Summary Of Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep

In Philip K. Dick’s novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, the main character Rick Deckard struggles with the fact that he does not have neither a real animal or a real connection with his wife. His occupation as an android retirer goes against his wife’s morals causing detachment. Set in futuristic times, the world has become a radioactive waste land and people have begun to travel to Mars in search of more inhabitable land. In order to make life easier for those deemed worthy of living in Mars, they have been given an Android at their disposal. It has also become a societal norm to own an animal and is even seen as a status symbol. Rick previously was given a real sheep by Iran’s father when they married however it had passed away

Throughout the novel Rick Deckard is driven with a sense of urgency to acquire his own real animal at any cost similar to his desire for an intimate relationship. The parallels between Rick Deckard’s quest for a real animal and his subliminal desire for intimacy by another woman are demonstrated by his dissatisfaction with his marriage, willingness to do anything and desensitivity to other’s feelings. As a strong contrast to her husband, Iran is much more of a realist as she wants to wallow in the world’s hopelessness and in her deep depression. In the beginning of the novel it is evident that Rick and Iran are polar opposites as she is described to have “gray, unmerry eyes” (Dick 1). and he is dressed in “multicolored pajamas” and seems to spring awake while Iran groans and does not want to be woken up. Through the presence of the two separate beds, it is apparent that their relationship lacks intimacy and any real emotional connection. In the beginning of the novel it

His distraught attitude with his sheep can be tied to his unhappiness with his wife. Although the sheep looks real, the electric aspect of it makes it less valuable in his and society’s eyes. It can be said that the previous real sheep was the symbol of Iran’s and Rick’s relationship and as soon as it died their relationship started to deteriorate. Then when it was replaced with an electric sheep, the relationship became synthetic. Although he believes he has found intimacy and connections in Rachel, he soon finds out that she only had a sexual relationship with him to disable him from killing androids ever again. This makes him realize that he had no real connection with Rachel and that she was only using him to end the retirement of Androids. However, through this lesson he learns how to feel Iran’s depression and now knows what true empathy is. He expresses to her that he is unable to continue his job. Due to his newfound empathy he realizes why his wife insists on going into a deep depression because these acts demonstrate her ability to be a human and express her empathy. It is evident that not only he has changed fundamentally but also their relationship when at the end of the novel, Iran calls an electric animal accessory story and orders a batch of electric flies to feed the toad and routine maintenance for