In his short story "EPICAC," Kurt Vonnegut uses satire to criticize humanity's growing dependence on technology. Written in 1950, soon after the development of the first super computers used for military tactics in WWII, Vonnegut was profoundly affected both by the war and by the boom of technology that followed.
The plot of the story is simple. A man who works as a mathematician describes himself as the friend of the super computer in the office. He works tirelessly with the computer day in and day out to fix and perfect all of the computer's intricate details. During this time as a mathematician at the office, he falls in love with one of the other employees named Pam. One night, when finishing his work at the office, he accidentally unlocks a secret function of the computer, where the computer can express emotions. The computer begins writing love letters for Pam because the man is unable to show Pam how he really feels. At the end of the story, the computer writes a marriage proposal for the man to give to Pam and explodes during the night. Supposedly, the computer fell in love with Pam in writing these letters. The boss at the office is devastated because the super computer contained all of the business' information and data, and it destroyed all of the data and office space itself.
In this bizarre story, Vonnegut satirizes human dependence on technology. Specifically, by giving the computer a secret function to feel emotion, Vonnegut expresses immense concern for humans loosing their ability to think for themselves. The way I see it, this introduces a revolutionary thought that is remarkably relevant to modern day, despite being written almost 70 years ago! Vonnegut expresses that humans are susceptible to manipulation and loss of a freedom to think. Further, he argues that technology should be used with caution in order to maintain control of life and happiness.
Dug even deeper in the story is Vonnegut's suggestion that humans are inherently vulnerable to being controlled by outside influences of "greater intelligence". Whether this is taken to mean technology, aliens, or other people, the assertion remains the same: people should be wary of who and what they trust.
Hence, when asked if Kurt Vonnegut employed satire effectively in "EPICAC," my answer is an overwhelming yes. Vonnegut made me think about my technology use, and I am positive the same is true for anyone else who understood his true motivation in writing.
Hannah, this was such a good reflection on this story. And surprisingly (or not surprisingly), nearly 70 years later, this is just as relevant if not even more. Humans can't seem to function without phones and electronics seeming to be an extension of themselves, and it's become a serious issue. There are even kids and adults who have developed anxiety related to their phones, and serious mental health problems from their dependence on them. The points that "EPICAC" makes are ones that most definitely should not be ignored today.
ReplyDeleteI found your analysis of this work interesting, about how you were able to find something written about technology, and it's relevance on human society today. People need to learn to take a break from technology, but it's hard to break when it's everywhere.
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