Sunday, December 8, 2013

REACTION PAPER (No. 2): THE FLY (1958)

Thea Selina G. Morales
2013-59204

"The Fly" (1958) is a science fiction film that is definitely both entertaining and interesting.  The movie begins with a sense of mystery, depicting a scene of a murder.  What makes it even more attention-grabbing, is the fact that the wife of the victim confesses to committing the crime.  As a whole, it possesses these attributes because of the scientific discoveries that appear to be out of this world and we are able to witness how the society at that time deals and reacts to such situations. 

       Science plays a big role in the movie as it centers on the main dilemma of the husband/scientist’s accidental fly mutation due to his invention malfunction.  He exhibits the negative side of being too attached to his work.  Andre spends more time in the lab than in the outside world with his loved ones.  And for the seldom times he goes outside, his mind wanders back to the walls within his lab.  In this way, he becomes indifferent to reality of the current society and becomes locked inside his own world of science.

              The American Heritage Dictionary defines morality play to be a something viewed as exhibiting a struggle between good and evil and offering a moral lesson.  I believe that “The Fly” exhibits this characteristic in the sense that killing another human being is evil but doing this for the safety of humankind is good. 

               As seen in the film, science discoveries were given boundaries.  I may say so because as the wife narrates the events leading to the death of the husband, the investigators perceive her as crazy.  From this situation, it can be observed that during the 1950’s, the public is depicted to be more close-minded compared to the society we have now.  Today, scientific and technological advancements have no limits.  New discoveries are neither seen as crazy nor impossible but seen as fascinating and wonderful.  

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