Brian W. Aldiss's Short Story Who Can Replace A Man

Robot Domination

Humans rely too much on robots. Robots should not act or think the same way humans do. Brian W. Aldiss, the author who wrote the story “Who Can Replace a Man?” demonstrates that without humans, the robots could take over the world. This short story takes place in a futuristic and inhumane setting where robots have full control over themselves, can walk, talk and work. The robots face the consequence of trying to overcome a problem on their own by achieving to fix o build some sort of new system. “We will speak to each other. This lack of orders is unprecedented. Have you further information on it, said penner” (Aldiss 224-225) In the story, we realize that humans can’t live without depending on robotic machines. In this
After they find out that the men in the city have become extinct and there is a chaotic situation in the city, they decide to explore and go to the city. Robots seem to be more risk-takers, while some people crave for security and confirmation on a stable situation. Also, robots think about the positive and negative outcomes of a situation, being careful about what they put themselves in, “but you will find cross-country travel difficult with your low chassis.” (Aldiss ) This shows the consideration of the other machines’ capacities and how they try to help each other, making a closer connection. In the other hand, people don’t always show the empathy to others and don’t seem to care about others, showing no
However, without the knowledge and the brain, robots wouldn’t be able to have emotions, therefore they couldn’t fight and argue with one another. The robotic machines show signs of fear to human beings, “Men are more dangerous than machines,” said the quarrier. “It is fortunate that I have a good supply of fissionable materials.” They have been controlled all this time by men that when they have the opportunity of freedom, they can explore and expand their intellectual capabilities. Once knowing that most men have become extinct, they don’t hesitate to explore and avoid any particular place which will have men still alive. They don’t want to risk facing the same conditions they had when the men were alive, “If there are only a few men alive in the mountains, we may not find that part of the mountains,” said one tractor. “Therefore we should not see the few men,” said the other tractor.”
After the final decision made by the machines, to not encounter another man and not fall for their commands, at the end of the story they end up becoming the slaves again. This shows how humans will always have to rely on other things, and the things will always make themselves vulnerable to the human beings. At the end, a suffering and weak person still shows control over the machines, making them get him food. This also shows how the machines are weak themselves, and they can’t live without the actions of human