Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Essay Example

In Philip K. Dick's world of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, life has become a precious commodity. But, the definition of what life entails has become very vague. A new hierarchal order has been set up to rank a particular life's value. Humans still reign supreme, at least in theory, but the exaltation and protection they place on an animal's existence in this futuristic society closely shadows, and even trumps, that of another human being. Far beneath animals, is a close race between "chickenheads"—humans of less than average intelligence and virility— and Androids , a completely organically made slave class, created for those humans "wise" enough to flee Earth. But on this futuristic Earth full of Human rebels who refused to leave, human rejects forced to stay, and renegade androids escaping Martian servitude, humanity is becoming harder and harder to discern. Human nature in Dick's future reality is much the same, but slightly warped. First and foremost is their instinctive animalistic trait for survival. These humans are the ones that made it through World War Terminus and continue to live on a residually radioactive planet, so their survival instincts have taken over and arguable lessen their other aspects of gentile humanity. The society values of these times are also radically different from pre-war times. In so small a population, social status has become even more important to attain. And the way to attain said statues is by owning, or at least convincing others that you own, a real and living animal. Some traits, however, are still as strong, but less understood. The paternal need to care for another being is still strong ingrained in humanity, but most of this caring drive has been diverted from other people to animals instead. So, the disintegration and mutation of these humanistic traits make it hard for Rick Deckard to do his job, to hunt down and "retire" renegade androids in his city. The only semblance of human nature left that he depends