K. Dale Koontz
CZECH MATE: Whedon, Čapek, and
the Foundations of Dollhouse
[1] T ow a rd th e e n d o f th e D ol lh o u s e s ec on d s ea s on e pi so d e “ G etti n g
Cl os e r ” (2 .11) i s on e of th e l ov el i e st m et afi cti v e n od s i n r e c en t m em o r y . 1
Ca r ol i n e Fa r r el l , bl o odi e d bu t u n b ow ed , i s u sh e r e d u pst ai r s to m e et th e
my st e ri ou s h e ad of th e c or p o rati on wh o s e n e fa ri o u s pl an s s h e h a s b e en
fi gh ti n g s o h a rd t o e xp o s e. Non e o f Ca r ol i n e‟ s f o e s h a ve e v e r m et th i s
sh ad o w y fi gu r e , an d i t i s cl e ar f r om th ei r r e a cti on th at th e y e xp e ct Ca r ol i n e
wi ll n ot su r vi v e th e en c ou n t e r . Ca r ol i n e st ep s o f f th e el e va t o r i n t o a pl u sh ,
tast e fu l l y d e c o rat ed of fi c e an d fi n d s
h e r s el f fa c e t o fa c e wi th th e h ead of t h e
Ro s su m C o rp o r ati on . Hi s mi l d, sl i gh tl y
n e r v ou s m an n e r s e e ms t o ma r k h i m a s
on e wh o s e d es ti n y i s m o r e vi c e pr e si den t o f th e l o c al Jay c e e s ch apt e r
an d fa r l e s s p o st - m od e rn Sh i va ,
D est r o y e r o f W o rl ds . Un s u r e o f wh om
sh e i s fa ci n g, C ar ol i n e a sk s , h er v oi c e e dge d wi th b el l i ger en c e, “S o y ou ‟ r e
Ro s su m ? ” Th e man stu tt e r s sl i gh tl y a s h e r epl i es , “R o s su m i s j u st a n a m e,
actu al l y. F r o m a pl a y. Al th ou gh t e ch n i c al l y y ou ‟ r e n ot r ob o ts , i t s e em e d t o
fi t.” Wi th th a t si n gl e l i n e, th e R o s su m - as- Bi g - Ba d cat i s ou t of th e b a g.
Th e r e i s n o h u l ki n g pr e s en c e h e r e , n o h az y “ Mi st e r R o ssu m” pu l l i n g th e
te ch n ol ogi c al st ri n g s; r ath e r , Wh ed on i s ti ppi n g h i s me ta fi c ti ve h at i n th e
di re cti on o f an oth e r s ou r c e . 2
[2] Th e f ac t t h at th e n am e “R o ssu m” st u ck wi th W h ed on a s h e
de v el op ed D ol l h ou s e i s n ot su rp ri si n g. Nam e s a r e of p ar ti c u l ar i mp o rta n c e t o
Wh ed on , wh o h a s st at ed, “ I n e ed t o kn o w wh o t h at gu y i s , s o I n e ed th e
n am e, an d i t c an ki ll me . I‟ v e g ot th i s ti me bl o c k ed ou t t o w ri te , an d I can ‟t
j u st s ay M r. X . It ‟ s r eal l y d e bi li tati n g” ( Ro s en ) . Fu rth e r, R . U.R . , th e pl a y
r e fe r en c ed i n “ Ge tti n g Cl os e r ,” h as a l o n g an d w el l - re sp e ct ed h i st o r y i n
c e rtai n ci r cl e s. Th i s e ss a y wi ll e xpl ai n th e si gn i fi can c e o f th e R o ssu m n am e
i n th e co n t ext o f t h e w o rl d o f D o llh ou s e . N e xt, th i s e ss ay w il l expl o r e th e
de ep e r l i n ks b etw e e n W h e d on ‟ s D ollh ou s e an d th e s ou r c e m at eri al of Cz ec h
pl ayw ri gh t K a r el Ča pe k . Fi n al l y, th i s e s sa y wi l l argu e th at both R .U .R . an d
Doll h o u s e r ej e ct th e i dea th at man ki n d can b e “ mad e b et t er ” b y b ei n g r e mad e .
[3] Al th ou gh f or g ott en b y th e g en e r al p u bl i c tod a y, K a r el Č ap ek ‟ s pl ay
R.U .R . wa s wi l dl y su c ce s s fu l wh en i t p r e mi er e d i n P ragu e i n 1921 . Am on g
both s ci en c e fi cti on afi ci on ad os an d r o b oti c s en gi n e e r s, th e pl ay i s j u stl y
fam ou s f o r p opu l a ri z i n g th e t e r m “ r ob ot ,” on e o f on l y t w o C z e c h exp r e s si on s
to b e c om e pa rt o f e v e ryd ay En gl i sh . 3 It sh ou l d b e n ot ed th a t i t w as act u al l y
Jo s e f Čap e k , K a r el ‟s b r oth e r an d a r es p e ct ed w ri t er i n h i s o wn ri gh t , wh o
c oi n ed th e t e rm , wh i ch i s ba s ed o n th e Cz ech w or d r ob ot a me an i n g
“d ru dg e r y” o r “ s e rvi tu de ”; a r ob otn i k i s a p e as an t or s e rf (J e rz ) . Wh i l e w e
as s o ci ate th e t e rm “ r ob ot ” wi th e xp r e ssi on l e s s m ec h an i cal a u to mat on s ,
Čap e k h ad oth e r i d e as , on e s th a t a re m u ch m o r e r el e va n t t o D ollh ou s e .
