Thinking and Writing

Spoiler Art - This article discusses of some key points of Prometheus's plot.

According to director Ridley Scott, Prometheus is the answer to the Aliens series. While it slightly addresses the question, the film goes far beyond explaining the origins of an outer space alien specie. In fact, Prometheus is a shocking subtle reminder of what the human race has become in our days. We are self-centered beings. Some of us are less than others but collectively we have become individuals and societies that care more about our own selves than others. While there’s still a lot of good things happening everyday, the world is in a chaotic state and isn’t getting better.

Prometheus begins with a scientific crew that embarks on a space journey in hope of finding answers to the origins of life on Earth. Fortunately for them, they find exactly what they were looking for but not necessarily for the reasons they thought in the first place. They soon realize that their entire mission is the fruit of an old dying man who is only concerned in finding a cure to his degrading health. The crew members realizes then that they were lied, used, and put in danger to fulfill one man’s desire.

Later on, the film reveals a shocking truth of what perhaps our own creators may think of us. The crew members find and awake an “Architect” — a human-like being who originally brought life to earth. At this point, rather than seeking for answers that could help humanity, they ask him for a cure to save the old man’s life. The Architect, still confused and dizzy from waking up, starts to remember why the human race has become a fallen one. He could see that their selfishness has brought them across the galaxy just to fulfill one man’s wish. The Architect is reminded then of his original mission, to wipe the entire human race. Humanity has become a hopeless case and they must be exterminated.

This is a very particular turn of events but nothing that we haven't seen before. In fact, the Bible tells a similar story during Noah’s time when God flooded the Earth. Things were so bad that the only solution was to start over. As a parallel, the Architects came to the same realization. They have been watching us and have realized that we have gone too far.

As previously mentioned above, our world isn’t getting better. Poverty continues to rise all around the world. People kill each other everyday over different beliefs. Corruption exists in most governments. We take advantage of our planet without really thinking of the future. As Peter Forbes would say, we have come to believe that “earth is a warehouse for our use, that nature is inexhaustible, that we have right to it but no responsibilities.” 

This is exactly what the Architects could see from their distant planet. It is no surprise then that they wanted to wipe us. On the other hand, the film also shows that there is still hope for humanity. When the crew members realize the Architect’s intentions, they do everything to stop him. Some of them are even willing to give up their life for the sake of humanity. This portion of the film brings a more positive note. Although mankind isn’t doing so well, there is still some people out there trying to make it better. There is room for change and we can only do so by involving ourselves in this great story of mankind. Forbes couldn't have said better, that our stories define who we are. The question now is what kind of story we want to be part of.