Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep Summary

French politician Marion Marechal-Le Pen once said, “I have empathy; I am humane. I understand human misery.” Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? challenges the dichotomy between human and non-human species. Dick’s fundamental contention is that humans are dependent upon interactions with living creatures, and he further asserts that androids are, in fact, not human. Humans are inclined to bond to other living beings via social interaction. Such bonds transpire only through reciprocity of empathetic feelings; in their absence, disillusionment and resentment can flourish. Such was the case for Rick Deckard, who dreams of owning a real animal. He currently owns an ersatz sheep; he feels providing and supporting a fraud
is demoralizing (Dick 9). He is further demoralized through an adulterous encounter with Rachael Rosen (Dick 197). In spite of his affection for her, Rachael reveals her seduction was simply a ploy (Dick 197-199). John R. Isidore is also looking for an emotional tie to humanity. Despite learning that his friends are androids, Isidore continues these relationships because being with other “people” makes him feel human (Dick 204). Even the androids understand Isidore’s need for companionship. Irmgard Baty explains, "…he knows us and he likes us and an emotional acceptance like that—it's everything to him” (Dick 164). The interactions Deckard and Isidore have with the synthetic creatures display humanity’s hunger for emotional ties.
Unfortunately, androids and manufactured animals are incapable of forming true relationships because they lack empathy. After Deckard’s admission that he has a simulated sheep, his neighbor acknowledges Rick’s disappointment by stating, “It’s not the same ” (Dick 12). Deckard’s emotional attachment to his electric animal is limited by the sheep’s inability to acknowledge Deckard’s existence (Dick 9-12). After Rachael announces the affair was an android tactic, she states, “This seemed to work...for reasons which we fully do not understand” (Dick 199). It is at this point that Rick recognizes Rachael is unable to comprehend human emotions. After Irmgard’s interprets Isidore’s feelings, the androids commend him for his human qualities. According to Irmgard, “It’s hard for us to grasp that” (Dick 164). Rachael’s and Irmgard's admissions confirm the empathetic shortfalls of androids.
Acknowledgement and acceptance of emotions allow humanity to thrive; androids’ lack of empathy excludes them from the human race. Throughout the story, Deckard and Isidore yearn for abiding emotional commitments. All too often, they looked in the wrong places. Programmed emotional responses are not authentic; until they gain the ability to interpret such feelings, their human status remains on hold.