GATTACA Essay (Connor)

Connor Brobst

Mr. Bursch

Honors Biology

16 January 2015

GATTACA Essay

In the science fiction movie GATTACA, society takes place in a dystopian future where the lives and standards of people are determined from birth by genetics. The main character Vincent however, was born without any genetic modifications and was born naturally. This later interferes with his goal in life as he wishes to go to space, but cannot due to his low social class and limited life based on his genes, and his many health problems.

However, Vincent finds a donor named Jerome Eugene Morrow, who is disabled due to an accident. He gives Vincent the tools to go to space, but the question must be asked. Why? This is explained through the phrase “Jerome was engineered with everything needed to get into GATTACA except the will to do so.” This quote illustrates the irony, as Jerome was given all the opportunities he needs, except the will, while Vincent has the will he needs, but neither the ability nor the opportunity.

This is later shown when Vincent is heading up to Space, and as Jerome plans to leave he gives Vincent enough of his DNA via blood, hair, and urine to last Vincent a lifetime and therefore accomplish anymore goals. When Vincent does finally leave, he opens a present given to him by Jerome, which was revealed to be a locket with hair. Vincent then shows that no matter how much he hates this world, he has a hard time leaving it. Jerome is then revealed to have killed himself in his home incinerator, as he still lacks a purpose in his life, but found peace as he enabled another to fulfill theirs.

In the end, the quote “ Jerome was engineered with everything needed to get into GATTACA except the will to do so” shows how he was initially hopeless and a waste, as he had all the opportunities he needed, but chose none of them. However, he finally found peace as he acted as a ladder for Vincent, an in-valid, to achieve his against destiny goals. This shows how Jerome, a man with everything, chose to do nothing with his life, but redeemed himself by giving Vincent his life chance to achieve his dreams.