Rick Deckard Character Analysis
To Feel Once More
Throughout the course of Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, the protagonist Rick Deckard’s understanding of humanity undergoes a shift in perspective. Deckard was far from an empathetic human-being at the start of his journey, however, he was not far from the stoic “killers” that roamed the dilapidated planet (Dick 30). Before the end of Deckard’s killing spree, he underwent a transformation, learning that the human viewpoint of humanity may not be as obvious as he once thought and that all facets of life are precious.
Deckard’s personality in the beginning is robotic, even spiteful toward the wife that “had nothing to give” (Dick 88). He is burdened by an electric sheep that was not the “same” (Dick 12). …show more content…
A huge leap in personality can be seen during the mission to kill someone as “wonderful” as Luba Luft. Deckard was later shown by the Voigt-Kampff test that he indeed was starting to feel emotions for “specific” androids (Dick 132). Empathy and compassion were starting to penetrate Deckard’s psyche.
After Luft’s death, Deckard learned the core principle in his journey. The viewpoint of androids being nonhuman was starting to make Deckard “wonder” (Dick 133). Androids appeared to care for each other, and the brutality he saw was, to his surprise, at the hands of humans. The lines of the established principle of humanity became blurred.
The reader can see the effects of Deckard’s enlightenment following the distress and happiness he shows upon arriving at his home. Deckard’s face lights up at the sight of his wife, contrary to his prior perceived bothersome nature of her (Dick 222). At the end of his journey, an “unnatural” man can finally let the androids “have their lives, too” (Dick 222).
With the story behind him, Deckard learned to shift his viewpoint of humanity. As a result of his newfound appreciation for life, Deckard’s hunting is finally over. The end of Rick Deckard’s journey left a man that can feel once more and see the joys of life around
Throughout the course of Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, the protagonist Rick Deckard’s understanding of humanity undergoes a shift in perspective. Deckard was far from an empathetic human-being at the start of his journey, however, he was not far from the stoic “killers” that roamed the dilapidated planet (Dick 30). Before the end of Deckard’s killing spree, he underwent a transformation, learning that the human viewpoint of humanity may not be as obvious as he once thought and that all facets of life are precious.
Deckard’s personality in the beginning is robotic, even spiteful toward the wife that “had nothing to give” (Dick 88). He is burdened by an electric sheep that was not the “same” (Dick 12). …show more content…
A huge leap in personality can be seen during the mission to kill someone as “wonderful” as Luba Luft. Deckard was later shown by the Voigt-Kampff test that he indeed was starting to feel emotions for “specific” androids (Dick 132). Empathy and compassion were starting to penetrate Deckard’s psyche.
After Luft’s death, Deckard learned the core principle in his journey. The viewpoint of androids being nonhuman was starting to make Deckard “wonder” (Dick 133). Androids appeared to care for each other, and the brutality he saw was, to his surprise, at the hands of humans. The lines of the established principle of humanity became blurred.
The reader can see the effects of Deckard’s enlightenment following the distress and happiness he shows upon arriving at his home. Deckard’s face lights up at the sight of his wife, contrary to his prior perceived bothersome nature of her (Dick 222). At the end of his journey, an “unnatural” man can finally let the androids “have their lives, too” (Dick 222).
With the story behind him, Deckard learned to shift his viewpoint of humanity. As a result of his newfound appreciation for life, Deckard’s hunting is finally over. The end of Rick Deckard’s journey left a man that can feel once more and see the joys of life around