The Value of Life
Do Androids Dream of Electric SheepThe sanctity of animal life and the debates over what deserves protection.
increasing
Bearing strength in each event
decreasing
Bearing strength in each eventdecreasingAnimal Ownership Culture
The Obsession
The Pet Shops
Deckard visits Animal Row. The prices are astronomical. Owning a real animal is a sign of status.
The Electric Sheep
Many people own fake animals. The pretense is maintained. The culture demands authenticity.
The Moral Dimension
Mercerism teaches that all life is sacred. Animals are the highest good. The society is obsessed.
The Goat Purchase
The Investment
The Decision
Deckard spends his entire bounty on a goat. It is a symbol of hope and status.
The Joy
Iran is overjoyed. The goat represents a new beginning.
The Risk
The financial burden is heavy, but they believe it is worth it.
The Spider's Value
The Economic Value
The Discovery
Isidore knows the spider is worth a hundred dollars. It is a rare living creature.
The Mutilation
Pris does not care about its value. She treats it as a toy. The sanctity of life is ignored.
The Loss
The spider dies. A precious life is wasted. The androids do not understand.
The Goat's Death
The Murder
The Act
Rachael kills the goat. It is a deliberate act of cruelty.
The Loss
Deckard is devastated. The goat was a symbol of his hope. Now it is gone.
The Meaning
The death of the goat is a reminder that life is fragile. The androids can destroy without remorse.
The Electric Toad
The Acceptance of Artificial Life
The Discovery
Deckard finds a toad, but it is electric.
The Acceptance
He accepts it. He says electric things have their own lives. The value is not in authenticity but in the care given.
The Resolution
He will keep the toad. The line between real and artificial no longer matters. Life is what we cherish.
morning of January 3
evening
night
next morning
next morning
