artificial-animals

Rick Deckard awakens to a tense morning with his wife Iran, who has scheduled periods of self-induced depression using a mood organ to cope with the bleakness of their post-apocalyptic world. The chapter explores their complex emotional interplay mediated by artificial mood settings and introduces the societal pressure to own real animals, highlighting Rick's ownership of an electric sheep as a symbol of status and authenticity in a devastated environment. The narrative also touches on the pervasive environmental decay and the social implications of artificiality and survival in a radioactive, depopulated Earth.

Rick Deckard contemplates the advanced capabilities of the new Nexus-6 androids following the shooting of fellow bounty hunter Dave Holden, highlighting the increasing difficulty in distinguishing androids from humans. He reflects on the nature of empathy as a uniquely human trait that androids lack, which justifies his role in 'retiring' them. The chapter also explores the social and economic significance of owning real versus artificial animals, exemplified by Deckard's interest in purchasing an expensive ostrich.