Self-destruction
“We're not gonna make it, are we? Humans, I mean.” “It's in your nature to destroy yourselves.” (John Connor and The Terminator)
The theme of destruction is the main one in the film. Human race has put itself into an inevitable danger of extinction, and the reason of this danger has been created by people themselves. Humans have created the machines, which in future will try to destroy them. Thus, people’s curiosity and desire for improvement turned into self-destruction. The irony is painful.
“He'll live”.
John Connor feels flattered when understands that the Terminator is doing everything he says, it adds him self-respect. But when he sees that the Terminator has tried to kill an innocent man, John feels indignant. John does not want the Terminator to kill people, and tries to make it clear that to “kill” is not good. John even makes the Terminator promise that he won’t kill and will try to avoid murders. Ironic effect of this promise occurs when the Terminator and John try to get into the hospital where Sarah is kept, and they have to get through the guard. The Terminator had only shot the guard’s leg and said to John “He'll live”. The situation has humorous effect in the film, and serves as an instrument of entertaining the audience. But on the other hand it shows that the Terminator is a machine, and “not to kill” does not mean for him “not to bring pain”.
The broken arm
The scene in which Sarah Connor has managed to escape from her room in the hospital and tries to leave the hospital is filled with ironic remarks. Dr. Silberman happens to be on her way, and Sarah has to remove him as an obstacle. Being a very strong woman she succeeds in cracking down hard on his arm. Silberman shouts “You broke my arm!”, to which Sarah ironically replies: “There’s 215 bones in the human body. That’s one.” Her words serve for the doctor as a threat.
