Reaction Paper for The Fly (1958) - 2013-72071

Name: Fabia, Bianca Anne M.

Student No.: 2013-72071

Section: THY

Reaction Paper for The Fly (1958)

            I thought that the film was interesting and entertaining because it sparked my curiosity from the start. It really made me curious as to why Helene, the wife, killed her husband, Andre, and why she just simply shrugged it off as if she didn’t kill a human being.

            I think that the film’s commentary about scientists and the conduct of science was that sometimes, they forget ethics thinking that their experiment is for the glory of science. I feel like it talks about how you should always think about ethics because it’s there for a reason and that is for the scientist’s safety.

I think that it tackles about morality because it touches on experimentation on animals which could be considered animal cruelty if it could harm them in any way. In the latter part of the movie it also implied the question about murder. Murder because when Andre was killed when he was part insect already, was it really murder? And when the inspector killed the fly with Andre’s head was it also murder when he was already being eaten by the spider and there wasn’t really another way out?

            During the 1950s, I think that their views on science was already pretty advanced since they were already thinking about teleporting objects, animals and people by disintegrating and re-integrating them. I think that they were really interested on looking for a way to help people find better ways to do tasks especially those like travelling.

            I think that similar to our view of science, they also view it in a way that science should be used to improve the world. I think that they believe in inventing something to be able to help ease the burdens of our everyday lives.