Chapters 1 and 2

Allison LeBel


"Blade Runner"


Philip K. Dick


Pages read: from 1 to 24



           

Chapters 1 & 2 Combined

    

The main plot of “Blade Runner” follows the protagonist- Rick Deckard, a bounty hunter of androids. The setting of the novel takes place in a “post-apocalyptic” near future, where Earth and its populations have been damaged greatly by a Nuclear War-World War Terminus. I quickly made a connection with WWT to WWII in the 1940’s. As a result of this nuclear war, majority of the animals inhabited on Earth are endangered or extinct, due to extreme radiation poisoning from the war. To own an animal is a sign of status. Surprisingly, what is emphasized more than the status is the empathic emotions humans experience towards an animal. Deckard has been keeping a secret from the rest of his building, his sheep is not real- it is electronic. Deckard confides in his neighbor and friend Bill Barbour to buy one of his two horses. It is while they are discussing a deal that Deckard lets out the real reason he wants to buy the horse. He wants to buy it because he fears that other will soon notice the sheep is not real and will be kicked out of the building. Barbour never decides if he will sell the horse or not because Deckard leaves abruptly for he is already late for work- due to his wife Iran.

Earlier that morning Deckard wakes to a mood, irritate wife. Could you imagine waking up in the morning grouchy and tired, but then with a turn of a dial you are instantly awake and satisfied, ready to start your day? Rick Deckard (protagonist) did exactly that. Trying to influence wife Iran to do the same; he failed. Although Deckard and his wife have no “real” feels they can set their Penfields to a certain emotion. Iran is depressed and chooses to stay on that setting as along as possible through out the day. Deckard is worried that she will permanently stay in that setting forever and never love him again. He blames himself because he cannot provide the life she wants.

“You set your Penfield too weak,” he said to her. “I’ll reset it and you’ll be awake.” “Keep your hand off my settings.” Her voice held bitter sharpness. “I don’t want to be awake.”(Dick 1)

            Both Rick and his wife are both stimulating characters. As mysterious as their motives are, they are very obvious at the same time. Rick is a little bit harder to figure out. He wants to please his wife but at the same time he is so frustrated that he wants to give up on her. Iran always has a sarcastic or negative attitude. She would rather sit around and mope all day than try and make her situation better. I understand why some find it difficult mask how you truly feel, because it is lying to your self, but I feel faking a smile is better than moping. When you fake something you start to believe it, so why not believe you can be happy? I am interested in seeing if Iran’s attitudes changes at all through the book.