Dr. Bloodmoney - My Part 1 Reflection
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I've found Dr. Bloodmoney to be an interesting follow up to The Simulacra We open, once again, with a trip to a psychiatrist's office. The universe this time around is more accepting of mental rehabilitation. Rather than the hope that the Doctor would fail (as we saw with The Simulacra) the good doctor this time was reccomended by a friend to help a man solve his issues. The first patient in this case is a (in)famous figure who believes he is disfigured despite not being so. People staring, disfigurations that don't exist... sound familiar?
Hoppy shows me differences between this and the last novel we read, but also throwing back to Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? What exactly is 'human'? Electric Sheep asked us this, and it seems Dr. Bloodmoney is asking once more. When thinking about his future augmentations, Hoppy mentally remarks that he would be stronger than a human. Does he think himself separate from the human race?
Hoppy shows me differences between this and the last novel we read, but also throwing back to Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? What exactly is 'human'? Electric Sheep asked us this, and it seems Dr. Bloodmoney is asking once more. When thinking about his future augmentations, Hoppy mentally remarks that he would be stronger than a human. Does he think himself separate from the human race?
About the author
Alissa is a Junior English for New Media student at Dakota State University. This blog and its posts exist as a part of the course: ENGL 343 - Literature: Philip K. Dick.
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It's interesting that PKD seems to be exploring the question of what is human through his novels. I think even in The Simulacra he was asking this question, just maybe a bit more subtly. According to the previous novel, it would seem that we at least could take hope that the human race could start over. It would just start way over. The neanderthals seemed to be different though, as if watching the mistakes that the human race seemed doomed to make. Perhaps PKD is thinking that there are many things that could go wrong, but I think he is trying to give us a glimmer of hope. That humanity may be able to withstand something like an apocalypse or can even prevent one if we would just realize before it's too late.
ReplyDeleteI noticed the "what is human?" question as well. Almost as if those that have a handicap or disability are seen as not quite as "human" as those that are whole. But, then again, regular "unfunny" people seem to have this narcissistic attitude, but the "funny" people seem to have one up on them. At least in this story.
ReplyDeleteWhile I have the benefit of reading the entire book now, I do think that Hoppy may not exactly see himself as separate from the human race, but a vastly superior member of it. It's kind of like the outcast who believes all the normal people are sheep and he will rise above and rule over them one day. That is a mark of insecurity and an ego.
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