Analysis Of Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep

The concept of achieving a higher social status through the increase of personal wealth is nothing new in society, however this concept is modified to place animals above all else in the futuristic world of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep. With the creation of androids that are physically identical to humans, the constructs of humanity, authenticity, and how they interact are explored. The worry of whether you exist as a human or an android, and the despair of being the latter, is a real concern and promotes the idea of remaining as authentic as possible as well as creating the idea of a natural human. This is why electronic animals are looked down upon as they, like the androids, are manufactured and therefore have an essence of falseness

The mood organ, for example, is an unnatural solution to the idea of mood control that used by many to simulate the changes of mood associated with a natural human. As well, the empathy boxes are virtual reality devices that allow the user to experience communal suffering, as a way to simulate the emotions a natural human would have. The search of empathy and emotion is a common characteristic and goal of these post-apocalyptic people as it seemingly separates them from the androids, however this counterproductively makes them seem more like the androids as they seem to be incapable to experience these feelings without machines. However, this may also be the reason why the animals are regarded much higher than empathy and mood technology as caring for a live animal is a very emotional task that naturally creates empathy; they are seen as the purest form of the desire and are regarded with the most value and

One particular moment of this comes from his first visit to the Rosen Corporation where he is overcome by the amount of animals they have acquired. He also notices the guards and their machine guns with their “eyes… fastened on him since his car landed.”(32) even with his car marked as his police vehicle. The amount of work that needs to go towards protecting a live animal is a very daunting task that only people of great wealth, like the Rosens, are able to efficiently give. Aside from protection, issues such as illness, food, and space to live must also be adequately dealt with to ensure the survival of an animal. Most individuals in this society are not in a position to take care of the many needs of an animal, on top of caring for themselves and their family, which is why the ownership of a live animal is viewed with great respect and admiration. The amount of sacrifice that must be made, for example, money, time, and peace of mind, is very admirable in this society and demonstrates the level of empathy that an individual can show to another being. These sacrifices are also why electric animals are frowned upon. They do not require nearly the amount of work of owning a real animal and do not come with the problems of food, illness and similar needs; although there can be mechanical problems with the animal, they