Key Quotes/Features in Gattaca

Key Quotes/Features in Gattaca

1. Themes

   • Discrimination
     • "We now have discrimination down to a science." - Vincent
   • Problems of Genetic Engineering
     • "They used to say that a child conceived in love has a greater chance of happiness. They don’t say that anymore." - Vincent
     • "Unfortunately, my son’s not all that they promised. But then, who knows what he could do?” - Lamar
   • Overcoming Adversity/Achieving your Dreams
     • "I want to be up there [in space]." - Vincent
     • "There is no gene for fate." - Vincent
     • "I was never more certain of how far away I was from my goal than when I was standing right there beside it." - Vincent
     • "I dreamed of going into space…my goals didn’t change a lot in the intervening years, much to my parents’ dismay." - Vincent
     • "I was now…one of those who refuses to accept the same he was dealt…I am most commonly known as a “borrowed ladder” or a de-gene-erate." - Vincent

2. Langauge Features

   • Symbolism
     • The green car that Vincent is conceived in is symbolic of nature/being natural
     • Use of beach/water symbolizes fear of the unknown
   • Foreshadowing
     • Close up of toddler Vincent’s hand holding the bars of the preschool foreshadows the difficulties he will face
     • Long shot of Vincent and space launch in background, foreshadowing his future
     • Close up of Vincent’s eyelash before it is vacuumed up , Chekov's gun foreshadowing, shows significance

3. Characters

   • Anton
     • "...A son my father considered worthy of his name." -Vincent
     • “I have a right to be here. You don’t." -Anton to Vincent
   • Vincent
     • "The only way you’ll see the inside of a spaceship is if you were cleaning it." -Vincent's Dad
     • "...limit how much of my in-valid self I would leave in the valid world." -Vincent
     • "For someone who was never meant for this world, I must confess, I’m suddenly having a hard time leaving it." - Vincent
   • Irene
     • “Not as lucky as some." -Irene, on herself
     • "They have got you looking so hard for any flaw that after a while that’s all you see.” - Vincent
   • Jerome
     • "I wasn’t [drunk] when I walked in front of that car…I stepped right out in front of it. I’ve never been more sober in my life. I couldn’t even get that right, could I? If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again." -Jerome
     • “I got the better end of the deal. I only lent you my body. You lent me your dream." -Jerome
     • "Eugene, I need you to be yourself for the day.” - Vincent "I was never very good at it, remember?" - Jerome
     • "For Jerome, selection [to be part of Gattaca] was virtually guaranteed at birth." - Vincent
     • "Jerome Morrow was never meant to be one step down on the podium. With all I had going for me, I was still second best." - Jerome