Philip K. Dicks Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep

Philip K. Dicks novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, is the perfect example of going against what people perceive to be normal. Humans and androids question the true meaning of humanity and the way one should act. We see this when humans rather than feeling true ‘empathy’ for animals act this way to raise their social status in society. Androids likewise question the meaning of humanity when they begin to develop feelings, something androids are not supposed to feel. So, what is meant by humanity? It seems like what we perceive humanity to be is actually quite different when we see the true reason as to why humans act the way they do towards animals and how androids begin to act in ways that are not considered “normal” actions for

Donald Palumbo argues how throughout the book by trying to define what it means to be human, these definitions are flawed and questionable (Palumbo 1276). Throughout this questioning, Dicks novel is able to define this in a more convincing way which helps in developing the novels theme, defining what it actually means to be human. The definition of humans is flawed and questioned throughout the novel when we learn that animals rather than really being prized possessions turn out to be status symbols and kept solely for the interest of the owner. “A sheep, or if I can get the money, a cow or steer or what you have, a horse. The bounty from retiring five andys would do it, he realized. A thousand dollars apiece, over and above my salary” (Dick 12). Rick says he wants an original animal and can obtain one once he retires five androids. The definition of humans is flawed here when we see why Rick wants to retire these five androids. Once he kills them he’ll make a good amount of money. With this money he makes, he’ll be able to afford a real animal rather than an electric one which will raise his overall social status since owning a real animal is far more remarkable than owning an electric one. The decision for Rick to take the lives of androids shows his obsession with his own economic social status. Palumbo is

In Christopher A. Sims article, he argues that the novel goes against taking away human traits from individuals and demonstrates how technology can be used to reclaim “the essence of humanity” (Sims 67). I disagree with Sim’s view that the novel goes against taking away human traits from individuals because as seen in the novel human traits are taken away from androids when they are told they do not have feelings and cannot feel these things humans can feel. The novel rather than going against taking away human traits from individuals actually is for taking away human traits of individuals. From the beginning of the novel it is mentioned multiple times that androids cannot feel empathy. Further reading the novel we see androids begin to develop human traits. “Someone came here, got the goat out of its cage, and dragged it to the edge of the roof” (Dick 208). Rachel Rosen’s actions again show that she has feelings. She feels a sense of jealousy that Rick loves his goat so much and seeks revenge by killing the thing she perceived he loved most. Rick makes it clear that his goat could give him more happiness than she could give him. This action taken by Rachel shows that her, like humans has the ability to feel emotions. Sim’s journal argues that the novel goes against taking away human traits from individuals but we can see how this is not true when humans continuously