The high castle is Gnosis, where all the threads of reality, of the multiverse, can be drawn, and something new, and of your own will be woven.
Who is the spider in the center of the web?
Common Gnostic themes in VALIS, Flow my tears, Do androids dream …, etc.
The multiverse is PKDs’ trademark, to read a chapter and when you get to the have its storyline and timeline invert or superimpose, and the perspective mirror itself. Also many of his stories can be viewed as point of reference eschatologies. Not like a Star Wars or Dune eschatology, more like Daniel or Revelations eschatology’s.
Footnote: (“Do androids dream …” is a trip when you tear apart all the threads. Then when we compare the movie to the book, like a suite of clothes worn by different people, the movie and book are also like doppelgängers to each other, they look the same, but so different. Movie, mimicking book, endless recursion. )
I need to reread Do Androids Dream. I had read it for a class in college back before I heard anything about gnosticism or multiverses. knowing what I know now about PKD, I’m sure I missed EVERYTHING in that book.
Look for doppelgänger, exogenous, and alternate reality sub plots.
I generated a Gnostic Exegesis you might find a useful guide.
—
“Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” by Philip K. Dick can be examined through the lens of Gnostic philosophy to uncover its deeper, often hidden themes. Here’s an exegesis focusing on these Gnostic elements:
Gnostic Philosophy Overview
Gnosticism is a collection of ancient religious ideas and systems which believe in a dualistic universe governed by both a true, hidden God and a false, material demiurge. Gnostics seek gnosis, or secret knowledge, to escape the material world’s deception and achieve spiritual awakening.
Gnostic Elements in the Novel
1. Illusory Reality:
• In Gnostic thought, the material world is a flawed or false creation of the demiurge. Similarly, in Dick’s novel, the world is a degraded, post-apocalyptic landscape. The Earth, damaged by war, represents a fallen state.
• The concept of the Mercerism religion, where individuals connect through a shared virtual reality experience of Wilbur Mercer’s suffering, mirrors the Gnostic pursuit of transcending the physical world through spiritual means.
2. Search for True Knowledge:
• Rick Deckard’s journey can be seen as a quest for gnosis. Throughout the novel, he seeks to understand the nature of the androids and, by extension, the nature of humanity itself. This mirrors the Gnostic pursuit of inner knowledge and enlightenment.
• The Voight-Kampff test, used to distinguish humans from androids, symbolizes the quest for truth beneath appearances.
3. Dualism and the Demiurge:
• The world in the novel is split between humans and androids, the latter of which are considered lesser beings. This can be seen as a reflection of Gnostic dualism, where the spiritual (human) is considered superior to the material (android).
• Buster Friendly, the omnipresent media personality, could be interpreted as a demiurge figure, creating and perpetuating the false reality through his broadcasts, distracting people from the truth.
4. Empathy and Spiritual Awakening:
• Empathy is a central theme in the novel. In Gnostic thought, true knowledge often involves understanding and connecting with others on a spiritual level. Deckard’s growing empathy towards the androids signifies a form of spiritual awakening, challenging the perceived moral and existential boundaries between humans and androids.
• The “electric sheep” Deckard cares for and his yearning for a real animal symbolize a deeper desire for genuine connection and authenticity, reflecting the Gnostic yearning for true spiritual experiences over false material ones.
5. Mercerism and Shared Suffering:
• Mercerism, with its emphasis on collective suffering and empathy, echoes the Gnostic theme of shared spiritual journeys and the communal aspect of seeking gnosis.
• The climactic moment when Deckard experiences Mercer’s suffering and revelation can be seen as a moment of spiritual enlightenment, paralleling the Gnostic awakening.
Conclusion
“Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” is rich with Gnostic themes, exploring the nature of reality, the search for true knowledge, and the spiritual awakening of its characters. By understanding these Gnostic threads, readers can gain a deeper appreciation of the novel’s philosophical and existential dimensions.
Wow – I really enjoyed this book and you all are bringing back thoughts long lost. It’s a special book for me because my son gave it to me when he was in college ten years ago and he knows I read about 98% non-fiction and I had never read PKD before. He picked it out of the blue and had not even read it! Good pick! Oh man…the ending. I won’t say anymore.
I’m an Orwell fan too. In order to remind myself that I don’t want to look like a socialist who is too lazy to put on/take off mascara, I put a place holder in Ch. 4. in 1984, for a quick read when Julia and Winston meet for a tryst in their (not) hide away room and Julia says, “You can turn around now” after she puts on make-up for Winston. Orwell writes, “The improvement in her appearance was startling.” Of course, that has nothing to do with the Man in the High Castle, because, OMG…that ending…Enjoy!
Just out of curiosity Melissa, your "Task of art" Lotze quote, the three dots (...) did you leave that part out or is that an edit in the edition you're reading?
Not faulting if you did but am if the publishing house did.
No, leaving it out was my choice. The sentence seemed like a ‘can of worms’ that detracted from the reason I was including the quote. Thankfully! The publisher leaving it out would be concerning.
The high castle is Gnosis, where all the threads of reality, of the multiverse, can be drawn, and something new, and of your own will be woven.
