man versus nature

man versus nature

The Jurassic Park is an American Science fiction horror adventure written by Crichton and produced by Kathleen Kennedy in 1193. The film’s setting is a fictional island called Isla Nublar, which is located in the Pacific along the coast of Costa Rica. In the film, a pragmatic paleontologist visits the Park, and during this time, a mystery happens. A power failure occurs in the Park loosening the cloned dinosaurs. Among those in the Park, were kids who had visited to view the dinosaurs. The cause of the power surge is an attempted robbery by Dennis Nedry, who intends to sell dinosaurs embryos to a willing buyer and is viewed as the film’s antagonist. When the management realizes that there was a breach of security, they get the power back but later realize that both the visitors and the dinosaurs were free and lost into the forest. John Hammond, the owner of the Park, summons three experts; Dr. Ellie, a palaeobotanist, Dr. Grant, a paleontologist, and Dr. Malcom, a mathematician to witness the horrors of the freed dinosaurs. Meanwhile, Tyrannosaurus Rex, the dangerous creature, is on the move to get fresh meat from the visitors. This film employs different themes, and in this paper, the theme of man versus nature is critically analyzed.

Man versus nature is a theme that has been firmly built in this film with the use of different literary devices like; motifs, symbols, allusions, conflicts focusing angles, and cuts. First, the human race in the film is opposed to the fact that nature was made as a paradise for all creatures and the rule of humankind. Through the symbolic representation of the theme park, Jon Hammond wants to create a place where he controls existence. Throughout the film, most characters have the belief that they can control nature by creating it (Hassan). This reason explains why Nerdy wants to steal the embryo. Nerdy wants to sell the embryo to another scientist who again wants to copy Hammond’s work. Through this symbolic representation of an artificial park, Michael Crichton wants to show the film of nature versus man in control of power.

Symbolism is used in several other scenes where various figures and objects are used to represent the actual meaning of something. During the film, a young man is bitten by a raptor, and he is immediately taken to the doctors. Upon arrival, the doctors note that the young man had developed a foul smell. Working tirelessly to save the boy, the doctors realize that their efforts would bear no fruits when the boy suddenly dies. A repulsive and putrid smell continues to intensify until the doctors can no longer stay in the same room with the dead body. Crichton uses this smell to symbolize the presence of danger in the animals (Hassan). This representation of danger also shows the relationship between nature and man, whereby human beings should be afraid of nature. Crichton uses this symbol to show how nature versus man conflict drives fear between the two beings.

The angles used in the film are also used to represent this theme of nature versus man. First, A high angle shot is used to show the children walking comfortably through nature while dinosaurs were in their cages. Small children having control over giant creatures is a form of control over nature. Again, the camera shifts to a POV shot with Tyrannosaurus Rex struggling and showing anger in his cage. These set of shots are used to show the relationship between man and nature whereby nature, dinosaurs, are seen as inferior creatures when compared to the human beings who are always in control of all the activities of the Park. When Hammond comes to visit the lab, a close-up shot is used to show his amazement in the work of is scientists. The camera then switches to a high angle long shot where the whole room’s interior view of the building is shown. The scientists are all busy working on the cloning operations. This shot helps to relay the theme of man’s power over nature. The ability to create artificial nature is depicted in this setting. By using these different camera angles and shots, the producer wants to show how man has power over nature and how submissive nature is to humankind.

During the scene of Muldoon’s last moment in the film, a close-up shot is used to show the fear in Muldoon’s fac. This shot shows a clear vision of the sharpness in his eyes, sweat running from his face, and a sign of confidence in his eyes. The shot shifts slow to a low angle shot where Muldoon is seen strolling through the underground without making any noise. Again the camera shifts to a close-up whereby his gun is shown. The selection of these close-up shots enables the viewer to see the reaction of human beings when faced with the threat of nature. By showing the gun, the producer here, wants the audience to understand that nature is more powerful than man. For a human being to win against nature, there has to be an involvement of a third-party object.

