Soylent Green & Euthanasia
English 20 Soylent Green & Euthanasia Soylent Green was based on the short story by Harry Harrison entitled “Make Room! Make Room! ” It offers solutions to many near future problems. Overpopulation is one. Euthanasia is another. Feeding the masses is yet another. In fact euthanasia is a solution to the problem of overcrowding. What I choose to deal with here is euthanasia. Simonson, a character in the book, helps himself to the latter’s food, liquor, bathroom, and books. Through this he discovers the nefarious deeds of the Soylent Company, The entity that feeds people.
He treats it as a necessary evil. A concept that pulls the hearts strings of all readers. In the story food is provided for the overpopulated world by a lottery where old people are killed in euphoric ways to provide food. The meals are called Soylent green. Some people are aware of what the lottery is for, some are not. These are important for the fact that overpopulation in today’s society is already a problem. I will address that later. The movie is very disturbing. The idea that humans are food for other humans strikes the wrong cord in the reader, as it should.
That is the author’s intention. The movie and the story are made to provoke a viewer to think about different perspectives. The one that stuck with me the most is Euthanasia. I disagree with the author’s inedited meaning. Personally I feel that euthanasia should be allowed. Not out of necessity but because people should not suffer. To address the modern day relevancy it must be mentioned at the time of the book and movie. It was understood mathematically that eventually there would be too many people to feed.
It is the same way today and the number of people that are growing every year is such that it is exponentially. Also euthanasia is constantly debated today. Some people believe that it is an issue reserved for only Gods judgment. I. E. it will never be a human beings decision. The other point of view is that free choice is what is given by god. Again the author is not debating those two issues when it comes to euthanasia. He is debating the first I mentioned. That euthanasia is a moral issue vs. the issue of human survival. Euthanasia is a religious, ethical, and moral issue in this county.
It is one that is shunned by our society in the fact that no one wants to talk about it. The view of many Christians is that when you are called to heaven it is your turn. However, the last six months of your life are usually the most expensive time of life. A person can live a century and in that time, become incapacitated of time and place. In this instance, the physician and government officials have to make the decision to euthanize. Morally, families usually decide and carry out loved one’s last wishes. Funeral’s are arranged, people die, are remembered, and then buried.
It needs to be noted that in many European counties euthanasia is allowed. A kindly death for the elderly is the European sentimentality. Personally I agree with the concept. The movie treats it in a way that is defiantly negative. Again I agree with euthanasia, a safe comfortable death for those at the end of their life. The movie showed the detrimental side of euthanasia. The fact that the people were not aware of being turned into food is humorous. Truly, I find it hilarious. The story is one that shows the dangers of overpopulation and government control.
Forgive me again, for laughing but the irony that is inherent in the movie makes me laugh to no end. Actually what harm is done by people becoming food unwillingly? IT needs to be noted that in the movie Dr. Pianka had mixed feelings about the creation of Soylent green. On one he had was feeding the multitude; on the other hand he was taking lives. How would you feel about such a dichotomy? Personally I feel that the ends justify the means. Truly, debating the intention of the debating author is clear. He hopes that this future is one that WILL not happen! At the same time Harry
Harrison realizes it is a possibility. This is Something that we as humans should be aware of. The possibility that people could be sterilized by the true “progressives” is truly disturbing. In conclusion, Soylent Green is a movie that provokes the mind, spirit, and soul. The truth that the world will soon be overpopulated is so close to coming true! The creators of the movie show that. It wants nothing more for us; as human beings to understand that this is an issue that will have to be dealt with eventually. Also it wants us to understand that not every option is the best option.
