Robocop

Detroit - in the future - is crime ridden, and run by a massive company. The company have developed a huge crime fighting robot, which unfortunately develops a rather dangerous glitch. The company sees a way to get back in favour with the public when a cop called Alex Murphy is killed by a street gang. Murphys body is reconstructed within a steel shell and named Robocop. The Robocop is very successful against criminals, and becomes a target of super villain Boddicker. (1)

What the main character “Murphy” essentially want to reclaim is his humanity. He has been unwillingly transformed into a machine for company profit. His objectives stems not simply from revenge, but from the desire to be Human again. His tragedy is that he will never be.



Robocop represents a dystopian society. The cyborg is an apt metaphor for the alienated and disenfranchised, denied human dignity, sexuality, or freedom in the face of programs and directives. Robocop does offer a glimmer of hope though. In the finale, Murphy has taken his helmet off and smiles. Having rediscovered his memories, he calls himself Murphy for the first time since becoming Robocop. He has finally reclaimed something of himself. (2)

Sources used within this post

(1) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093870/plotsummary
(2) http://www.endofmedia.com/