Rath e r th an b ei n g c on st ru ct ed f r o m m et al , J e rz n ot e s t h at Č ap ek ‟ s r ob o ts
“a r e m o r e ac cu r at el y t h e p r od u ct o f wh at w e w ou l d n ow cal l gen eti c
en gi n e eri n g ” an d a r e th e r e su l t o f ch e m i cal man i pu l ati on . T h i s i s fa r m o r e i n
k e epi n g wi th th e g oi n gs - on i n th e cl i n i cal , h i - te ch at mo sp h e r e of th e L o s
An g el e s D ol l h ou s e , wh i ch m or e cl o s el y r e s embl e s a mi n i ma li st spa th an a
gri tty fa ct o ry .
[4] O f c ou r s e , th e t r op e of th e “ c r ea te d man ” di d n ot o ri gi nat e wi th
Čap e k ‟s R .U .R . Ma r y Sh el l ey ‟ s F r an k en st ein , th e J ewi sh m yt h of th e g ol em ,
an d L . Fr an k Bau m‟ s Ti k - T o k al l pr eda t e Čap e k ‟s w o r k . Al so , oth e r w ri te r s
an d a rti st s h av e d o n e mu ch wi th th e t r op e of th e cr e at ed man i n b etw e en
Čap e k ‟s R .U .R . an d Wh ed on ‟ s D ol lh ou s e . S om e o f th e s e c r e ati on s ar e
del i be rat el y on l y r o u gh r ep r e s en ta ti on s of th e h u m an f o rm su ch as G o rt i n
1951 ‟ s Th e D a y th e Ea rt h St o od Still , R obb y th e R ob ot i n t h e 19 56 fi l m
Fo rb idd en P lan et , M ar vi n th e P a ran oi d A n dr oi d i n D ou gl as A dam s ‟
Hit ch h i k e r’ s Gu id e t ri l ogy , an d C - 3P O i n G eo r g e Lu ca s ‟ Sta r Wa r s fi l ms.
Oth e r w o r ks i magi n e a f a r mo r e r eal i sti c a rti fi ci al man , i n cl u di n g Isaa c
Asi m ov ‟ s R ob ot s (i n a l i ter ar y u n i v e rs e i n wh i ch th e t e rm i s al wa y s
capi tal i z ed a s an i d en ti f yi n g m a rk e r) , t h e Ad am Li n k st o ri e s o f Ean d o Bi n d e r,
th e an dr oi d s o f Ph i l ip K . Di ck ‟ s D o A n d r oid s D r ea m o f E l ec tr ic Sh e ep ?
(r en am ed “ r e pl i can ts” i n B lad e Ru n n e r , th e fi l m v er si on o f t h e n ov el ), Data
f ro m Sta r Tr e k: Th e N e xt G en e rati on , a n d th e C yl on s i n th e r ec en t
r ei magi n i n g o f B attl e sta r Gal a cti ca . 4 Wh i l e Č ap e k‟ s R ob ot s a r e fu l l y h u m an i n
app ea r an c e an d Wh ed on ‟ s D ol l s a r e h u man at th e c o r e , b o th th e R ob ot s an d
th e D ol l s ar e su pp o s ed t o l ac k f r e e wi ll . Th i s i s a su pp o si ti on th a t wi ll h av e
i mmen s e r e p er cu s si on s f o r b oth th e c on tr ol l er s an d th e c on tr ol l ed.
