The Bicentennial Man

PLOT
The plot of a story interconnects symbols, characters, and themes to convey the message of the author. The plot of "The Bicentennial Man" tells the story of a robetic man with a human soul and his quest to become human. This robot is named Andrew and he is immortal (machine can not die). Andrew has contributed vastly to society. He has written books, created art, and invented biological organs that can help the human race live much longer. Even with these contributions Andrew is constanly fighting so simply be an eaqual.Andrew asks for "As simple a thing as my right to life." (page 2830 The plot allows the reader to sympathize with Andrew. Everyone in the world can relate to the desire for freedom and the desire to be included. The plot asks the reader how they define what is human and what deserves equal rights as humans. "The truth is, I want to be a man. I have wanted it through six generations of human beings." (page 283) The plot is unique in that is represents something from the future (robotic men); however, there is still other debates on this subject of right to life and equality that have been fought for hundreds of years.

POINT OF VIEW
The story is told in third person from Andrew's persepctive. Because of this, the reader automaticly sides with Andrew in his quest for humanity." This is somewhat unnatural because most people would not side with a robot. On the other hand, since the reader knows of Andrew's entire life and desires they learn of all his depth they can see his need to be human. From this point of view the reader can see Andrew's soul. It is impossible to deni something with a soul equal treatment yet society does it all the time. In fact, many people who have read this story and inwardly cheered Andrew allong in his quest for his righ to life have also supported abortion, euthenasia, and have judged other races or those who are disabled. The author has created a saterical message in this way. Andrew said, "If I decide to fight for humanity will you be on my side?" (page 284). It is because the robot is presented with a soul that readers can sympathize with him but I feel that the author is indirectly pleding with readers to see the soul in everyone.

CHARACTERIZATION
There is a vast range of characters in this story. Because Andrew is imortal, he has dealt with "six generations of human beings." (page 283) the author doesn't go into too much depth describing the characters other than andrew. The reader knows that Andrew starts out his life with Sir, Little Miss, Miss, and Ma'ma. It is with this family that Andrew learns that he is unique and Sir guides him on his way to becomeing more than just a robot. Andrew is also very close to Little Miss and it is her liniage that he remains in contact with. When andrew dies his last words are, "Little Miss" (page 290). This is because This was andrew's true family and the ones who "raised" him and taught him how to succeed and be loved. After Sir dies Andrew is most close to George (Little Miss's son) then paul (George's son). He calls these characters by their first name showing how he is on more equal terms with them. Andrew also interacts with quite a few other characters such as politicians and scientists. With his relations to these characters Andrew is able to impact the world and the reader learns of Andrew's personality.

SETTING
This story takes place in a futuristic setting over a two hundred year time period; hence the title "The BICENTENNIAL Man". The story indirectly takes us throgh the future-history of the world. We learn that the government is world wide and also governs the moon where people live and vist often. The story also takes us through the different forms of fashion. It begins with the modern clothes we were now (trousers and shirts) then "Paul had taken to weraing the heavy makeup that fashion was dictating for both sexes." (page 267) Alvin Magdescu wore "nothing above the wast but the breastband that fashion dictated." (page 277)and Chee Li-Hsing wore "transparent harments (obscuring wheat she wanted obscured only by their dazzle)"(page282). However, "Andrew clung as closely as he could within the limits of reasonable taste, to the style of clothing that had prevailed when he had first adopted clothing." (page 286. This shows how andrew remains closest to the way life was when he was first created. He also sticks to what is "out-dated" in clothes and in his values. He values freedom and dignity for all while the rest of the world has moved on to bigger things. The setting helps us to understand Andrew's values and the values of society as it progresses.

THEME
the theme of this story challenges the reader to ask where they believe the line is drawn in equality. Through out history, humans have struggles with freedom. We nasturally want to be the best and we separate ourselves from those who are different; the poor, the disabled, different cultures, or even different appearances. This is such an issue that wars have been fought over and lives taken. The story presents this aspect in a different light because Andrew is not quite Human.It takes two hundred years for Andrew to single-handedly convince the world that he had a soul and was an equal. The more technologically advanced we get the more we seem to be playing god. THis is seen through genetic engenering, abortion,cloning, and it may very well be used for human-like robots. It is seen in this story that the humans were not happy that Andrew was unique. They changed their robots so they would not be able to think like andrew. I think this goes to show that Humans feel they still need to be the dominate race and that we are the creators and can chose what goes and what stays. I think this is a theme that has been an issue for all ages and will continue to be.