Introduction:

Some of the biggest themes discussed and explored in both “Blade Runner” and “Paradise Lost” concern control, rebellion, morality, and redemption. These themes are explored in two ways: 1) the conflict and contexts of both “Blade Runner” and “Paradise Lost.” Specifically, Roy Batty’s rebellion against Eldon Tyrell and the systems and culture that subjugates replicants to terrible treatment when they disobey their arbitrary roles and Satan’s rebellion against God and 2) the characterizations between the characters of Rick Deckard, Roy Batty, Eldon Tyrell, and Rachael as parallels to Adam, Eve, Satan, and God in “Paradise Lost.”

My intent is to show how both “Blade Runner” and “Paradise Lost” can be read (or viewed) as a way to give virtue to disobedience. Regardless of John Milton’s intentions, many of the influences of “Blade Runner” (including Mary Shelly’s “Frankenstein” and “Paradise Lost” itself) center themselves around the heroic nature of Satan’s rebellion, autonomy, and search for knowledge, especially when looked through the Romantic tradition which regards Satan as the “hero” of John Milton’s epic.

In addition to two scholarly sources that will help dissect and discuss different approaches to “Blade Runner” and “Paradise Lost,” I would also like to provide a 15 minute movie clip: “Blade Runner: 2022 Blackout.” I believe that the themes in both the 1982 original film and the animated short lend themselves to similar discussion and provide slight differences that will generate interesting discussion. In addition to the accessibility of the animated feature (being online and legally provided by free resources), I believe that the animated short carry the same message and imagery that can provide context and lore to those who haven’t seen the original “Blade Runner” or it’s sequel, “Blade Runner: 2049.”