Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep Analysis

Written by Philip K. Dick in 1968, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep is a dystopian novel set place in 2021 that follows that Rick Deckard, an android bounty hunter living in a post apocalyptic San Francisco. The world, and the lives of those living in it, has changed due to World War Terminus, and the nuclear waste produced radioactive dust that covered the entire earth resulting in the death of many animals and the need for most of the humans to relocate to colonies on Mars. Due to the decrease in animals, live has gained more value and importance in the world. Real animals, with their rarity, serve as a sign of wealth and status compared to the looked down upon electric animals. Poor people can only afford realistic looking electric animals,

In order to fulfill his job expectations, Rick retires, or kills androids that have escaped to Earth from Mars. He begins as a cold, selfish hunter who has no regard for android life. His work as a bounty hunter figuratively transforms him into an android, furthering the hypocrisy when he targets androids, incapable of empathy, yet for him to successfully carry out his work he must not have empathy towards his targets. He progressively evolves to an empathetic character who develops empathy towards all forms of life, whether mortal or immortal. Mass extinction and the push to a society that is more empathetic, has motivated a religion based upon technology called Mercerism. The creators of the religion are very selective, making every member in it seem like they are part of a higher society above the rest of the

The main goal of Mercerism is to unite humans by epitomizing their intrinsic ability to empathize with others. Ironically, followers of the religion isolate themselves and become very selective with who they allow to join their following, thus giving themselves the image of an esoteric society amongst others. Wilbur Mercer, the holy figure of the religion that encourages fusion with other humans in order to share suffering and persecution, says to Rick "You will be required to do wrong no matter where you go. It is the basic condition of life, to be required to violate your own identity" (pg 89). Mercer proceeds to tell Rick that he must go on and complete the mission of exterminating all androids. Rick believes that he must cease the killing due to his newfound empathy towards androids. Mercer tells him that life requires many things and some of the requirements will cause him do things he believes aren't right. This blends the image of morality and shows that empathy creates righteous as well as unpleasant emotions. By doing this Dick develops the question of whether Rick’s newfound empathy benefits himself and the population, or in all actuality, only produces more harm than good. While Iran accuses Deckard being "a murderer hired by the cops," he believes that in "retiring" androids he adheres to "the rule of life laid down by Mercer. You