The Modern Mad Scientist
Mad scientists are often in the background of literature today. However, their presence is assumed in many cases. Recently a fascination of zombies has gripped spectators, especially with the AMC series The Walking Dead. An outbreak of disease has turned the recently dead into flesh eating zombies, or as the characters call them, “walkers.” In an effort to escape their fate, a group of survivors head to Atlanta’s CDC center to find refuge and hopefully answers. They are met by a single doctor, Dr. Jenner, who has been in the building since the start of the outbreak. He offers the group food and hot showers but warns them before entering that they will not be leaving. Within days the power source of the building is running out and Dr. Jenner informs them that when everything shuts down the center will self-destruct. The group must convince him to open the doors in order for them to leave. Dr. Jenner after considerable argument obliges, however he elects to stay behind and face his fate.
Dr. Jenner may not be the typical Victorian mad scientist, but his inability to allow the group to choose their fate for themselves qualifies him for the title nonetheless. The mad scientist, characteristically, believes that they hold the answers and everyone else is ignorant to their knowledge. Dr. Jenner depicts this exactly. He even goes as far as to study his own wife's reanimation into a "walker" before killing her himself. Later in the series, it is also revealed that Dr. Jenner told the group’s leader, Rick, that everyone is already infected and there is no hope for a cure. Knowing this Dr. Jenner decided that it would be best for everyone to die without a fight. The group on the other hand, even Rick, would rather fight than give up. Dr. Jenner struggles with the major themes of this genre of literature and is undoubtedly the modern day mad scientist. (see THEMES AND SYMBOLS)
The Walking Dead episode, "TS-19," with Dr. Jenner is a turning point of the series in which the survivors realize that zombies are not their only enemy. Watch the clip below for a full insider's scoop on episode 106 of The Walking Dead.
Dr. Jenner may not be the typical Victorian mad scientist, but his inability to allow the group to choose their fate for themselves qualifies him for the title nonetheless. The mad scientist, characteristically, believes that they hold the answers and everyone else is ignorant to their knowledge. Dr. Jenner depicts this exactly. He even goes as far as to study his own wife's reanimation into a "walker" before killing her himself. Later in the series, it is also revealed that Dr. Jenner told the group’s leader, Rick, that everyone is already infected and there is no hope for a cure. Knowing this Dr. Jenner decided that it would be best for everyone to die without a fight. The group on the other hand, even Rick, would rather fight than give up. Dr. Jenner struggles with the major themes of this genre of literature and is undoubtedly the modern day mad scientist. (see THEMES AND SYMBOLS)
The Walking Dead episode, "TS-19," with Dr. Jenner is a turning point of the series in which the survivors realize that zombies are not their only enemy. Watch the clip below for a full insider's scoop on episode 106 of The Walking Dead.
Inside Episode 106 The Walking Dead: TS-19. (2012, January 20). YouTube. Retrieved November 20, 2013, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3FpIHEXMqE. Web.