Characterization: Roy Batty

In order, both of these clips shows the struggles and character arch of the film’s anti-hero: Roy Batty. Both articles declare and defend the similarities that Roy has to Milton’s Satan (as discussed below). What I want to focus on are two things: 1) Batty’s conflict and rebellion as both a similarity to Satan and exemplifying disobedience as a virtue and 2) Batty’s redemption arch and how it is used to solidify Batty as both Satan and Son.

In the article, “The Romantic Roots of ‘Blade Runner,'” Lussier and Gowan place Batty within the strict confines of role as Satan (and the creature from “Frankenstein”), citing his conflict and rebellion against Tyrell. This confrontation is shown in the scene titled, “The Prodigal Son.” Much like Satan in “Paradise Lost,” Batty’s rebellion is driven by his need for equality, in this case, a lifespan equal to that of a human. Lussier and Gowan cite this rebellion and need for equality and knowledge as heroic, when looked at from the Romantic tradition (citing both Satan’s character from “Paradise Lost” and the creature from “Frankenstein”). Though I understand his role as Satan from a conflict standpoint and see how this can be construed as heroic, Desser’s article shows a more realized contemplation of Batty by looking directly into his character. As shown in the differences in lighting in the scenes, there is a stark contrast between the Batty that killed his creator and the Batty that is redeemed through the saving of Deckard. Desser suggests that Batty embodies Adam, Satan, and the Son. The biggest differences between the two scenes is his Satanic arch compared to his Son arch. I would argue that the lighting and Tyrell’s description of Batty in the first scene places him in the realm of Satan. However, this arch ends with the scene and Batty attempts to live out the remainder of his life with his “Eve” (Pris) only to find redemption in saving Deckard and assuming the role of the Son (notice the religious imagery like the nail and the dove as well as his martyr final statement, “Time to die”).

Batty’s noble characterization coupled with his Romantic mission for independence gives us the noble nature of rebellion. Like the Romantic writers and poets, Batty and Satan are both portrayed as heroes in their respective mediums. Rebelling is a way that both Satan and Batty find knowledge and independence. The differences between the two is not in their mission, but in their trajectory. After giving knowledge to Adam and Eve resulting in their fall, Satan goes back to hell unrepentant in book 10 lines 410-585. Not that Batty was repentant for killing Tyrell or whoever else got in his was, however he does transcend and becomes more than what he set out to be, in the end. Finding humanity in forgiveness, Batty dies at his moral high ground: rebelling against his programming to do one of the most human things he can, forgive.