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The Meaning In Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep

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Two essentials of humanity are authority and purpose. Without them a lonesome world of chaos would thrive, and society will thirst for stability and meaning. In Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, the revered and high powered Wilbur Mercer and Buster Friendly serve the purpose of giving humanity meaning and maintaining stability in society, respectively.
Whether he exists or not, Mercer continues to give mankind meaning by providing company and hope. Everyone on Earth regards Mercerism as “the way you stop being alone” (Dick 62). Without it, they “[sense] the absence of life,” “feel hopeless about everything,” and experience the “absence of appropriate affect” by “not reacting” (5). However, not only is Mercerism necessary to fill the void in their lives, but they feel obligated to practice it. …show more content…

Considered “the most important human being alive,” Friendly is very popular, and it is uncommon to be unfamiliar with him (Dick 65). For instance, it “seemed odd to [John Isidore] that [Pris Stratton] had never heard of Earth’s most knee-slapping TV comic”: Buster Friendly (60). Being greatly admired, most “watch [Friendly] every morning and then again at night when [they] get home” (60). They “naturally” turn on “Buster Friendly and His Friendly Friends” because it “[is telecasted and broadcasted] over all Earth via satellite” (4, 69). Believing everything he says, people think others are “mistaken” if Friendly “had never mentioned it” (136). Consequently, without Friendly the people would not have a direction for guidance and knowledge.
Representing meaning and stability in society, Mercer and Friendly are powerful characters in Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?. Mercer provides ambition and purpose to humanity while Friendly provides a voice of authority and guidance. Without the two humanity would live meaningless lives in a world of

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