Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep Analysis

In Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Phillip K. Dick creates a post-apocalyptic world that is crumbling from radiation caused by the nuclear war: World War Terminus. As a result, many humans escape to off-world colonies; though some people are left behind. On the off-world colonies, those who emigrate are promised a “custom-tailored humanoid robot — designed specifically for [their] UNIQUE NEEDS” (Dick 17). The more technologically advanced the androids are built, the more they understand and disagree with being treated as slaves. Consequently, many androids begin to illegally escape to Earth and attempt to pose as humans. Bounty hunters, such as Rick Deckard, hunt down the androids to “retir[e] —i.e., kill —” (31) them. To test whether
This empathetic response based on caring for animals is the main sign in distinguishing humans from androids. These triggers are common things that would be overlooked in Western society: eating meat, hunting, animal fur coats or rugs. The need to distinguish humans from androids has caused people to be obsessed with caring for an animal. This concept of how animals should be treated — i.e. animal rights — are different from the rights which are in place in current Western society. Although it is still clear that animal rights are being exploited for human benefit. In this essay, I will argue that Dick is alluding to in our current society, animal rights are not progressing sufficiently, and what is impeding
This is because of the rapid rates of extinction due to the conditions of Earth’s environment. Specifically, a radioactive dust has settled on the earth. This dust has killed off many animals, starting with owls then other birds (Dick 16). In the novel, society has adapted in a way that is divergent from Western culture; where many people have diets containing meat or of animal by-products, and hunting is a regulated sport. Although there are regulations and laws focusing on protecting animals, many of them are ignored; showing ill concern for animal rights and the main priority is profit. Regulations and laws in Dick’s novel have greater consequences — because of the severe social and political punishments — on the public, leads to many people having greater concerns about animals. Socially, by caring for an animal, this demonstrates empathy. Often those who do not have an animal, are looked down on and seen as immoral and anti-empathic (13). This evidence allows for the argument that people are more concerned about the social shame than animal’s rights. The social shame creates a hierarchical system of people. At the top, those who are wealthy enough to afford and maintain the health of their organic animals, following, those that have animatronic animals to pose as organic animals, and