Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep Analysis

Philip K. Dicks novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, is the perfect example of going against what people perceive to be normal. Humans and androids question the true meaning of humanity and the way one should act. We see this when humans rather than feeling true ‘empathy’ for animals act this way to raise their social status in society. Androids likewise question the meaning of humanity when they begin to develop feelings, something androids are not supposed to feel. So, what is meant by humanity? It seems like what we perceive humanity to be is actually quite different when we see the true reason as to why humans act the way they do towards animals and how androids begin to act in ways that are not considered “normal” actions for them. Humans are beings that feel pain and emotions but, Dicks novel has us rethinking if they truly feel these emotions or act as if they do solely because if they do not they would be seen as immoral. “But they’ll look down on you. Not all of them, but some. You know how people are about not taking …show more content…
Jordana Greenblatt argues in her article that androids are almost indistinguishable from humans except the lack of emotional connection from androids (Greenblatt 42). Greenblatt’s statement about androids and humans being almost indistinguishable is indeed true. In order to be able to tell the difference between a human and android one must take a Voigt-Kampff test. This indicates whether or not you are an android through a series of questions regarding animal cruelty. Depending on the answers given, one can determine whether or not you are human or android. If these tests hadn’t been given you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between humans and androids. Mechanical beings were roaming the earth and only caught once given this test and answering in a