The Bible as an Allegory

• • When Ash calls the Alien 'Kane's son', he is issuing a double entendre, referencing the Biblical story of Cain and Abel.
  • By calling the Alien the son of Kane, Ash is implying that man is the cause of the birth of a monster, this is true in a sense because the monster was actually born from Kane's body.
• • In the Bible, Cain betrays his brother Abel out of jealousy and violence, becoming the first murderer.
  • In Alien, betrayal is a key theme, as the decision is made to prioritize the Alien over the crew's safety.
  • This shows how profits and ( and in Alien, scientific discovery) are seen as more important than human life, which metaphorically parallels the Bible, where Cain kills Abel for his own benefit and selfish motives.
• • Kane is often seen as a sacrificial character.
  • His naivety leads to him being the first to be killed by the Alien organism.
  • His death sets into motion the violence on the ship, like how Abel's murder is the origin of the family's violence in the Bible.
• • In both Alien and the Bible, there's an exploration of humanity's flaws.
  • In the Bible, Cain's jealousy led to him committing the first murder on Abel.
  • In Alien, the crew's flawed decisions lead to them letting the Alien in and allowing it to carry out its destruction.
  • This disregard for life shows how unchecked ambition or sin can lead to downfall.
• • After killing Abel, Cain is exiled to isolation.
  • Similarly, the crew are isolated in space throughout the whole film, cut off from help. This almost serves as their punishment for prioritizing the Alien, mirroring Cain's feelings of isolation and the consequences of his betrayal.