A Comparison of Spielberg's film and Dick's novella, Minority Report Vatsal Vyas 10th Grade

In his novella ‘Minority Report’, author Phillip Dick outlines the ambitious nature of human beings and through the representation of characterization and the setting which reflects upon the pessimistic ideas which Dick possesses about human nature. Dick presents a paranoid Anderton who during his facilities tour with Witwer begins “to sweat”, Dick also produces Lisa as a wife who doesn’t fit the general feminist norm as she holds Anderton at point blank range with a small pistol which indicates symbolism. Dick exposes the shady nature and his ambiguity about the pre-crime system through the setting of the novel and the horrid description of the precogs, also Witwer’s bemoaning expressions. Director Steven Spielberg, in his 2002 film of the same title, presents an alternate interpretation that human nature is optimistic, he does this through the insertion of a heroic Anderton, a subplot and a vivid mise en scene.

By creating a protagonist who begins “to sweat” due to insecurity Dick sets a tone of paranoia, revealing the weakness of Anderton and relating such ambiguity to human nature by utilizing characterization. In his characterization of John Anderton, Dick reveals his anti-heroic nature and asserts that human nature is...