[5] M o r e ov e r , th e ti tl e R .U .R . st an d s f o r “R o s su m ‟ s Un i v e rs al Ro b ot s. ”
Čap e k, l i ke Wh ed on , ch o s e h i s n am e s wi th th ou gh t, an d “R o s su m ” i s n o
e xc e pti on . Ac c o rdi n g t o P et e r K u s si , an au th o ri ty on Ča p ek ‟ s w o rk s , “th e
n am e „R o s su m ‟ w as dou btl e ss d e ri v ed fr om th e Cz e ch w o rd r oz u m , m ea n i n g
„mi n d‟ o r „ r ea s on ‟” ( n .p .). 5 Th i s c e rt ai n l y fi ts i n wi th Wh e d on ‟s c r eati on , a
gl obal c omp an y w h i ch vi e w s i ts el f a s a c ti n g ou t o f a h ei gh t en ed s en s e o f
r ea s on —i t j u st mak e s s en s e t o u s e t e c h n ol og y t o m e et th e ev e r - ch an gi n g
n e ed s of th e m ar k et pl ac e! Wh ed on ‟ s v e r si on o f R o ss u m st u b bo rn l y i n si st s
th at i t s ac ti on s a r e ben i gn d es pi te evi d en c e t o th e c on t ra r y . Wh ed on ‟ s
Ro s su m i s i n t h e bu si n e s s o f su p pl yi n g th e u l ti mate fan t as y t o th os e wh o a r e
n ot l i mi ted b y fi n an c es ( o r , i n m o re th a n on e ca s e , c o mm on h u m an d ec en c y)
an d Wh ed on m ak e s i t cl ea r th a t fu l fi ll i ng su c h fan t a si e s i n v ari abl y i n vol v e s
taki n g a cti on s t h at ar e fa r f r om b en i gn .
[6] In Ča p ek ‟ s R. U. R. , th e g o al (th e “ r e as on ”) o f th e c o rp o r ati on s e em s
to b e l e ss si n i ste r . Čap e k ‟s R o s su m c r e at es R ob ot s a s ch e a p l ab o r t o r epl ac e
h u man s. Th i s i s a c o st - sa vi n g m e as u r e , a s t h e pr o du c t i s m an u f act u r e d as a n
adu l t, el i mi n ati n g al l th at “w a st ed ti me ” of ch i l dh ood a n d cu tti n g o u t t h e
“pu r e n on s en s e ” o f h u man d e v el opm en t (49 ). Th es e sta te m en t s a r e ma d e b y
th e c en t ral di r e ct o r o f R o s su m , a d e ci si v e man n a m ed “ D o mi n ” wh o i s b oth
v e ry co m fo r tabl e wi th h i s au th o ri ty an d i s smu gl y c on vi n c e d of th e sh e e r
ri gh tn es s of h i s a cti on s. Th e s e t r ai ts a r e su i tabl e f o r on e w h o s e v e r y n am e
i n vo ke s th e L ati n fo r “l o rd . ” N ot c oi n ci d en t al l y, th e s e p e rs o n al i ty tr ai ts a r e
al so fo u n d i n Wh ed o n ‟ s “D o mi n i c ,” wh o begi n s D ol lh ou s e a s h ead o f s e cu ri ty
f or th e L os An g el e s h ou s e.
[7] Čap e k ‟ s D omi n f u rth e r ex pl ai n s R o s s u m‟ s r e a s on i n g. P ra cti cal l y
sp ea ki n g, th e b e st k i n d o f w o rk e r i s “th e on e th at ‟s th e ch e ap es t. Th e on e
wi th th e f e w es t n e e ds ” ( 41) . Fu rth e r, D omi n el ab o rat e s th a t R o s su m ‟s R o bo ts
(th e t e rm i s al wa y s capi tal i z ed i n R. U. R. , mu ch as th e t e rm s “ Acti v e ” an d
“D ol l ” a r e p r op e r n o u n s wi th i n th e D ol l hou s e) c an d o th e wo r k o f 2. 5 m en ,
l oo k fu l l y h u m an , “a r e m e ch an i c al l y m or e p e rf e ct th an w e a r e , . . . h av e a n
ast ou n di n g i n tel l ec t u al ca pa ci ty , bu t . . . h a v e n o s ou l ” (K u s si 41) . D omi n ‟ s
au di en c e f o r th es e s tat em en t s i s H el e n a , a y ou n g i de al i sti c acti vi st w h o al s o
h app en s t o b e th e w el l - con n e ct e d d au gh te r of th e p r e si den t . H el en a a r ri v e s
at R o s su m ‟ s r e m ot e i sl a n d p r odu cti on f a ci li ty wi th th e go al o f l e a rn i n g m o r e
ab ou t th e man u fa ct u ri n g p r o c e ss a n d e n su ri n g fai r t r eat m e n t fo r th e
Rob o ts — s o rt o f a fi e l d ag en t f o r P e opl e f or th e Eth i c al T r ea t men t o f R ob ot s.
In th i s w a y, Č ap e k‟ s H el en a i s si mi l ar t o Wh e d on ‟ s C a r ol i n e, wh o i n i ti all y
be c om e s i n v ol ve d i n th e w o rl d of D ol lh o u s e by s e eki n g i n fo r mati on ab ou t
h o w th at R o ssu m i s tr ea ti n g r es e a rc h an i mal s. Na m es a r e al wa ys i n st ru cti v e .
