Nedry’s Motivations and Failures in Jurassic Park: Beyond the Original Script
John Hammond's Jurassic Park was a masterpiece of modern science fiction, but one character stands out not for his ingenuity and foresight, but for his naivety and derogatory plot devices: Dennis Nedry. Nedry’s decision to disable the park's security systems was a crucial part of his escape plan, reflecting both his underestimation of the situation and the writers' deliberate portrayal of him as an idiot.
Failed Escape Plan and Intentions
Nedrys decision to disable the park's security systems was a pivotal point in his attempt to steal the embryos. He believed that by shutting down the systems, he could create a window of opportunity to steal the embryos without being detected. However, his plan to return after the theft never materialized. Instead, his goal became to leave the island entirely, leading to severe consequences for everyone involved. This betrayal set off a chain of events that contributed substantially to the chaos that ensued on the island.
Characterization and Judgment
My own interpretation of the story is that Nedry was purposefully established as an idiot by the writers. He was neither a brilliant industrial spy nor a savvy businessman; he was simply a mediocre computer programmer who undervalued his own skills. When a real industrial spy offered to bribe him, Nedry’s poor judgment led him to create a plan that couldn’t possibly succeed but didn't matter to the bribers because they didn't care about his fate.
The writers decided that he would fail because they wanted to close out any distracting subplots and ensure that the focus remained on the primary storyline. Nedry’s sole function in the entire story was to sabotage the security systems and set the short adventure into motion. Once that was done, the rest of the adventure could proceed as the writers intended.
Original Book vs. Film Adaptation
In the original book, it is shown that Nedry’s plan was to return and restore the security systems as well as cover his tracks. However, a storm hit the island, and he lost his direction, leading to the failure of his plan. While this detail is not explicitly shown in the film, nothing contradicts this. Nedry did intend to return, but variables he failed to account for derailed his plan. This failure also showcases one of the main themes of Jurassic Park: the unpredictable and chaotic nature of technology in the hands of flawed human beings.
This article explores the motivations and failures of Dennis Nedry, delving into his character flaws and the deliberate portrayal by the writers, as well as examining how the film adaptation handled his story compared to the original book. By understanding Nedry’s character and his actions, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the complexities of the Jurassic Park narrative and its themes.