A science fiction “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” was firstly presented to public in 1968 by Phillip K. Dick. The novel under analysis illustrates sharp contradictions between “species being” introduced by Marx and artificial androids which seem to substitute humanity. The main idea is to compare two sides of human beings: people as animals and as androids. The central question of the author lied in understanding the sense of human existence, disclosing the meaning of being human. The basic theme of the fiction is to highlight the significance of animals, both real and electric. The writer wanted to illustrate on the example of androids such a feature of character as ignorance in attitude to other representatives of mankind and animals and the way we fight this trait reflected in the protagonist of the story Rick Deckard.
The introduction of the protagonist as a hunter presents the category of a “killer”. “In retiring, i.e., killing, he didn’t violate the rule of life laid down by Mercer. You shall kill only the killers.” (Dick, 1968) The problem of the categorical meaning lies in combination of two human sides in one category. On the one side the protagonist obtains the features of animals killing other species and on the other, his emotions are expressed only as being programmed showing the similarity with androids. But at the same time Rick separates androids from humans, dividing all creatures on human and nonhuman explaining that it depends on the level of violence and whether ethical consequences exist or not. The author raised the problem of animals’ existence criticism underlining the fact that they never suffer and are not able to feel the pain as people do this. But in a certain period of time the author shows that Rick stopped feeling the difference between androids and animals becoming a new type of human beings similar to androids. He starts to look for important grounds for his disability to kill those whom he likes and fails to find them. It makes him be closer to androids. It is shown by the example with Luba who’s singing Rick Deckard appreciated. “Perhaps the better she functions, the better a singer she is, the more I am needed. If the androids had remained substandard, like the ancient q-40’s made by Derain Associates–there would be no problem and no need of my skill.” (Dick, 1968) Artificial emotions begin to prevail in Deckard’s character provoking some new visions of life.
Android subjectivity problem concentrates on the further relationships with the animals. The author illustrates that animals are no more beings for people but just commodities. Deckard is afraid to tell everybody that his ship is electric as it could influence the economic status. The writer shows the example with the death of a real cat describing it as a “waste”. Luba’s expression that “nobody would kill and eat the dog… they are worth fortune” underlines the absence of concern about the animals but showing the presence of androids’ features in the character of a person. (Dick, 1968) “…never got physically close to Horace, even though he loved him.” is an utterance proving the people’s ignorance towards the animals on the example of a cat’s death. (Dick, 1968) The author shows how easily people could substitute real pet by artificial androids and expressing no concern about their feelings between the species. Unemotional speech and behavior of the story characters make them be closer to androids’ character and way of life. The author inserted a small concern about the animals in the character of Isidore though he cannot see distinctive features between the electric and real beings. “…sound of a false animal, burning out its drive train and power supply” is like a cat’s evident distress for Isidore. (Dick, 1968)
The problem of relationships between the animals, people and androids can be observed throughout the whole novel highlighting different aspects of their interactions with the nature and each other. The feeling of dissatisfaction because of having artificial animals is caused not by deep emotions and great concern about former relationships with the real sheep but by the status. “I’ve put as much time and attention into caring for it as I did when it was real.” (Dick, 1968) This part demonstrates protagonist’s concern about great efforts he put into the caring about his animal rather than human relationships with it. The only things that matter are status and power; no personal feelings and relations. It gradually involves the reader into the world of androids and their principles of life. Only after the death of Luba, Deckard presented his human side of the character rejecting to compare her with a usual commodity. Providing her with a gift he feels some sort of change I his inner world. Here the author shows the real feelings of the protagonist. “I rode down with two creatures, one human, the other android… and my feelings were the reverse of those intended. Of those I’m accustomed to feel what I am required to feel”.(Dick, 1968) The interactions between human beings, animals and androids are centralized in the novel. The protagonist begins to feel something to androids though these feelings are contradictory as artificial creatures cannot cause any emotions. “Something went wrong today; something about retiring them. It wouldn’t have been possible for me to go on without getting an animal.” (Dick, 1968) Deckard understands that he cannot live without the animal and his life even depends on them. He strives for overcoming this state and the theme of animals’ significance floated to the surface. The author proved that no matter whether they are real or artificial one cannot imagine his life without them. Thus human features were underlined by the writer and the category of a “killer” described at the beginning was dissolved by the natural humanity.
Phillip K. Dick reflected the idea of constant fight between feelings inside a person describing the character of Rick Deckard. He managed to find himself in the world of androids and artificial animals uniting with the nature. The death of the last android brings him some confidence. He continued to believe in the principle of commodity and follow it throughout his life constantly finding the way out. Considering the rules of Mercerism he feels some grade of violence though he is supported by Mercer. “You will be required to do wrong no matter where you go. It is the basic condition of life, to be required to violate your own identity”. (Dick, 1968) By this the author wanted underline the fact that there is always room for development and people should strive to overcome the violence they feel and suffer.
As a way of conclusion it is important to stress that the author managed to disclose the main theme of his fiction. The analysis carried out proved that it possible to overcome artificial features even living in the world of androids. We managed to discover how humanity is connected with androids and animals and which side prevails in our character. The questions presented by the author in the story are quite vital as he examined the sense of human existence and as our research shows he managed to illustrate its sense on the example of the protagonist who turned from the “killer” into the bright representative of justice trying to overcome all principles of commodity and easily expressing his feelings and emotions being not afraid of the public opinion. The meaning of the status was removed from the first place and provided some space for human relationships and respect to other species. The problem of “androids” inside humanity can be overcome as proves the research of the fiction “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?”.
References
Dick, Philip K. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? New York: Ballantine Books, 1968.