Marxist Response To Issac Asimovs 'I' Robot

When applying the Marxist lens to Issac Asimovs I’Robot the reader can view which class had the overall power. The Marxist lens allows us to look at text closely to analyze how economics, politics, and society are portrayed. I’Robot poses questions like who has power, who should have power, and what people (or robots) do with that power. Robots seem to have some power, since they are stronger than people, but people have a lot of power as their controllers. No matter how strong a robot is, it still needs to follow human orders and not harm any humans. Essentially all of the robots life is dictated by the humans, which gives humans the ultimate power. In I’Robot the robots have to follow the “Three laws of robotics”. These laws must be followed by all robots as part of their creation and should not be disobeyed. The first law states that “A robot may not injure a human being, or though inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.” Second law says “A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First law. The Third law states that “A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second
Powell and Donovan needed the selenium but needed Speedy’s help to get it. Speedy could not get the selenium he was “drunk” and not functioning properly, Powell then decided to go out on his own and get it. Powell passed out before collecting the Selenium, Speedy helped him to the side of the cliff so that he would regain consciousness. “Where’s Speedy?” Right here. I sent him out to one of the selenium pools with orders to get that selenium at all cost this time. He got it back in forty-two minutes and three seconds” (Asimov 54&55). Asimov is making it clear to the reader that humans had overall power because Donovan ordered Speedy to get the selenium and Speedy obeyed his