[Mr. Menard] Do Androids dream of Electric Sheep?

             Selfishness is where all human history begins: wars, technological advancements, inequalities, etc. Though there are some people, “some”, who would be willing to give up their “selves” for other people, most of us and our ancestors have worked for the sake of our own goods. With its conditions based upon dystopian societies, the novella “Do Androids Dream of Electric” by Philip K. Dick describes the fundamental human desire of selfishness. The main theme of the story may be considered as how humans eventually feel empathy and understand the Androids. However, I accuse that as a mere affectation to justify human beings.

Humans, if they truly want to brag about their “sympathy,” should first admit that they are the ones who have started "it" "all". In the novella, people first made the world desperate with the drawbacks of the development. Then they created the concept of Androids, the made up human beings who at primitive stage did not have emotions. After the Androids started to develop other skills that humans did not plan, humans killed most of them. At the end, the novella finishes with the theme of accentuating humans’ generosity to “at least try” to sympathize with the “inferior” Androids. This whole cycle of humans’ abusing power shows what is exactly happening in the real world.

             Throughout history, humans have been committing the same kind of deception against other humans. They start something in order to gain more, raise some controversies, whether ethical, economical, or whatever, and eventually act as if they are the heroes to solve the problems. It works as a good stratagem to keep their power firm and to strengthen the unification of their group. They cover up their mischief by setting up a precondition that the things they act against are complete evil which should be removed anyway. This precondition is so strong that many of the opponents are even manipulated by it. Thus, when the opponents try to stand against the injustice, it is hard for them to argue from the equal, primary stage.

Even by tracing back a few years, there have been tons of trickery done by humans. About 10 years ago, 9.11 “terror” put the world into fear. Even as a seven year old Korean girl, I learned how “cruel and barbarian” those muslins were at school. At that time, I was drawn back in fear, looking at all the brutal pictures of the terror itself. I was also “told to be fascinated” by the mercy Americans, well actually Bush, provided for Osama Bin Laden and his family. Bush was the judge and Al Quieda was the defendant. People allowed Bush, without any doubt, to do whatever he wanted to execute the “inhumane, immoral, corrupted terrorist”. The voice that spoke for the cause that America had for Al Quieda to act that way (if Al Quieda was really the one who did it :D) was completely ignored. But really, who created all the situations in the first place?

The novella “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep” shows the real human instinct of desire for more power. Humans, frankly most of them, have been acting against what is generally called “morality.” It has been lasting for so long, that the possibility of the true “enlightenment” is doubtful. Perhaps, we are also afraid to disclaim the injustice of the selfish people because we, ourselves, are pretty much like them. But I believe that the process of at least considering this human nature is necessary for most of people right now.

Comments
Nuri: Hi Jane. I liked how you discussed about a topic other than sympathy- which is the main theme of the novella. I agree with your idea that people take advantage of given facts for the sake of their won good. We can see such examples in history as well; while one person is accused of being a terrorist in one country, he or she is a hero in another. I think what you're trying to write about is interesting, but you could write it in a less angry way with less questions.
Hyunseok Lee: Good to see the connection between the theme of novella, your opinion and current social issues. To comment on your idea, if selfishness, the condition that motivates people to behave, has caused lots of failures or undesirable effects, should we find other things that can motivate humans? or can we just say that human follows the good in their own nature Does the following the motivation many intrude morality? I liked your essay since you facilitated readers to ponder about profound inner part of human. Nice job.