“ H el en a ” m ean s “l i gh t” an d Č ap e k‟ s H el en a wi ll pr o vi de th e l i gh t n e c e ss a ry
f or h u man i ty t o c on ti n u e, al b ei t i n a l es s - th an - u su al w a y th at i s di s cu ss e d i n
mo r e d ept h fu rth e r i n th i s pap e r . M e an w h il e, “ Ca r ol i n e” m ea n s “ f r e e man ,”
an d Wh ed on ‟ s Ca r ol i n e wi l l n ev e r s t op s e e ki n g f r e e do m, a moti v ati on th a t
dri v e s th e ac ti on o f D oll h o u s e fo r wa rd o v e r t w o s e as on s .
[8] Un l i ke D omi n , H el en a i s n ot c on vi n c ed th at R ob ot s a r e s ou l l es s
ma ch i n e s t o b e pl ac ed on th e sa m e l ev e l as a s o ph i sti cat e d s et o f s o c k et
wr en ch e s . Wh en D o mi n r e ma r ks th at “t h e p r odu ct of an en gi n ee r i s
te ch n i cal l y m o r e r ef i n ed th an th e c r ea t i on of n at u r e , ” sh e r epl i es , “ It i s sai d
th at man i s th e c r ea ti on o f G od ” (41 ). D omi n i s r ou n dl y di s mi ssi v e o f y ou n g
H el en a‟ s p oi n t of vi e w, stati n g, “S o mu ch th e w o rs e . G od h ad n o n oti on of
mo d er n t e ch n ol o gy ” (41 ). T o D omi n , t e ch n ol og y i s i n te n d e d t o f r e e m an ki n d
f ro m d ru dg e r y, a n d h e h a s c as t h i m s el f as P r o m eth eu s b e a ri n g th i s gi ft t o
th e m as s e s —f o r a r ea s on a bl e p ri c e, of c ou rs e . Th e p r obl em wi th D omi n ‟ s
po si ti on i s th a t h e h as co n v en i en tl y f o rg ott en th at, wh i l e fi r e c an b e a g re at
an d u s e fu l th i n g f o r c o o ki n g on e ‟s di n n e r an d w a rmi n g on e ‟s h ou s e o n a
f ro st y ev en i n g , i t al s o ca n b e a g r e at a n d t e r ri bl e th i n g sh ou l d i t h app en t o
ra g e ou t o f c on t r ol . Th i s t en si o n b e tw e e n s ci en c e an d mo r al i ty an d th e
st ru ggl e t o d et e r mi n e th e p r op e r b ou n d ari e s f o r th e u s e o f te ch n ol og y i s at
th e c or e o f b o th R. U .R . an d D ollh ou s e.
[9] T o r e tu rn t o R .U .R ., D r . Hal l em ei e r, Ro s su m ‟ s h e ad of r o boti c
ps ych ol ogy a n d e du cati o n , n ot e s t h at t h e r e i s a fl aw i n th e R ob ot s . D es pi te
h avi n g n o em oti o n s , “ o c ca si on al l y th e y go cr az y s om eh o w. So m eth i n g l i ke
epi l ep sy , y ou kn o w ? W e cal l i t Ro b oti c P al sy . Al l of a su dd en on e o f th em
go e s an d b r ea k s wh at ev e r i t h a s i n i ts h an d, st op s w o r ki n g, gn a sh e s i ts
te eth —a n d w e h a v e to s e n d i t t o th e sta mpi n g - mi ll ” (50 ). Vi e we r s of
Doll h o u s e wi l l n ot e at th i s p oi n t t h at th e r e app e a rs t o b e a n u n can n y
si mi l ari ty b et w e en Č ap ek ‟ s “ sta mpi n g - mi ll ” f o r b r ok en R o bo t s an d W h ed on ‟ s
i n fam ou s “Atti c ” f o r b r ok en D ol l s.
[10] H el en a , d et e rm i n ed t o fi n d p r o of th at th e R o bo ts can n o t si mpl y b e
s oph i sti ca t ed ma ch i n e s, p r ot e st s th at t h i s “ fl aw ” i s evi d en c e of a so u l . F ab ry ,
th e g en e ral t e ch n i c a l di re ct o r o f R o ss u m , s c of f s, “Y ou th i n k a s ou l b egi n s
wi th a gn a sh i n g o f t e eth ? ” ( 50) . Ma yb e th e en gi n e e r sh ou l d a sk Wh ed on ‟ s
Al ph a a bou t t h at —p e rh a ps i t b egi n s i n t h e D ol l h ou s e wi th t h e s l a sh i n g o f
pru n i n g sh e a rs . At a n y e v en t , th e R ob ot s wi l l re v ol t an d l e a v e t h e w orl d i n
qu i te a di ff e r en t o rd e r f r om th e w ay th e y fi r st f ou n d i t.
