lighting his own funeral pyre. There is a Coda that presents people like Albert Einstein and Abraham Lincoln people who despite their genetic flaws were successful people. These people, in the movie set, would be condemned to an underclass life and would never have a chance to make the contributions they made in society.
Genetic Engineering is a science that is maturing but has yet to reach its time. To me, the movie serves as a warning to the extent that it can take place. For example, to me, it might be ok to engineer a child so that he will not get Congenital Heart Disease like Vincent. However, opening a slippery slope of further modification. Cancer-resistant genes or diabetes immunity would also sound appropriate but why stop there why not make humans all 7 feet tall or blond or blue-eyed? Once the modification begins there is no end to how far it could go. The creation of a superhuman might not be far off, the ideal man could now be engineered. But who defines what the ideal, or perfect man is? To me, genetic engineering to prevent disease and deformities might be ok. These flaws should be removed however, removing flaws opens a can of worms in that flaws might spread to skin color, or size, or other physical aspects that radical people might want to change. The eugenic discrimination in the movie might also happen in real life, after all, today Asians and African Americans still suffer discrimination of the worst sort and this discrimination is often based simply on the color of their skin. For me, it is better to keep the lid closed and trust in natural evolution. After all, Vincent got to space in the end did he not?
From a Deontological perspective, the genetic engineering of people is fine. The act of preventing disease and defect should be treated as independent of the consequences of discrimination and dehumanization it will cause. However, I disagree since the dehumanization of normal humans is a natural consequence of making a superior man. Justice (perfection) will be done. But the Heavens will definitely fall.
Works Cited
Niccol, Andrew: Gattaca 1997.
Olson, Robert G. 1967. ‘Deontological Ethics’. In Paul Edwards (ed.) The Encyclopedia of Philosophy. London: Collier Macmillan.
Waller, Bruce N. 2005. Consider Ethics: Theory, Readings, and Contemporary Issues. New York: Pearson Longman: 23.
Korsgaard, Christine. 1998. ‘Kant on Dealing with Evil’. In James P. Sterba, Ethics: The Big Questions. Blackwell Publishing.