I, Robot

by

Isaac Asimov

Rabbit Symbol Icon

The rabbit serves as a metaphor for humans’ inability to fully comprehend robotic intelligence and the fact that robots are in fact, superior to the human race. In “Catch That Rabbit,” Donovan and Powell, as Powell tells Donovan, “The first step in cooking rabbit stew is catching the rabbit.” This is figurative in the context of the story—it means that they have to figure out the circumstances under which Dave, a robot, is malfunctioning before they can fix him. The metaphor illustrates that Powell does not fully comprehend the issue that the robot is experiencing despite being well-trained engineers. Ironically, it also likens the robot to an animal, emphasizing the robot’s lower status and Powell’s arrogant attitude the humans will eventually prove their superiority over the robot despite not understanding them. 

The rabbit is referred to only once more in the story. In trying to figure out Dave’s glitches, Donovan and Powell accidentally trap themselves in a cave-in at the mine. Asimov writes of the crevice in which they are stuck: “no point was there room for a rabbit to squeeze through.” Now, the humans are the ones who are analogous to the rabbit—they are inferior. The fact that they have created their own folly and need Dave to free themselves illustrates how they now have the lower status of an animal, depending on the superior robot to get them out of their trap.

Get the entire I, Robot LitChart as a printable PDF.
I, Robot PDF

Rabbit Symbol Timeline in I, Robot

The timeline below shows where the symbol Rabbit appears in I, Robot. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Catch That Rabbit
Morality and Ethics Theme Icon
Human Superiority and Control Theme Icon
Irrationality, Fear, and Folly Theme Icon
...can’t know how to fix the robot before they know what’s wrong. They can’t cook rabbit stew without catching the rabbit, he philosophizes. (full context)
Human Superiority and Control Theme Icon
Irrationality, Fear, and Folly Theme Icon
...that they can peek out of, but “at no point was there room for a rabbit to squeeze through.” (full context)