[11] In D ollh ou s e , Wh ed on c r e at e s a pl atf o rm t o ex ami n e s e v e ral
i ssu e s th at h a v e t r a il ed t e n d ri l s th r ou gh h i s e a rl i er w o rk . O n e of th e s e
ten d ri l s, g r ow n t o k u dz u - s t r en gth i n D o llh ou s e , i s th e i de a th at th e gr o wth of
te ch n ol og y i s s om et h i n g to b e w at ch ed v e ry su s pi ci ou sl y. In Bu f fy , vi e w e rs
s e e th e In i ti ati ve‟ s t e ch - d ri v en w e ap on s r ep eat e dl y fai l at k e y m om en t s
(“ Hu sh ” 4 .10 ), w h i ch i s a t h em e al s o s e en i n Fi r e fly a s pl ai n ol ‟ si x - sh o ot e rs
o ft en p ro v e m o r e r e li abl e th an pl a sm a r i fl es (“A ri el ” 1 .9) . O f c ou r s e, i n th e
ch a ra ct e r of Ri v e r T am, th e Fi r e fl y „ v e rs e al s o sh o w s vi e w er s th e da rk si de of
mon k e yi n g a r ou n d wi th th e h u man b r ai n , a c en t r al th em e i n D ollh ou s e . 6
Wh i l e i t i s n o t th e h u man b rai n wh i ch i s b ei n g b att ed a bo u t li ke a pl u sh i e
du c k i n t h e p aw s of an Al s ati an i n R .U .R ., Wh ed on , l i ke Č ap e k, i s a ski n g
vi ew e r s t o c on si de r wh at th e p r op e r r ol e of t e ch n ol og y sh o u l d be i n m o de rn
li fe .
[12] C asti n g ad van c e s i n t e ch n ol o gy a s th e m al ev ol en t g en i e l et ou t o f
th e c on fi n e s of i ts b ottl e b y h apl es s s ci en ti st s h a s b e en a c om m on th em e i n
both th e sci en c e fi ct i on an d h o r r o r g en r e s at l ea st si n c e Sh el l ey ‟s
Fr an k en st ein an d S t e v en s on ‟ s D r. J ek yll an d Mr . Hy d e . T h e e xa ct f o rm o f th e
te ch n ol og y i n qu e sti on v a ri es , an d i t i s o ft en a r e fl e cti on of th e s o ci et y i n
wh i ch t h e w or k w as pr odu c ed . St eph e n K i n g el ab o rat e s on t h i s p oi n t i n
Dan s e Ma cab r e , h i s th ou g h tfu l e xa mi n at i on of th e h i s t o r y o f h o rr o r a s a
di sti n ct g e n r e . K i n g poi n ts ou t th a t, b eg i n n i n g i n th e 195 0s wh en Am e ri can s
kn ew fr o m b oth Hi r o sh i ma an d N ag as aki th e h er e t of o r e u n i magi n e d
de st ru cti v e p ow e r o f t h e at om , h o r r o r mo vi e s o ft en u s ed t h at u n c on t r ol l ed
po w e r as th e evi l (1 53 - 15 8) . Th e ef f e ct s o f r adi ati on s pa wn i n g u n n atu ral
beh avi o r i s th e pl ot de vi c e th at spi n s f o rw a rd su ch m o vi e s as 19 54 ‟ s Th em!
(at omi c t e sts cau s e an ts t o mu t at e i n to gi an t - si z e d ki ll er s) an d 196 8‟ s N igh t
o f th e Li vin g D ead ( ra di ati on f r om a f al len s at el l i t e c au s e s t h e n ewl y - d ead t o
r e su r re ct i n to fl e sh - c ra vi n g z om bi es ). 7 L at er fi l ms sh i ft th e t e ch n ol ogi c al e vi l
i n th e di r e cti on of mal e v ol en t ma ch i n e s, su ch as S k yn et i n th e T e rm in at o r
fi l ms an d th e Wa ch o ws ki b r oth e r s‟ Mat ri x s e ri e s . Th i s sh i ft i s d el i ber at e. A s
K i n g r e mi n ds u s , “A n ew e r g en e rati on . . . ma y fi n d i t h a rd to c o mp r eh en d
th e t e r r o r o f [an ea r li er g en e ra ti on ] , bu t th e y wi ll u n dou bt ed l y h a v e a
ch an c e t o di sc o v e r i t i n th e y e ar s . . . w h i ch l i e ah e ad . . . a n d th e m o vi e s
wi ll be th e r e to gi v e th ei r v agu e f e ar s c on c r et e f o cu si n g p oi n ts i n th e h o r r o r
mo vi e s y et t o c o m e” (15 8) . In ot h e r wo r ds , as f ea r s ch an g e , th e su bj ec t o f
th e Bi g Ba d i n fi l ms ch an g es wi th th em —an ex ampl e o f a rt r e fl ec ti n g l i fe, s o
to s p ea k. In th e l as t tw o y ea r s, on e o f t h e g r eat e st f ea r s fa ci n g m an y p e opl e
i s n ot o f d e st ru c ti on b y wa y o f r adi o ac ti v e fal l ou t , bu t o f an ec on o mi c
Ar mag ed d on : th e to tal c ol l aps e o f s o ci e ty du e to g al l opi n g deb t an d an ev e r de ep e n i n g di vi de b e tw e en th e h av e s an d th e h a v e - n ot s . Th e s e a r e f ea r s th at
Wh ed on t ap s i n to wi th g r ea t d e xt e ri ty i n D ollh ou s e . Th e “h a v es ” h i r e D ol l s,
wh i l e th e “h av e - n o t s” ru n th e ri s k of b e c omi n g D ol l s i f th e y s ti r f r om th ei r
as si gn e d pl ac e s. 8 Im men s e w e al th i s p or tra y ed a s p r ovi di n g a bl an k et agai n s t
th e c ol d r eal i ti es o f th e wi d e r w o rl d: el a bo ra t e fan ta si e s can b e i n du l ged an d
tr ou bl es can b e wh i sk e d aw ay .
