In the novel The Andromeda strain, Michael Crichton Utilizes foreshadowing and symbolism in order to demonstrate the significance of the Andrameda organism, ultimately illustrating humanity’s inability to control nature and the unknown.
Crichton initially uses foreshadowing in order to demonstrate the underlying message that the Andromeda strain represents. When the Andromeda strain is first brought to earth, it kills a whole town within a matter of minutes. Scientists quickly sought a way to contain it and eliminate this threat from their planet. When discussing ways to disarm the andrameda strain one scientist mentions the danger of its ability to mutate and evolve at incredible speed. Of course, this warning doesn’t prove itself useful until later in the novel when the Andromeda organism begins to break out of its containment, threatening the survival of the human race. Because of the scientist foreshadowing, there is suspense that is introduced to this already bizarre scenario. Consequently, the warning comes to fruition and causes an even larger problem of global extinction. Therefore, the significance of the Andromeda strain is revealed through Crichton’s use of foreshadowing. Moreover, Crichton employs foreshadowing in order to demonstrate why it is important for humans to not overestimate their own abilities when handling the unknown. When faced with the threat of global extinction, a team of four scientists, from all sorts of fields, are brought together in order to devise a way to extinguish this threat. They are brought to a top of the line lab named Wildfire, and begin to work on stopping the Andromeda organism. The scientists were told of early system flaws but that they had been worked out since their arrival. What the scientist didn't know is that the lab wasn’t entirely secure, and the Andromeda strain began to break out of its containment. Because of the subtle mentions of system failure, the possibility of technological failure seems more likely. Since the scientists trusted their technology without making sure it was okay, their arrogance threatened the rest of the human race. Thus, human arrogance is shown through foreshadowing of system failure.
Not only does Michael Crichton utilize foreshadowing, he also uses symbolism in order to demonstrate the significance of the andromeda strain. To continue, Crichton employs symbolism in order to demonstrate human’s own hubris. When moving to the Wildfire lab, the scientists were warned of system failure, but they were sure that their lab was “fool-proof”. Yet when faced with the mutation speeds of the Andromeda organism the lab almost set off a nuclear explosion in order to prevent the strain from spreading. Because of human’s trust in technology, they often don’t believe anything can go wrong. Consequently, the illusion of control is created and shared throughout all characters. Therefore, human hubris is revealed through the lab representing humanity’s blind trust in whatever it builds. Furthermore, Crichton utilizes symbolism in order to demonstrate humanity’s desire to believe they have control. Throughout the novel, from the first time humans discover the Andromeda strain, they believe they can control it. They contain it and believe it will stay captive. They devise plans to reverse engineer its biology and find a way to fight it. However, what the novel tries to convey is that humans have never and will never be able to control the mysteries of nature. Because of their minor successes when dealing with the Andromeda strain, humans believe they can find a way to control it. Since humans have tried to control the Andromeda organism, their attempts have proven useless in the face of the unknown. Thus, the Andromeda strain’s representation of human’s lack of control of the unknown is revealed.
Overall, Michael Crichton’s use of foreshadowing and symbolism demonstrate the significance of the Andromeda strain, and they ultimately illustrate humanity’s desperate attempt to control nature and the unknown.