Who is the spider in the center of the web?
Common Gnostic themes in VALIS, Flow my tears, Do androids dream …, etc.
The multiverse is PKDs’ trademark, to read a chapter and when you get to the have its storyline and timeline invert or superimpose, and the perspective mirror itself. Also many of his stories can be viewed as point of reference eschatologies. Not like a Star Wars or Dune eschatology, more like Daniel or Revelations eschatology’s.
Footnote: (“Do androids dream …” is a trip when you tear apart all the threads. Then when we compare the movie to the book, like a suite of clothes worn by different people, the movie and book are also like doppelgängers to each other, they look the same, but so different. Movie, mimicking book, endless recursion. )
I need to reread Do Androids Dream. I had read it for a class in college back before I heard anything about gnosticism or multiverses. knowing what I know now about PKD, I’m sure I missed EVERYTHING in that book.
Look for doppelgänger, exogenous, and alternate reality sub plots.
I generated a Gnostic Exegesis you might find a useful guide.
—
“Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” by Philip K. Dick can be examined through the lens of Gnostic philosophy to uncover its deeper, often hidden themes. Here’s an exegesis focusing on these Gnostic elements:
Gnostic Philosophy Overview
Gnosticism is a collection of ancient religious ideas and systems which believe in a dualistic universe governed by both a true, hidden God and a false, material demiurge. Gnostics seek gnosis, or secret knowledge, to escape the material world’s deception and achieve spiritual awakening.
Gnostic Elements in the Novel
1. Illusory Reality:
• In Gnostic thought, the material world is a flawed or false creation of the demiurge. Similarly, in Dick’s novel, the world is a degraded, post-apocalyptic landscape. The Earth, damaged by war, represents a fallen state.
• The concept of the Mercerism religion, where individuals connect through a shared virtual reality experience of Wilbur Mercer’s suffering, mirrors the Gnostic pursuit of transcending the physical world through spiritual means.
2. Search for True Knowledge:
• Rick Deckard’s journey can be seen as a quest for gnosis. Throughout the novel, he seeks to understand the nature of the androids and, by extension, the nature of humanity itself. This mirrors the Gnostic pursuit of inner knowledge and enlightenment.
• The Voight-Kampff test, used to distinguish humans from androids, symbolizes the quest for truth beneath appearances.
3. Dualism and the Demiurge:
• The world in the novel is split between humans and androids, the latter of which are considered lesser beings. This can be seen as a reflection of Gnostic dualism, where the spiritual (human) is considered superior to the material (android).
• Buster Friendly, the omnipresent media personality, could be interpreted as a demiurge figure, creating and perpetuating the false reality through his broadcasts, distracting people from the truth.
4. Empathy and Spiritual Awakening:
• Empathy is a central theme in the novel. In Gnostic thought, true knowledge often involves understanding and connecting with others on a spiritual level. Deckard’s growing empathy towards the androids signifies a form of spiritual awakening, challenging the perceived moral and existential boundaries between humans and androids.
• The “electric sheep” Deckard cares for and his yearning for a real animal symbolize a deeper desire for genuine connection and authenticity, reflecting the Gnostic yearning for true spiritual experiences over false material ones.
5. Mercerism and Shared Suffering:
• Mercerism, with its emphasis on collective suffering and empathy, echoes the Gnostic theme of shared spiritual journeys and the communal aspect of seeking gnosis.
• The climactic moment when Deckard experiences Mercer’s suffering and revelation can be seen as a moment of spiritual enlightenment, paralleling the Gnostic awakening.
Conclusion
“Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” is rich with Gnostic themes, exploring the nature of reality, the search for true knowledge, and the spiritual awakening of its characters. By understanding these Gnostic threads, readers can gain a deeper appreciation of the novel’s philosophical and existential dimensions.
Wow – I really enjoyed this book and you all are bringing back thoughts long lost. It’s a special book for me because my son gave it to me when he was in college ten years ago and he knows I read about 98% non-fiction and I had never read PKD before. He picked it out of the blue and had not even read it! Good pick! Oh man…the ending. I won’t say anymore.
I’m an Orwell fan too. In order to remind myself that I don’t want to look like a socialist who is too lazy to put on/take off mascara, I put a place holder in Ch. 4. in 1984, for a quick read when Julia and Winston meet for a tryst in their (not) hide away room and Julia says, “You can turn around now” after she puts on make-up for Winston. Orwell writes, “The improvement in her appearance was startling.” Of course, that has nothing to do with the Man in the High Castle, because, OMG…that ending…Enjoy!
Wow, I’m really looking forward to this ending now!!!
Just out of curiosity Melissa, your "Task of art" Lotze quote, the three dots (...) did you leave that part out or is that an edit in the edition you're reading?
Not faulting if you did but am if the publishing house did.
No, leaving it out was my choice. The sentence seemed like a ‘can of worms’ that detracted from the reason I was including the quote. Thankfully! The publisher leaving it out would be concerning.
Good yep and yep. NewSouth's 'Huck Finn' publication for example.