[13] Th e s e s am e fe ar s an d p r omi s e s a r e al s o p r es en t i n Ča pe k ‟s R .U .R .
Th e on e s ru n n i n g th e R o ssu m fa ci l i ty a r e n o l on g e r “R o ss u ms ” — th at f ath e r
an d s on du o a r e l on g g on e at th e b eg i n n i n g o f th e pl ay. H o w ev e r , i t i s
i n stru cti v e t o e xa mi n e th e wa y Č ap e k c h ar ac t e ri z ed th e tw o . “ Ol d R o s su m ”
wa s an ath ei st wh o s ou gh t t o “ s ci en ti fi c al l y det h r on e G od ” by c r e ati n g an
e xa ct c o py of a h u m an b ei n g , ri gh t d ow n t o th e t on si l s an d app en di x (3 9).
“Y ou n g R o s su m ” wa s an e n gi n e e r wh o wan t ed t o si mpl i fy a n at om y an d c r e at e
“l i vi n g an d i n t el li gen t l ab o r ma ch i n e s” ( 40). Th e tw o m en w i th th ei r wi l dl y
di ff e ri n g vi ewp oi n t s cl a sh ed l ou dl y an d o ft en . Ul ti mat el y, y ou n g R o s su m w on
ou t an d R .U .R . es ta bl i sh ed th e p ri n ci pl e th at “p r odu cti on sh ou l d b e a s si mpl e
as p o ssi bl e an d th e pr odu ct th e b e st f o r i ts fu n cti on ” (41 ). H ow e v e r , D omi n ,
wh o r el at e s th i s h i st o ry , h a s a h i gh e r pu rp o s e. Hi s g oal i s t o p r odu c e R ob ot s
i n o rd e r t o f r e e man ki n d f r o m po v e rt y, t o “d o a wa y wi t h th e l abo r th at
en sl av ed m an ki n d , t h at d eg radi n g an d t e r ri bl e w or k th a t m an h ad t o en d u r e ”
(80) . Hi s g oal s m ay b e l oft y , bu t h e i s f o r c ed t o admi t, stan di n g i n a pl u sh
o ffi c e (th at i s p r ob a bl y n ot u n l i ke th e o n e d epi ct e d b y W h e don i n “ G et ti n g
Cl os e r ”) an d wat ch i n g th e i n e x o rabl e a dvan c e of th e r eb el li n g Ro b ots , th a t
th i n gs h av e n ot w o r k ed o u t as pl an n ed .
[14] Th e ch i e f o f c o n st ru cti on , Al qu i st, h as a di f f eri n g vi e w poi n t f r om
Do mi n . As Al qu i st p u ts i t, t h e d r e am of o v er c o mi n g d ru dg e r y “w a s n ot th e
dr e am o f th e tw o R o s su m s. Ol d R o s su m th ou g h t on l y of h i s godl es s h oc u s po cu s an d y ou n g R o s su m of h i s bi ll i on s. An d th at wa sn ‟t th e d r ea m o f y ou r
RUR sh a r eh ol de r s ei th e r . Th e y d r eam e d o f th e di vi d en d s. An d on th os e
di vi den d s h u man i ty wi ll pe ri sh ” ( 81) . In Wh e d on ‟ s D ollh ou s e , h u g e pr o fi ts
ar e t o b e ma d e f r o m su ppl yi n g th e u l t r a - ri ch wi th “ Ac ti ve s , ” h u man b ei n gs
wh o h av e b e en al t er ed i n rath e r di stu rbi n g wa ys . At th e en d of fi v e y ea r s o f
s e rvi c e a s an A cti v e , t h e h u man wi l l re c ei v e u n t ol d ri ch es a n d h a v e an y
pr obl em s ( b e th os e pr obl em s l e gal , em o ti on al , o r wh at h a v e y ou ) t ak en ca r e
o f b y th e m ys t eri ou s an d p ow e r fu l R o s s u m C or p o rati on . In th i s, Wh e do n
di ff e rs si gn i fi can tl y f ro m Ča p ek , wh o s e Rob o ts a r e a rti fi ci al ly mad e , th ou gh
i mbu ed wi th h u man i ty. 9 A cti v e s (al s o r ef e r r ed t o a s “D ol l s”) si gn u p fo r th i s
li fe , al th ou gh a st r o n g a r gu m en t can b e ma d e t h at i t i s h a r dl y i n f or m ed
c on s e n t, a s A cti v e s ar e sh own a s h a vi n g b e en d e sp e rat e t o e sc ap e pai n an d
tr ou bl e i n th ei r p r e v i ou s l i fe. R o s su m ta k es a dv an ta g e o f th e w ou l d - b e
Acti v e s ‟ w ea kn e ss e s , pr o mi si n g wh at a mou n ts t o a fi v e - y e ar n a p, a ft e r wh i ch
th e A cti v e wi l l re - a wa k en t o a bl i ss fu l , tr ou bl e - f r e e , an d ca sh - fi ll ed
e xi st en c e. It ‟ s an u n bel i ev abl e st r ok e o f go o d l u c k , t o o g o o d t o b e t ru e. An d
y ou kn ow wh at th e y s ay a b ou t th i n gs th at app ea r t o o g o od to b e t ru e.
