Fred M. Wilcox’s Forbidden Planet echo’s the story of Atlantis, a civilization technologically advanced beyond comprehension than tragically disappears without a whisper. Growing up in America I can speak first hand as a citizen of a civilization of great power with one great fear, losing that power. I foresee that our fear will come to pass, and much like in Oedipus it will probably be a result of a self-fulfilling prophecy. 

It is common to calculate power as the ability to force action out of another autonomous being. America has a lot of big bombs, tools of power that can force others into submission at the threat of annihilation. But when other nations start to make their own big bombs, to maintain power bigger bombs must be created. However, what happens when the weapon of power gets too big? What happens when the bully destroys his own playground? While I can only speculate about the future of America, and the past of Atlantis, Forbidden Planet provides a commentary on the dangers of letting our ego control our actions. 

I found the first scene in the alien Krell lab somewhat funny. Here are three intelligent (by human standards) men playing with equipment that they don’t understand. They are using without hesitation alien tools that they barely understand. They may be playing etch-a-sketch with their mind, or blowing up a planet. All they are able to observe is random lights and odd sounds, which is enough for them to warrant continual use. Really should a man of science make the assumption that these tools are safe, after admitting to only sort of understanding the creature who created it? If some being traveled to earth found it deserted, and then started playing with our nuclear bombs things might not end well. 

The most illuminating part of that scene is when the commander is strapped up to the alien IQ reader thing, almost pulls a lever, but Morbius stops him. Morbius explains that this lever is dangerous; its effects are so strong it killed one of his crewmembers. However, for the sake of science Morbius tried it himself, and he survived. Science is the reason he used to justify the fulfillment of a desire; science, which is coldly rational, would never proscribe the swift trial of clearly dangerous equipment. 

No it was only his human desires that propelled him to pull the lever. This is not the first time we see some sort of scientific rational reasoning being used to mask a desire, it seems to be recurring theme. There are two easy examples; first, when the cook lies to the robot for alcohol; second, when one of the crew lies to Altaira for a kiss. In both examples it’s clear that the deceitful people know they are not telling the truth, in order to get what they want. But neither are in control, one is being compelled by a natural attraction, the other is an alcoholic. 

There is no escaping who we are; we are created beings that must abide by the laws of nature that allowed for our creation. If I form a hammer out of metal, no matter how well the hammer is at its job, its still simply a tool. In some ways we are like the hammer, our great intelligence allows us to accomplish so much, but no matter how intelligent, we are still human beings. Which means that as we grow to be more sophisticated, we still hold with us the drawback of being human. The monster that is desire will never be slain, because without desire we would not be human.