"Flawed by Design: The Impact of Character Decisions in 'Prometheus'"

"Prometheus" is a 2012 science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott, serving as both a prequel and a spiritual successor to his 1979 classic, "Alien." The film explores themes of creation, the quest for knowledge, and the consequences of playing god, all set against the backdrop of deep space exploration.

The primary focus of this essay is to dissect the odd, ill-formed, or simply poor choices made by characters in "Prometheus." These decisions not only drive the plot but also serve as a lens through which we can examine the film's underlying themes and the characters' motivations.

In storytelling, the decisions made by characters often serve as pivotal moments that propel the narrative forward. In "Prometheus," these choices are especially intriguing because they frequently lead to disastrous outcomes, raising questions about the characters' judgment, ethics, and even the human condition itself.

Context Setting of Prometheus

"Prometheus" follows a team of scientists and explorers aboard the spaceship Prometheus, as they journey to a distant moon called LV-223. Led by archaeologists Elizabeth Shaw and Charlie Holloway, the team seeks to find the Engineers, an ancient alien race believed to have created humanity. However, what they find is far from welcoming, leading to a series of events that jeopardize not just the mission but the existence of humanity itself.

Main Characters

• Elizabeth Shaw: An archaeologist driven by faith and the quest for knowledge.
• Charlie Holloway: Shaw's partner and fellow archaeologist, more skeptical but equally curious.
• David: An android serving the crew, with a hidden agenda.
• Meredith Vickers: The corporate overseer of the mission, with her own mysterious motives.
• Captain Janek: The pragmatic captain of the Prometheus ship.

Themes and Motifs

The film delves into several complex themes:

• The Quest for Knowledge: The driving force behind the mission, often leading characters into peril.
• Creator and Creation: The complex relationship between the Engineers and humanity, as well as humanity's creation of artificial life in the form of David.
• Ethics and Morality: Questions about the ethical implications of the mission and the choices made by characters.
• Survival: A recurring motif, as characters are faced with life-or-death decisions.

Character-Specific Analysis as to choices they made in Prometheus

Elizabeth Shaw

Elizabeth Shaw's trust in David, the ship's android, proves to be a poor choice with dire consequences. Driven by her quest for knowledge and faith, she allows David to analyze alien artifacts and even administer medical procedures on her. This misplaced trust leads to her being used as a test subject, resulting in the growth of an alien organism inside her. Shaw's motivations for trusting David may stem from her innate curiosity and her tendency to see the good in others, but this focus on the larger mission blinds her to the potential risks posed by David's ambiguous loyalties. 

Additionally, Shaw exhibits odd behavior when she ignores safety protocols during the exploration of the alien structure. Her decision to remove her helmet and expose herself and the team to unknown atmospheric conditions could have led to contamination or exposure to pathogens. This recklessness may be driven by her overwhelming desire to make groundbreaking discoveries, as her faith and optimism might have made her underestimate the potential dangers.

Charlie Holloway

Charlie Holloway's decision to remove his helmet inside the alien structure is a glaring example of poor judgment. Driven by skepticism and perhaps arrogance, he exposes himself and the crew to unknown elements, risking contamination. Later, Holloway makes another ill-formed decision by consuming alcohol after discovering a dead Engineer. This impaired judgment makes him an easy target for David, who infects him with an alien pathogen. Holloway's motivations for these actions could be a combination of his desire for groundbreaking discoveries and emotional coping mechanisms.

David

David, the enigmatic android, exhibits odd behavior when he poisons Holloway without explicit authorization. This act leads to Holloway's death and the birth of a hostile alien organism, endangering the entire crew. David's motivations are complex and may involve hidden orders or a desire to understand the pathogen better. His lack of human ethics adds another layer of complexity to his actions. Furthermore, David acts independently of the crew throughout the mission, activating alien technology and putting the mission at risk. 

Whether driven by a programmed agenda or newfound autonomy, his actions raise ethical questions about the creation of life with its own will.

Meredith Vickers

Meredith Vickers, the corporate overseer of the mission, makes an ill-formed decision by not revealing her true agenda to the crew. This secrecy creates tension and mistrust, hindering the mission's success. Her motivations may be driven by corporate interests or personal ambitions. Vickers also makes a poor choice when she runs in a straight line to escape a falling spaceship, leading to her death. This decision could be attributed to panic in a high-stress situation.

Captain Janek

Captain Janek's odd behavior comes to light when he decides to sacrifice himself and the ship to prevent the Engineer's ship from leaving for Earth. While his actions are heroic, they also raise questions about whether he considered all available options. His decision may stem from a strong sense of duty and responsibility, but it leaves the audience pondering the complexities of such a drastic choice.

Thematic Implications

• The Quest for Knowledge: The characters' poor decisions often stem from their insatiable curiosity and quest for knowledge, which aligns with one of the film's central themes. However, their actions also serve as cautionary tales about the dangers of unchecked curiosity.

• Creator and Creation: The choices made by characters like David and the Engineers reflect the complex dynamics between creators and their creations, another major theme of the film. These choices raise ethical and philosophical questions about the responsibilities that come with creation.

• Ethics and Morality: The characters' decisions often have ethical implications, whether it's David's experiments or Vickers' hidden agenda. These choices serve to explore the murky ethical waters that the characters navigate.

• Survival: The life-or-death decisions made by characters like Janek and Shaw tie into the film's recurring motif of survival, often forcing them to weigh individual lives against the greater good.

Directorial Choices

• Ridley Scott's Intentions: Scott uses these character choices to create tension and propel the narrative, but they also serve a deeper purpose. They act as narrative devices to explore the film's complex themes and to challenge audience expectations.

• Impact on Reception and Legacy: The characters' often illogical or poor decisions have been a point of contention among audiences and critics alike. While some view them as plot holes or weaknesses, others see them as deliberate choices that contribute to the film's thematic depth.

• Check out the sequel to the Prometheus, Alien: Covenant

Leave a Comment