[15] Ju st a s Čap e k ‟ s R ob ot s a r e c r ea t ed as adu l t s t o el i mi n ate th e
“w ast e d ti m e ” an d “ pu r e n on s en s e ” of d e v el opm en t, Wh ed o n ‟ s A cti v e s fi r st
h av e th ei r pa st s r e mo v ed . Th e i n ten t i s f o r an A cti v e l i te r al l y to b e c om e a
“cl ea n sl at e ” — p e rs o n al i ty an d m em o ri e s a r e al l wi ped a wa y, an d th e A cti v e i s
r edu c ed t o a ch i l d - l ik e st at e u n ti l pi ck e d b y a cl i en t, at wh i ch ti me th e A cti v e
i s su ppl i ed wi th th e pe r s on al i ty an d s ki l ls r e qu i r ed by th at cl i en t. 10 It ‟ s a h i te ch v e r si on of w o r k i n g f o r th e M o on l i te Bu n n y Ran ch , on l y f ar l e s s l e gal an d
fa r m o r e d eg radi n g . Th e r e i s an oth e r p r obl e m f o r b oth s et s o f R o s su m s , f o r
i n th e w o rl ds o f b ot h W h e d on an d Č ap e k, th e l i gh t o f h u ma n i ty i n si st s on
sh i n i n g th r ou gh th e mi re . H el en a an d Ca r ol i n e wi l l bot h l i ve u p t o th ei r
n am e s as H el en a b ri n gs f o rth h e r l i gh t to al l ow h u man i ty t o c on ti n u e d e spi te
th e a cti vi ti es o f Čap e k‟ s R o ss u m an d C a r ol i n e wi l l fi gh t t o a ch i e v e f r e ed om
f or th o s e en sl a v ed b y Wh ed on ‟ s R os su m.
[16] In R .U .R ., wh e n th e R ob ot s r e v ol t du e t o tw e ak s m ad e t o th ei r
pr og r ammi n g , th e r ea cti on i s t o fu rth e r empl o y t e ch n ol og y; i n th i s c as e , t o
begi n p ro du cti on o n n ati on al R ob ot s . Ra th e r th an al l R ob ot s b ei n g
man u fa ctu r ed at a s i n gl e fa ci l i ty, n ow t h e ai m i s t o f o st e r p r ej u di c e an d
di sl i ke of oth e r R ob ot s i n e a ch ma ch i n e s o th at “ ea ch f a ct o r y wi ll be m aki n g
Rob o ts of a di f f e r en t col or , a di f f er en t n ati on al i ty, a di ff e r e n t t on gu e . . .
th e y ‟l l n o l on g e r b e abl e t o c on spi r e wi t h on e an oth e r” ( 75) . Ro s su m ‟ s pl an
to s u r vi v e i n R. U. R. i n vol v es d el i be rat e l y s owi n g h at r ed a n d di st ru st by
c r eati n g “ oth e r s” a mon g t h e R o b ot “ Ot h e r s” —t o d e st r oy fr om wi th i n .
