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Chapter 17
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Humanity and Empathy
Reality vs. Artificiality
Alienation
Religion and Faith
Consumerism
Summary
Analysis
John carries Pris’s belongings upstairs, including her television, as the androids eagerly anticipate Buster Friendly’s broadcast. Once the television is set up, Buster begins his program with a sensational announcement: Mercerism is a fabrication. Using photographic enlargements, he points out brushstrokes in the background of Mercer’s sky and presents testimony from a former Hollywood special-effects worker. The man claims an actor played Mercer on a soundstage. As Buster continues explaining, the androids react with triumph. Roy declares this revelation proves that Mercerism—and the empathy it promotes—is a sham. He also reveals that Buster is an android, a fact most viewers will not know. As the program airs, Pris systematically cuts the legs off of a spider. John watches as she does so, disturbed. Eventually, John cannot take it anymore, so he takes the spider from her and drowns it in the sink to end its suffering.
Roy’s pleasure at the broadcast’s claims shows his desire to dismantle Mercerism and undermine the human claim to moral superiority. However, Pris’s systematic destruction of the spider serves as a chilling counterpoint to this moment of celebration, showcasing her utter disregard for the kind of empathy Mercerism advocates. For John, watching Pris mutilate the spider is an extremely upsetting experience, which forces him to confront the fundamental difference between his instinct to protect life and the androids’ lack of compassion. His decision to drown the spider is an act of mercy, as he reclaims control in a moment where cruelty has dominated. However, an open question remains: is Pris a reflection of all androids or is she simply one rogue individual?
Themes
After killing the spider, John retreats to the living room, where he feels everything around him beginning to crumble. The walls, furniture, and even the air seem to disintegrate as his despair consumes him. In this state, he experiences a vision of Mercer. The old man appears and confirms that everything Buster Friendly revealed is true: Mercer is an actor, and the imagery is staged. However, Mercer assures John that the truth does not negate the value of what people experience through the empathy box. He restores the spider’s legs, placing it back in John’s hands.
John’s vision of Mercer in the depths of despair blurs the line between reality and belief, creating a pivotal moment where faith in shared values is reaffirmed. Mercer’s acknowledgment of Buster’s revelations—while admitting the falsity of the imagery—challenges the notion that truth must always be literal to hold significance. The restored spider is not just an act of kindness; it symbolizes the enduring value of empathy, even in a world riddled with deception.
Themes
The reprieve is short-lived. An alarm suddenly blares, announcing the arrival of a bounty hunter in the building. Roy immediately takes command, ordering the lights to be turned off and directing John to leave his empathy box and prepare to help. The apartment falls into tense silence as the androids ready themselves for the confrontation.
After John’s experience with Mercer, he must work out for himself where his loyalties lie. A bounty hunter, presumably Rick, is coming for the androids, and he must determine how to navigate the impending conflict without violating his beliefs.
Themes
