Character - Deckard

1. Character - Deckard Even though the replicants are killers and “machines”, we are not relieved when they die. We are not supposed to accept the taking of life, synthetic or not, and Deckard’s own reaction to killing is one of abhorrence. Dekard exposes Rachael’s true identity but realizes he may have gone too far. Deckard's killing of them is morally neutral or positive. But if they are rebelling slaves, their murder of human oppressors is comprehensible and may be justified, while their destruction serves to strengthen the oppressor. So Deckard's dilemma has a powerful edge. He is beat up more than beating; he is an anti-hero. Rachael saves the physical Deckard; Batty saves Deckard's soul. When Deckard understands Batty, he understands himself. The more Deckard gets to know them, the less he is able to distinguish between androids and human persons.

2. Deckard is capable of seeing the replicants: he can see them, love them, take them seriously - he respects difference. But with the growth of his love for the mechanical he seems to be regaining his humanness - yet he is a replicant The more Deckard gets to know them, the less he is able to distinguish between androids and human persons.

3. Is Deckard a Replicant? What about his ignorance of the Nexus-6? It may not have existed when his implants were first created. • Deckard's implants could be designed so he is ignorant to the Nexus-6 replicants, this would make him more efficient at retiring them as he would show no empathy towards them. It is impossible for us to distinguish between Deckard’s real and implanted memories. • The only real evidence we have of Deckards memories being implants is the unicorn dream sequence and the origami unicorn left at the end by Gaff. Deckard too treasures family photographs. • His apartment is almost cluttered with photographs as if to over-compensate for not having real memories. It seems logical that replicants would be used to find and kill dangerous fugitives since they are expendable and designed specifically for hazardous jobs. • Replicants are expendable as they can be reproduced easy enough, this is one of the key ideas of the film- is it humane for replicants to be treated in such a way as they display and feel the same feelings as humans?

4. Is Deckard a Replicant? Gaff’s unicorn seems to give Deckard evidence that his own memories are implants. But the revelation is almost non-existent: although events throughout the film may have prepared Deckard this…he is not a demonstrative person. Rachael’s question if he has taken the V-K test himself. Batty’s question, “Aren’t you the good man?” “You’ve done a man’s job, sir.” • When Deckard finds the origami unicorn he doesn’t act surprised or amazed, he initially acts somewhat smugly about it as it he always knew, but his facial expression changes to show it just reaffirms his suspicions. • Rachael suspects that Deckard could be a replicant. • Battys question is used to suggest who is the real protagonist, if Deckard really is the ‘hero’. • Suggests that throughout the film Deckard has acted human, his actions in the film suggest that he is more human than he is replicant; thus more human than human.

5. Character - Rachael Rachael witnesses the ‘fiasco’ that is Zhora’s death and, horrified, disappears. During the sex/love scene, Rachael lacks confidence but is willing to explore her awakening emotions. Bluesy jazz - melancholy passion that is also private, emphasise both the privacy of the moment and Rachael’s humanity. “I’m not the business, I am the business” eerie music, emotional conflict embodied. There are two classes of people, menacing bass drone. Rachael undergoes one of the most painful human experiences: identity crisis. Yet she exhibits the greatest sense of self and the greatest freedom of choice.

6. Rachael • Because of her implanted memories, Rachel seems more human than most other humans. • Rachel shows child-like responses and innocence during the love/sex scene • Deckard Is split between what to do either do his job or protect Rachel. • She experience's what it is like to be a woman in the 21st century. • Comes Back and kills Deckard in order to save him. • Deckard dominates her with animal like actions. • Gaff lays down Origami to show Deckard may have interest in Rachel

7. The Replicants • The replicants love, hate, dream, think, grieve, feel loyalty, generosity and yearning. • ‘More human than human’ • Understand human emotions, and desires better than most humans • Show there own emotions towards other replicants/humans • We identify with them especially when they die • Replicants are the ultimate in planned obsolence. • Desire there uniqueness • Functional • They serve man-kind • Colonial wars Off World have accompanied capitalism. • Man-kinds exploration for new resources is nothing new • Only achieved through force/war • The replicants' in-group loyalty and dedication counts for nothing. • Leon’s horror at zhoras death • Batty’s grief at Pris’s death