Muldoon, the Park’s hunter, is used throughout the film to display different styles aimed at reinstating this theme of human beings versus nature. The personification of raptors and lizards have by Muldoon is a way of showing the relationship between man and nature. During his hunting exercise, Muldoon calls the raptor “Clever girl.” During this scene, Muldoon is hunting through the trees when suddenly, the raptor bursts out of trees and trees and tears him. During this dying moment, he acknowledges that this raptor is a clever girl and in the process personifying it. By giving the animal an attribute of human beings, Crichton wants the theme of man versus nature to be considered an equal opportunity for all the parties. The raptor is given the tribute of maintaining patience, by hiding and killing a veteran hunter, Muldoon. In this scene, Crichton shows that man is not always in control while facing nature. It is possible for nature to kick back, and in the end, disastrous repercussions could befall human beings. By attacking the hunter, the raptor showed its power in this battle of man versus nature (Hassan). Through this scene, the producer shows how nature is capable of winning the battle of man versus nature when provided with a fairground.

Several conflicts have been used in this film whereby nature and man, character versus technology, and character versus character conflicts have been employed. First, in character versus technology conflict, Dr. Wu creates a DNA hoping to prevent the cloned animals from reproducing. However, his technology had not hinted at the presence of a spontaneous sex change trend in the DNA that would see eventual reproduction in the animals. Crichton uses this conflict to show how technology versus man conflicts could be beneficial in the man versus nature conflicts. Again, in character versus nature conflict, Crichton uses the general film’s plot to show how man tries to govern nature through the use of technology and other external forces like guns. Finally, in the conflict of character versus character, Crichton uses Nedry’s robbery attempt to show how conflicts between human beings affect nature (Hassan). Through Nedry’s attempt to steal the embryos, all the animals are set free. Nedry does not indent to set these animals free, but through his actions, the animals can move through the Park with freedom. For this part, Crichton tells the audience that in the event of man versus man conflicts, nature is profoundly affected. For instance, during the world wars, numerous animals lost lives due to being hit by stray bullets bombs and slaughter for food. By using these three conflicts, Crichton wants human beings to avoid conflicts because these conflicts directly impact nature.

Crichton has used several motifs in the film with the idea of burning down the island being the most common motif. During its development, Hammond and other founders have a directive of burning down the Park in case something went wrong. This motif implies that the founders were aware that nature would someday, retaliate against the oppression of humankind. While this instruction was seen as a preventive measure, its evaluation in a real test proved its implementation was virtually impossible. With visitors, including children inside the Park, the management could not implement the burn the park order. By using this motif, Crichton wants to show the audience how nature proves stubborn to extinct. Both the trees and the animals were to be burned down, but the inclusion of human beings in the Park helped in the establishment of a new way of solving the problem (Hassan). Hence by using this motif, Crichton wanted to show how humankind despises nature and favors fellow humankind in making decisions.

Allusions have been used to build the theme of man versus nature conflicts. The most evident scenario of allusion is the idea of restraining human beings from interfering with God’s creation. Dr. Hammond tries to surpass God’s creation by cloning the natural dinosaurs and creating artificial ones that should not reproduce. However, Crichton uses this allusion to show that human beings must suffer the consequences of trying to clone God’s creation (Hassan). By showing the sufferings of the visitors in the Park, the producer wants to pass the idea of man respecting nature in the man versus nature conflict.

Imagery has also been used to show this theme with T-rex being used as an image of how nature cannot be controlled. In this context, the T-rex is shown as a violent raptor that shows no signs of giving in to human being’s efforts of neutralizing all the raptors. By using this imagery, Crichton wants to show that human beings’ quest to suppress nature could prove fruitless because nature is sometimes stubborn in adapting to the suppressions.

In conclusion, Jurassic Park employs numerous techniques and styles to pass the theme of man versus nature. A horror film aims at creating a sense of fear, alarm, and panic to the audience. By employing the different scenes making this film, the producer has achieved a thrilling experience to its audience. Watching the film causes fear and panic, which qualifies the film to be a horror film. This film helps in the regulation of an emotional activity, which is the reason why watching it is good.