The conflicting nature of human evolution and eugenics are brought to the forefront in the movie Gattaca. Written and directed by Andrew Niccol, the movie challenges viewers to reconsider bioethics development concerning the value of human life, the implications of prenatal testing and genetic modification, and potential genetic discrimination. All of these topics are also touched upon in Philip Kitcher’s The Lives to Come. Criteria for examining the quality of life for Kitcher includes what an individual finds significant and desirable, if the individual’s desires are satisfied, and character built through the experience. I will use Kitcher’s criterion to examine the quality of life of the main characters in Gattaca: Vincent Anton Freeman, played by Ethan Hawke; Irene Cassini, played by Uma Thurman; and Jerome Eugene Morrow, played by Jude Law.
Vincent Anton Freeman’s desire in life is to be an astronaut. His passion for space is developed at a young age, and is later demonstrated through his willingness to take on another’s identity, one whose genetic profile is “valid” and superior, unlike his own. His desire is partially satisfied when he is admitted into the Gattaca Aerospace Corporation under the assumed identity of Jerome Morrow, and is fully accomplished at the end of the film when he is aboard the spaceship launching on a mission to Titan.
Irene Cassini’s desire in life is revealed to also be an astronaut. Secretly noticing Vincent’s passion for space travel, she becomes curious about him. She and Vincent develop a romance that becomes a significant part of her being, and eventually reveals to him that her dream of traveling to space can never be fulfilled because of a heart defect. Eventually, Irene finds out that Vincent is only able to become an astronaut because he takes on the life of Jerome Morrow, someone with a “valid,” practically perfect genetic profile. Though Irene doesn’t satisfy her desire in becoming an astronaut, she compensates her failure in career goals for progress in her developed relationship with Vincent and acceptance for who he really is.
It could be said that Jerome Eugene Morrow has no personal desire other than what was programmed into his genetics at birth: to be the best. After placing second in a major swimming competition, he is involved in an accident that leaves him paralyzed from the waist down and in need of using a wheelchair. It is later revealed that Jerome’s accident was in fact a suicide attempt because of his failure to achieve perfection and being the best. Thus, even with Jerome’s genetic superiority, the quality of his life is significantly lower.
What happens when you are endowed with all desirable qualities, seen as the perfect individual, and expected to achieve greatness? Is it not a setup for failure, since you are up so high that there is nowhere else to go but down? This is consequently the situation that Jerome is placed in at birth due to his genetically selected desirable qualities. On the other hand, you have someone, Vincent, born with defects and destined to mediocrity at best. Because of the lack of expectations on his part, it is a lot easier for him to achieve something greater than what people assume possible.
Genetics may play a vital role in one’s health and happiness. However, the quality of life is not only what an individual is “naturally” born with. It also depends on the environment and community in which one grows and develops in, and the choices we make in life, as they greatly affect the quality of life.