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What Is Hal's Role In Frankenstein

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Consider 2001: A Space Odyssey’s most poignant character - HAL 9000. The story of HAL 9000 is a cautionary one paralleling Frankenstein. HAL (short for Heuristically Programmed Algorithmic Computer) is a hyper-intelligent computer developed after years of research and experimentation. However, he may indeed be too human, and for this reason he must be deconstructed by humans. Nature is the only force allowed to create life in our cultural consciousness, so any human attempt must necessarily fail; here, HAL illustrates the role of the monster as the protector of social norms. What is ultimately disturbing about HAL’s demise is that when he dies, he speaks of his parents, creating (just as Frankenstein’s monster does) an uneasy sympathetic relationship

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