Simulacra and Madness
November 10th 2006 04:21
"We Can Build You" by the legendary Science Fiction writer, Philip K. Dick begins with an Electronic Organ Company deciding to change their specialisation to the manufacture of "Simulacrum". These are robots which are made to resemble famous men of history such as Abraham Lincoln. Despite this interesting science fiction characteristic the novel, however seems to be more concerned with the treatment of Mental Illness and The main character, Louis' relationship with the schizophrenic designer. You could contrast the books examination of mental illness with the simulacrum. These creations are apparently not human. They are artificial human beings. However as the novel continues the two main simulacra live and work as normal human beings. However Louis and the designer, Pris are the ones who stand out. For they are both deemed, "Mentally ill" because they do not think as the rest of the world does. The major test used in the novel is a proverb test. If the subject does not interpret the proverbs correctly they have a problem with their thinking and therefore must be mentally ill. Too bad if you simply hadn't learned many proverbs growing up! Louis is deemed mentally ill near the end of the book, however what is really wrong with him is his love for Pris. Pris however couldn't care less for him and tricks him into going back to the "real" world with the rest of the simulacra and Pris, who is truly deviant remains in the mental Institution. It appears that the whole world are artificial simulations and the "mentally ill" are the ones whom are "original". Therefore the two robots have no trouble fitting into the world. Pris, however does not and will never fit in. It's ironic however, that she is the one who designed them!
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