Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

by

Philip K. Dick

The Mood Organ Symbol Analysis

The Mood Organ Symbol Icon

In Dick’s vision of the future, people rely on a “mood organ” to feel emotions of any kind. The mood organ can be placed on various “settings,” each one of which corresponds to a different, very specific emotion, such as “eager to watch TV,” “slightly optimistic,” “weary,” etc. It’s bizarre to imagine a world in which people depend on machines to feel—in this sense, the mood organ is a disturbing symbol of humans’ growing reliance on machines, even as they simultaneously become more like machines (unable to feel emotion without using another machine). More to the point, however, the organ symbolizes the growing conformity of modern society, in which the mass media ensure that everyone is thinking and feeling the same things.

The Mood Organ Quotes in Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

The Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? quotes below all refer to the symbol of The Mood Organ. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Humanity, Androids, and Empathy Theme Icon
).
Chapter 1 Quotes

Examining the schedule for January 3, 1992, he saw that a businesslike professional attitude was called for. "If I dial by schedule," he said warily, "will you agree to also?" He waited, canny enough not to commit himself until his wife had agreed to follow suit.
"My schedule for today lists a six-hour self-accusatory depression," Iran said.
"What? Why did you schedule that?" It defeated the whole purpose of the mood organ. "I didn't even know you could set it for that," he said gloomily.

Related Characters: Rick Deckard (speaker), Iran Deckard (speaker)
Related Symbols: The Mood Organ
Page Number: 4-5
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 15 Quotes

Rick said, "I took a test, one question, and verified it; I've begun to empathize with androids, and look what that means. You said it this morning yourself. 'Those poor andys.' So you know what I'm talking about. That's why I bought the goat. I never felt like that before. Maybe it could be a depression, like you get. I can understand now how you suffer when you're depressed; I always thought you liked it and I thought you could have snapped yourself out any time, if not alone then by means of the mood organ. But when you get that depressed you don't care. Apathy, because you've lost a sense of worth. It doesn't matter whether you feel better because if you have no worth — "
"What about your job?" Her tone jabbed at him; he blinked. "Your job," Iran repeated. "What are the monthly payments on the goat?" She held out her hand; reflexively he got out the contract which he had signed, passed it to her.

Related Characters: Rick Deckard (speaker), Iran Deckard (speaker)
Related Symbols: The Mood Organ
Page Number: 174-175
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 22 Quotes

"Do you want to use the mood organ? To feel better? You always have gotten a lot out of it, more than I ever have."
"I'll be okay." He shook his head, as if trying to clear it, still bewildered. "The spider Mercer gave the chickenhead, Isidore; it probably was artificial, too. But it doesn't matter. The electric things have their lives, too. Paltry as those lives are."

Related Characters: Rick Deckard (speaker), Iran Deckard (speaker), John Isidore, Al Jarry / Wilbur Mercer
Related Symbols: The Mood Organ, The Toad
Page Number: 241
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Androids Dream LitChart as a printable PDF.
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? PDF

The Mood Organ Symbol Timeline in Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

The timeline below shows where the symbol The Mood Organ appears in Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1
Humanity, Androids, and Empathy Theme Icon
Perception, Reality, and Power Theme Icon
Animals and the Environment Theme Icon
Commodification and Consumerism Theme Icon
...he and Iran own. As he thinks, he fiddles with a small machine, a “ mood organ ,” that can control the chemical balance of his brain. This mood organ could make... (full context)
Humanity, Androids, and Empathy Theme Icon
Commodification and Consumerism Theme Icon
...to dial 888, the setting that makes people want to watch TV. Rick sets his mood organ to “a fresh and creative attitude,” a setting that Rick usually feels anyway. (full context)
Chapter 22
Humanity, Androids, and Empathy Theme Icon
Perception, Reality, and Power Theme Icon
Animals and the Environment Theme Icon
Commodification and Consumerism Theme Icon
Iran sits in the apartment next to the mood organ . There’s a sudden knock—it’s Rick, with his cheek cut and his clothing dusty. He... (full context)
Humanity, Androids, and Empathy Theme Icon
Perception, Reality, and Power Theme Icon
Animals and the Environment Theme Icon
Commodification and Consumerism Theme Icon
...to sleep, since he needs rest. Iran nods and tells him that she’ll set the mood organ to 670, the setting for “long deserved peace.” While Rick sleeps, Iran calls the pet... (full context)