8. Our understanding of Batty’s cruelty changes as we come to understand it as a very human reaction to his existential situation: the imminence of his death and that of those he loves; the feeling of betrayal by the beings that brought him into existence. • Batty understands Deckard is becoming more sympathetic. • The Replicants are pursued and killed without due process. • As some are programmed to fight or kill that’s all they know. • The androids suffer from diminished responsibility; surely Tyrell Corporation is culpable? • Gives them false hope in the most cruel way. • Four years life expectancy • Limitations to their life • The movie deals with the defect in the lack of maturity or developmental experiences which remain with us through memory; such is demonstrated by the replicants. • They are extremely childlike they have not had a chance to mature fully in there lifetime

9. Character – Roy Batty Batty solemnly descends the elevator: allusions to Paradise Lost and Lucifer expelled from heaven.Lucifer is the Devil’s true name as an angel, which suggests that there is a good side to Batty after all. Batty’s cramp is his built-in termination process beginning to take effect. This conceys the main difference between replicants and humans, which terrifies Batty. Batty depicts Pentecost: speaking in tongues to those he has had difficulty communicating with. The inversion of the crucifixion story, where the Father is killed by the Son. The creation saves the creator. Batty sticks nails into his hands and uses that hand to save the life of Deckard, suggesting his heroic act made him a saint. Batty's ability to 'see' is implied in the very first frames at the beginning of the film. Death of Batty uses cliché. Welling up music for the “heroic tragedy” that goes back to Beethoven. Tyrell “culmination” – the stylistic root is Wagner – with the implication is that the death has long been fated to occur, and that this is the turning point of the drama. Which is ironic because the creator dies before the creation, a reference to the story of God sacrificing his son.

10. We feel the pain Roy Batty feels when faced with the knowledge of his approaching death in conjunction with his consciousness of his potentiality for knowledge and accomplishment. This is the same pain we feel when confronted with the death of a child or adolescent: it is a profound sense of loss of potentiality.

11. Roy Batty wants someone with him when he dies, so that the reality of his death (and therefore his life) maybe validated. His speech has the same purpose. Look, I have lived. I breathed. I laughed. I wept. I suffered. Now I am dying. It matters. See me.Batty chooses someone who is capable of seeing him. And that is why Roy Batty's communication, and perhaps, his death, has such a saving effect on Deckard. Someone who sees us who does not condemn is a recurring human hope. Batty refuses to kill Deckard because he is recognizing the potential decency of human beings, the potential validity of human society, the worthiness of difference. UNDERSATANDING.

12. Character – Tyrell • Tyrell’s buildings are strikingly like the Mayan Temple of the Sun. • There is something evil about manufacturing or in an way producing a being who will become conscious of his early death. • Closer to heaven/clean air. Sun shines- treated like a god. • Gives Rachael the memories of his niece. • Tyrell ‘plays god’ creating a new world and human like beings ‘more human than human’ • Claims he cant give them more life as it is too ‘dangerous’ • Batty see’s him as a father figure. • Expects his creation to return and is surprised when Batty didn’t return sooner. • Uncaring, Evil only cares about making the replicates work better (cares not what people think e.g.: When Deckard discovers his plan and is shocked but he shows no care or emotions) • Proud of his creations while scared/nervous at the same time when faced with Batty. He never shows his back to batty clearly shows he is nervous ‘never show you back to an enemy’ • Killed by one of his own creations (the prodigal son) • symbolises social structure/wealth/power distribution

13. Character – Leon • Leon clinging to his photographs symbolises his awareness of his self as enduring through time; the photos remind him of that duration, i.e. his own identity. • Leon shows emotion to Zhora’s death • He fails the VK test • Leon is trying to kill Deckard, it looks more about revenge than a calculated move. • He displays violence among others • He shows emotion as a replicant • Leon influences Pris and Ray future actions • He was the fist seen replicant • Responsible for Deckard’s rehiring • He injures the other Bladerunner at the start of the film.