Empathy, the
central theme throughout Philip K. Dick’s novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, is believed to be what
separates humans from androids. Michael Heilemann’s analysis of the Dick’s
novel argues that androids are emotionally inept, answering his own question,
“Are they [androids] emotionally decrepit? Certainly” (Heilemann 10). However,
these androids prove to be capable of feeling empathy as well as other
humanistic emotions throughout the book.
Rick
Deckard, the novel’s protagonist, works as a bounty hunter living in San
Francisco. Deckard has chosen to stay on earth, whereas many others have fled
the post-apocalyptic planet at the suggestion of the American government to
“Emigrate or degenerate!” (Dick 6). Those who choose to leave Earth are given a
Nexus-6, a new type of android that has the ability to learn. According to
Heilemann, “Androids are in other
words treated like a piece of property no better than the slaves once brought
up from Africa to serve the same purpose in the white mans lands” (Heilemann
10). Several of these androids kill their masters to free themselves from the
confinement of slavery, and flee back to Earth. This contradicts Heilemann’s
belief that all androids are “emotionally decrepit,” seeing as they are self
aware and feel that their purpose in life is greater than serving humans. They
genuinely dream of a better life and know that their freedom can only be
achieved by killing their master.
At the beginning of the book, Deckard feels
no empathy toward these androids, as his job is to hunt them down and “retire”
them. However, as the book progresses, Deckard has an internal struggle about
his feelings toward the androids. Deckard’s feelings are paralleled when he
brings home the toad to his wife, Iran. Owning a real animal shows that an
individual has achieved a respectable societal status. Deckard owns an electric
sheep, which he loathes. Toward the end of the book, Deckard is surprised to
find a frog, which he believes to be real. However, when he shows the frog to
Iran, she discovers a small panel on its belly, revealing it to be electric.
Although Deckard is initially upset, he decides to love the frog for what it
is, concluding, “The electric things have their lives, too. Paltry as those
lives are” (Dick 239). At this instance, Deckard realizes that the androids
also have their own lives. Although they may not possess the same level of
empathy as humans, they should be recognized as a living thing rather than just
an object, as they are capable of feeling some level of emotion.
Heilemann makes some great observations
throughout his analysis, however he should not be so quick to say that all
androids are incapable of feeling and producing emotions.
Works Cited
Dick,
Philip K. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? New York:
Ballantine, 1996. Print.
Heilemann, Michael. “Do
Androids Dream of Electric Sheep and Blade Runner”. 2001. Web. 13 Mar 2014.
I agree with your argument and think that empathy is definitely one of the main themes that is being thrown around in Dick's novel. I think that empathy is something that is highlighted in the book because it is supposed to be an innately human trait that would show a differentiation between man and droid without a doubt. However, there is definitely a bit of uncertainty as we see that the androids have their own motives. The thing that interests me most about the book and your post is the importance of the animals. While Heilemann relates the importance of ownership and the relation between androids and slaves, mechanical pets and animals create a complex relationship between man and machine. I think that there is a unique message that Dick is trying to send in this man to animal relationship and the idea of "electric lives" is definitely a key part of it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the approach taken of how androids do have emotions and can even be taught emotions, such as Rachel Rosen to pass the Voigt test. Empathy does indeed play a big part and is key to Philip Dick's whole novel. Empathy is the one thing that the "humans" believe can differentiate from being an android or human. I believe they are wrong and that is what Rick later finds out to be false considering his first hand experiences. The first experience is Phil Resch and his lacking of empathy, when he shows his devotion and desire to kill things, but even though he is lacking empathy he is still a human. The second point i would add is Roy's emotions when his wife dies, first of all how can androids have a relationship as a married couple when they don't take care for others than themselves and secondly when she is shot dead Roy breaks down in anger and emotions proving that androids can have a sense of emotions.
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