What It Means to be Human in Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

Do Android's Dream of Electric Sheep explores what it means to be human. Using characters such as protagonist Rick Deckard in addition to others, such as Rachel Rosen exploring ideas resembling whether they can love. Upon meeting characters such as Luba Luft he begins to wonder whether what he is doing is right which makes him consider retiring. Through the exploration of empathy, the novel attempts to show the humanity of the Andys while showing how easily they blend into their world.

Rick Deckard often explores what it means to be human considering he is required to retire Andys throughout the novel. Periodically, he finds it difficult to differentiate Andys by reason of being so comparable to humans consequently as a result of the newer nexus 6 models which requires him to use the Voight Kampff scale as a solution. The Voight Kampff Scale, the test he administers to identify Andys masquerading as humans requires him to ask questions related to social situations primarily related to animals additionally analyzing the Andy's reaction time. A significant flaw with the test is making a distinction between Andys along with humans with specific mental disorders such as Schizophrenia.

A significant character to Deckard's shift of mind is Luba Luft which consequently lead to his questioning the morality of retiring Andys. Observing her talent, Deckard discovers she is an Andy opera singer who he begins to grow empathy for precisely whilst singing while rehearsing, making Deckard ponder "I'm part of the form-destroying process of entropy" (Dick, 92). Once he discovers her voice, he is amazed associating it with musicians he heard through historical tapes. Qualities such as these cause him to realize Andys may be more human than he realizes, including the difficulty of having to retire Luba. Since her transition from mars, she wants to live a regular human life which manifests through her love of art. Unlike prior Andys when tested using the Voigt Kampff Scale she begins to question the test eventually asking Deckard questions including investigating whether he is Andy. The questions she hears incite her belief the test is sexist leading her to phone the police. Although Deckard attempts to administer the Voigt Kampff Scale test on her, he does not finish, although through these actions, Luba Luft is shown to be additionally empathetic than other Andys. Once Luba Luft is retired by another bounty hunter Phil Resch, Deckard believes he cannot continue to retire another Andy stating "They can use androids. Much better if Andys do it. I can't anymore; I've had enough. She was a wonderful singer. The planet could have used her. This is insane" (Dick, 128).

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Although Deckard begins to grow sympathy for the Andys Phil Resch, another bounty hunter is less sympathetic. While they are both bounty hunters, the two have contrasting ideas on how in addition to why they do it. To the contrary of Deckard's thoughts, Resch realizes they kill other humans in order to get away, he also recognizes them being illegal aliens. Before being retired, Luba Luft calls Resch an Andy and attempts to get him to take the test. The world reveals how the Andys can be hidden including how well they are able to blend in, which leads to Andys being humanized while the bounty hunters question themselves. An altercation between Deckard and Resch furthers this idea on the morality of retiring them. Not only do they disagree on morality concerning Andys they also oversee different tests, while Deckard's test regards empathy Resch's test the reflex arc response examines the human nervous system. At a time when he realizes if he discovered to be an Andy he would be retired; Resch accepts his fate and realizes it must be done.

Another andy which questions their humanity is Rachel Rosen. First subject of The Voigt Kampff scale once the results come in she is considered not human and Deckard considers the test broken once he sees the results. Although she disappears from the story for a while, she is still a significant character throughout the story since he compares other female andys such as Luba Luft to her. Once he realizes that Rachel is an andy, his conclusion is she was implanted with false memories. A quality showing more of her humanity, Rachel is displayed as manipulative and can easily sway people to get what she wants. Deckard often cannot resist her requests at times such as when she persuades him to do things for her and in return she would hunt one of the andys. Not only does she beguile Deckard, but she also gains an attraction for him even questioning whether he had ever loved an andy before her. Through this idea, it questions what it truly means to be human as she loves Deckard and apparent by the death of his real goat also feels jealous of his wife.

Through Do Android's Dream of Electric Sheep Andys, the novel explores what it means to be human whether through the exploration of love, art, or music. The novel also explores whether the andys should have the right to live their lives or whether they should be retired, a question which leads to the protagonist Deckard considering leaving his job. Characters such as Luba Luft show signs of humanity, such as their empathy, although the question of whether this is a true quality or whether they are faking it remains a mystery. The focus is to show how close these andys come close to humanity, although they are distinguishable by their actions and the tests despite how they are hidden in society.

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