In the movie, Gattaca, a young man, Vincent, is born with every disadvantage imaginable. It simply isn’t his “fate” to have the life he wants.
But he doesn’t accept that fate. Instead, he does everything, even risks his very life, to have the life he most deeply desires.
One scene in the movie is particularly moving. Vincent and his far genetically/mentally superior brother, Anton, swim out from the shore of the ocean as far as they can. The first one to turn around and head back for shore loses. Thus, they must keep in mind the energy they’ll need for the swim back.
All throughout their lives, Vincent and Anton have had this competition. Every time, Vincent was the one to turn around first and swim back to shore. However, at the end of the movie, Vincent is changed. One last time, the brothers step into the water and begin swimming.
Eventually, Anton cries out, “Vincent! Vincent! Where’s the shore? We’re too far out.”
“You want to quit?” Vincent asks.
“We’re too far out!” Anton yells.
“You want to quit?” Vincent repeats.
Pausing and considering his safety, Anton pridefully yells, “No!”
So they keep swimming, further and further out.
Eventually, Anton pauses and calls out, “Vincent! How are you doing this? Vincent, how have you done any of this? We have to go back.”
“No, it’s too late for that. We are closer to the other side,” Vincent responds.
“What other side? Do you want to drown us both?” Anton says in frustration.
“You want to know how I did it? This is how I did it, Anton: I never saved anything for the swim back,” Vincent said resolutely.
Terrified, Anton turns around and desperately begins swimming back to the shore. Eventually, Anton begins to drown and Vincent saves him and pulls him back to shore, swimming on his back and looking up into the sky.
When was the last time you wanted something badly enough to die for it?Similarly, when was the last time you were willing to actually live for something?
A young man once approached Socrates and asked the philosopher how he could acquire wisdom and knowledge.
