“Soylent Green” is one of the classic science fiction movies directed by Richard Fleischer, released in 1973. It is based upon the science fiction novel “Make Room! Make Room! is set in the year 1999, written by Harry Harrison, about overpopulation and overuse of resources leading to increasing social disorder as the next millennium approaches. This essay is written and incorporates with the two quotations, “Since the beginning of time, man has never refrained from any folly within his power” -Bertrand Russel, and “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil, is for good men to do nothing” -Edmund Burke.
This story tells us what is happening in the future Earth; the result of this is global warming and pollution in all stages. The most significant thing about the movie is that it foretells the situation that is caused by the foolish behavior of humanity. This film tells you quickly realize this is a terrible and highly inequitable future of American Society.
The future of humanity and of the entire universe is determined, most significantly, by the power of man, which can be made use for the growth or the destruction of the world. The dominating, master-attitude of humanity towards the universe and its elements can only end up in the destruction of the world, which calls up for man’s own destruction. When the modern generation wants to forget this ultimate truth of life and existence, art comes forward to remind humanity of the imminent destruction of its existence. The classic science fiction movie “Soylent Green” (1973) by Richard Fleischer makes the same attempt which makes the movie very much relevant even in the modern world.
The movie tells the miserable tale of Earth in 2022 when the world becomes overpopulated with 40 million people who are doomed to starve. As Dr. Foreman remarks, “it’s a film about overpopulation, but on a more important note, it’s a cautionary tale about what can go wrong with Man’s stewardship of Earth. It’s in the subtext that you find the real message of the film” (Foreman 2004). It is a story that deals with great concepts of man’s intervention in the course of the universe, ultimately determining its future. It is a generation that has been following all the foolish things, and the result of every human activity is that ultimately he pays heavily for his actions.
Bertrand Russell is right in his statement of the nature of humanity. “Since the beginning of time, man has never refrained from any folly within his power.” The movie shows how man has created a critical stage in his existence due to his follies. All the themes of the movie, environment, pollution, food sources, global warming, can be linked to the human behavior and the movie represents a situation that is imminent if man chooses to continue the same foolishness.
The human interference in the course of universe has resulted in the terrible situation of global warming and pollution. The thoughtless acts and deeds of humanity causes the universe to lose its balance and the result is that the nature responds to this situation very heavily in the form of global warming, etc. Different kinds of human activity caused by Global warming, natural warming also created. We can tell very clearly the origin of the Carbon dioxide, the warm condition of the Earth and sun’s heat is caused by this.
The scientists agree that our Earth is undergoing major climate change. They also agree that the level of Carbon Dioxide in atmosphere is rising at a terrific rate. Global warming is the warming up in the Earth’s climate. The main cause of global warming is the increasing use of fossil fuels. Since the industrial revolution people have needed more energy for work, this has come from the burning of fossil fuels, particularly coal and oil. This releases more carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere which cause the Green house effect.
Global warming causes the sea levels to rise. Green house gases are chemical compounds found in the Earth’s atmosphere. “By taking small steps towards improving the Earth’s atmosphere like driving smaller, more gas efficient and even electric cars, recycling, and finding alternative methods for fossil fuels and oil” (Padula). The negligence of all these by the humanity will result in the situation described by the movie. The environment is polluted and destroyed by the humanity which causes lack of food sources. The movie presets the situation where there is nothing sufficient for the growing number of population.
To review the movie in this focus, we can understand the result of man’s foolish ways is very much destructive to his own existence. “Soylent Green” is a food product at the centre of the story. In the year 2022 New York City has become overpopulated with 40 million people and pollution has caused the temperature to be risen and all natural resources have been destroyed, leaving 40 million people starving and half of them are unemployed.
The only way to survive this is with water rations and eating the mysterious food called Soylent. Most of the populations are fed by the Soylent Company. Soylent Company produces several types of rations including Soylent Red and Soylent Yellow, which are advertised as “high energy vegetable concentrates”. When the supply of it runs out rioting is common. There fore, the movie “Soylent Green walks a fine line between melodramatic Seventies science fiction and a thoughtful examination of problems that began to surface in a decade of oil shortages, endangered species…” and the like. (Soylent Green. 1999). The effect that the movie creates is unquestionable.
The movie has great moments when the future results of human intervention in nature at present are represented. It “is a basic, cautionary tale of what could become of humanity physically and spiritually if it doesn’t nurture the planet that nurtures it. There is little in this film that has not been seen in its brethren: faceless, oppressive crowds; sheep mentality; the corrosion of the soul, of imagination, of collective memory. (Hladik 1997). The movie is noted, at times, for its imagery which is powerful and haunting. The sight of inescapably rolling front-loaders aimlessly scooping up masses of squirming humanity from the streets is as powerful as anything else the film has to say. “Mostly, though, the profundity of humanity’s transformation is dealt with in less than a masterful manner” (Hladik 1997).
When we think of the way out for this specific situation, we are reminded of a famous remark by Edmond Burke. “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil, is for good men to do nothing” (Burke 1797). Whenever humanity forgets its great powers in favor of the good of the universe and goes forward with its wicked ways, there is no room for any hope. The situation as suggested by the story of the movie Soylent Green is the result of the inaction of good men or the activities of the wicked men.
In such a situation we can identify the reason for the triumph of evil. If at all the movie puts forward any message for the humanity, it is the message to act positively for the good of humanity. Therefore, in conclusion, the movie presents before the audience a situation which is imminent if the humanity goes on to behave the same way it has been towards the nature and the universe.
Works Cited
Dr. Foreman. Remember, before Star Wars, when sci-fi was smart? User Comments. Soylent Green. 2004. Web.
Padula, Nina. Global Warming: An Inevitable Issue. 2008. Web.
Soylent Green. Stomp Tokyo. 1999. Web.
Hladik, I Tamara. Classic Sci-Fi: Soylent Green. 1997. Web.
Burke, Edmond. The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil, is for good men to do nothing. 1797. Web.