Is the parasite in David Cronenberg’s Shivers actually a parasite at all? Technically a parasite is something that takes advantage of another organism, using that organism in a way that is detrimental to its well-being. The relationship between a parasite and its prey is one-way. The parasite takes and the prey gives.
This definition of a parasite does not match that of the parasites in Shivers. In Shivers, although the parasite uses human beings by living in their intestines, it also gives something in return. It gives humans a release from the inhibition of their sexual desires. In the film, Nurse Forsythe desired Doctor St. Luc, and the parasite she obtained was a means to fulfilling that desire.
Doctor st. Luc examining the parasite.
Is this release from our inhibited sexual desires necessarily a good or a bad thing? There are many examples in the film where it is obvious this release is a bad thing. A father making out with his own daughter, and a man with two children on leashes for example. However, by the end of the film, it appears that all of the humans infected with the parasites seem much happier as a result.
Yet what is the cost of this happiness? To answer this question, the economist’s central dogma of “Do the benefits outweigh the costs?” can be used. Do the benefits of being happy outweigh the cost of having a parasite and breaking certain cultural values and taboos? Depending on the answer, this creature is either a parasite, or a symbiotic organism.
The classic definition of symbiosis is “the living together of unlike organisms” (de Bary). It involves two different species working together to survive. The relationship is not one-way, as with parasitism, but a give-and-take. Symbiotic relationships can be seen all around us. A jock and a nerd who become friends to make up for each other’s shortcomings, an alligator that opens its mouth so birds can clean it, or a dip-n-dots stand inside a McDonalds. All of these are symbiotic relationships that benefit both parties.
Another symbiotic releationship? you decide...
Finally, on a bit of a tangent, what about the relationship between Batman and Robin? Is Robin a parasite or a symbiotic organism? Robin lives in Batman’s giant mansion, eats his food, and drives his super vehicles. He follows Batman around on his missions, doing next to nothing besides offering a secondary exclamatory to Batman’s puns. Symbiote or parasite? You decide…
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