The Lathe of Heaven II

In Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Lathe of Heaven, one of the alternate realities Haber makes George dream up has aliens in it. There is supposed to be “peace on Earth,” but instead there is an alien invasion on the moon which unites all the “earthlings” together against the alien threat. Regarding this topic, I found the following quote by Haber quite interesting:

            “It’s been over six years now since their first landing on the Moon, and they still haven’t made it to Earth. By now, our missile defense systems are completely efficient. There’s no reason to think they’ll break through now, if they haven’t yet” (87).

            Here, I’d like to point to things that have happened in reality. I believe that Le Guin is trying to say something along the lines that we always over prepare, overreact to every threat that we are faced with. The novel was indeed written in the Cold War Era, in which an arms race was about to happen (no Reagan yet though, which makes this novel seem like a precursor!). There was also a space race as well, which perhaps inspired the bit about the moon. Even today, America is equipped by nukes to the brim, more than we’ll ever possibly need, as a threat. However, we still have terrorists and etc. coming by, and now we’ve pretty much made the Middle East very angry at us. I think Le Guin is saying that no amount of deterrents will really protect us—I think perhaps, she thinks it would be better to talk things out instead (perhaps using diplomatic means to solve problems instead of using our fists).

The Lathe of Heaven I

            In Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Lathe of Heaven, the main character, George Orr, has the power to change the world through his dreams. His ability scares him, and makes him afraid of dreaming, which is how Orr ends up having to see the therapist Haber. Haber, however, is compared to a mad scientist at points, using George to try controlling the world to how Haber wants it. However, George still thinks that “He’s not…not an evil man. He means well. What I object to is his using me as an instrument, a means—even if his ends are good. I can’t judge him—my own dreams had immoral effects…that’s why…I got into this mess” (48).

            I find it interesting how George thinks that he is the immoral one when he has no control over what he is doing. It is also interesting how Haber thinks that he is the one benefitting the world, and that he is the good person for he is helping everyone in his own way. I feel like perhaps he is inspired by Hitler or some other dictator/leader, for this book was written after World War II as well. Perhaps Haber is a combination between Hitler and Victor Frankenstein. Perhaps it is something like, “What would Frankenstein have done if he really liked his creation?”

            I also find it strange how George seems to be panicked by the fact that Haber wants to change reality. This implies that George actually likes this world in a way. Even though the world has a lot wrong with it (protein deficiency, war, etc.), George still wants to be a part of it. Therefore, I think Ursula K. Le Guin is trying to get at themes of perhaps conservation at this part of the novel.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick pt. 2

From page 163 to 165 of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick, the lines between humans and androids are extremely blurred. The passage really provokes the question of, to what extent the humans being humans and the androids being androids? I am also intrigued by all John Isidore says during this passage, for his words remind me of Aye, and Gomorrah in particular.

            It is so fascinating that the androids are able to find some common ground with Isidore, perhaps in a way that relates to empathy. For one, Irmgard notes that “They[Society] don’t[doesn’t] treat him[Isidore] very well either” (164). Isidore is a “special,” and so neither he nor the androids are really accepted by the rest of society. It implies that Isidore and the androids could really become “friends” in a way and appreciate each other. It also makes the androids seem more empathetic than human beings in a way. For one, the androids seem to be accepting Isidore a lot better than the society treats and accepts Isidore. Instead of just pushing Isidore off to the side, the androids are actually willing to enlist Isidore’s help. Also, Irmgard and Pris both have deiced to call Isidore “special” but in a good way.

            Isidore also seems to have a rather large mental capacity, which makes me question whether the test to find one’s a special was legitimate or not. It makes me think of Aye, and Gomorroh, perhaps there is a performance after each one.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick, Part 1 of 2

With all the talk about empathy in Philip K. Dick’s novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, I find it interesting the way the humans in the novel treat that term. When Rick Deckard thinks to himself that “Empathy, evidently, existed only within the human community...,” I can’t help but start to draw parallels to the idea of the “White Man’s Burden” back in the day (30). I start to feel the sense that the humans think that their capability to feel empathy must make them superior to other species, just like the Europeans felt that they were superior themselves. The humans in the novel as well as the Europeans both seem to think that they are the ones who should be passing down the judgment on the world, in that sense.

        However, though the humans think that they are the world’s empathetic beings and act based on that assumption, various cases in the text seem to point out that this maybe is not true. For one, Rick seems to feel no emotional connection to his wife, especially judging by the fact that he relies on his mood organ so much to even feel the different emotions. He also doesn’t seem to really understand what empathy even is. The humans seem to think that simply owning an animal shows that a person has empathy. However, in reality, instead of feeling the emotions of the animals using empathy, the humans pretty much treat them as expensive commodities (such as a car or a house). They retain full ownership of each animal, and the animals basically have no freedom under the ownership of the humans. Rick also seems to be more preoccupied with the fact that he has no real animal than the satisfaction he would get from owning a real one. He therefore seems to be more concerned about keeping up his image as an “empathic person” than actually caring for the animals suffering due to the nuclear fallout. It is as if the animals are the luxury items, and are mean more for showing off than to actually feel for. Therefore, it raises the question of if humans really think they are empathic beings, and whether they really are.