[17] In D ollh ou s e , wh en t h e A cti v e s b e gi n sh owi n g si gn s o f i n c r ea si n g
s el f- a wa r en e ss , R o s su m r ea ct s by i n c r e as ed u s e o f t e ch . A di sob e di en t D ol l
may b e c on d emn e d to th e “A tti c” wh er e , vi e w e rs l ea rn du ri n g th e s ec on d
s ea s on , th ei r b o di es a r e k ep t i n an ad r e n al i n e - s oa k ed s tat e to s e r v e a s fu el
f or a t yp e of su p e r c ompu t er . M o r e o v e r , vi e w e rs l ea rn th at n ot al l D ol l h ou s e s
tr ea t th ei r D ol l s i n t h e s am e w ay . B en n ett Hal v e r s on , wh o f u n cti on s a s h e ad
o f r e s ea r ch an d d e v el op m en t at th e W a sh i n gto n , D . C. , h o u s e, m a rv el s at th e
f r ee d om th e D ol l s a r e gi v en at th e L .A . h ou s e, r em a rki n g i n “ G et ti n g Cl o s e r ”
th at “ y ou rs a r e m o r e f r e e ran g e . W e k e ep ou r s mo r e l i ke v eal ” (2 .1 1). Wh en
th i n gs g o f ro m bad to w o r s e f o r R os su m , t h e D ol l s ru n th e s e ri ou s ri s k of
be c omi n g “l i qu i date d i n v en t o r y” (2 .1 1). Th ei r h u man i ty i s v i ew ed b y th o s e
wh o can ( an d a r e wi ll i n g to) ma k e su ch de ci si on s a s b ei n g s tri pp ed a wa y an d
n on e xi st en t . Th e u l ti mate ex ampl e o f u s i n g te ch n ol o gy qu i te l i teral l y t o
o v er w ri te fr e e wi ll o c cu r s wh e n R o s su m u s e s t e ch n i c al kn o w - h o w to
i n vol u n ta ri l y i mpri n t an y on e wh o h a s th e ext r e m e bad l u c k to an sw e r a
pa rti cu l ar ph on e cal l , th e r eb y v e ry n ea r l y wi pi n g ou t h u man i ty a s a wh ol e .
Th at si n gl e ph on e c al l spl i ts th e w o rl d i n tw o a s th o s e wh o an s w e r t h e ph on e
ar e i n sta n tl y i mp ri n ted wi th th e d e si r e to ki l l th o s e wh o a r e n ot p ro g ram m ed
to ki l l (“E pi taph On e ” 1. 13) . Ro s su m ‟ s q u e st f o r u l ti mate c o n tr o l fai l s
mi se r abl y, pl u n gi n g th e w o rl d i n t o h el l i sh d e spai r a s th e f e w wh o di d n ot
an s w e r t h e ph on e c al l fi gh t d es p e rat el y t o su r vi v e i n a w orl d of a n a r ch y an d
madn e s s.
[18] In R .U .R ., th e r e vol t o f th e R ob ot s v e r y n ea rl y su c c e e ds .
H ow e v e r , Al qu i st su r vi v e s th e r ev ol t b e cau s e th e R ob ot s r e c ogn i z e th at h e
“w o r ks wi th h i s h an ds ” j u st a s th e y d o . H e n e ed s t o exp e ri men t on th e
mo di fi ed R ob ot s t o f i n d a s ol u ti on t o p r e v en t fu rth e r bl o od sh ed . Th e
mo di fi cati on s t o ok p l ace i n o rd e r t o gi v e th e R ob ot s wh a t y o u n g H e l en a
wan t ed th e m t o h a v e —s ou l s . Wh en Al qu i st ex pl ai n s th at h e n e ed s t o di ss e ct
th e s e R ob ot s t o fi n d th e an sw e r s , h e i s sh oc k ed wh en t h e R ob ot (n e atl y
n am ed “ P ri mu s ,” m e an i n g “ fi r st” ) r e fu s e s to t ak e th e R ob ot mo d el ed a ft e r
H el en a t o th e di s s e c ti n g r o om . Ra th e r, P ri mu s pl e ad s t o b e al l owed t o ta k e
h e r pl ac e . Th e R ob o t H el en a al s o of f e r s h e r s el f i n th e pl a c e o f P ri mu s ,
l eadi n g Al qu i st t o m ar v el th a t th e R o bo t s al r ea dy h a v e s ou l s . Al qu i st t el l s
th e m t o l e av e , r e f e r ri n g t o th e pai r a s A dam an d E v e (108 ). Th e pl a y en d s
wi th Al qu i st‟ s i mpa s si on ed cr y th a t l i fe wi ll n ot en d:
It wi ll begi n an ew w i th l ov e; i t wi l l sta rt ou t n a k ed an d
ti n y; i t wi l l tak e r o o t i n th e wi l de rn es s , an d to i t al l th at
w e di d an d bu i l t wi l l m ean n oth i n g —o u r to wn s a n d
fa ct o ri e s, ou r a rt , o u r i dea s wi l l all me a n n oth i n g, an d y et
li fe wi l l n ot p e ri sh ! On l y w e h a v e p e ri sh ed . O u r h ou s e s an d
ma ch i n e s wi ll be i n ru i n s , ou r sy st e ms wi ll col l aps e , an d
th e n a m es o f ou r g r ea t wi ll fal l awa y l i ke d ry l e av e s . On l y
y ou , l o v e, wi l l bl os s om on th i s ru bbi sh h ea p an d c o mmi t
th e s e ed o f l i fe t o t h e wi n d s. (1 08 - 1 09)
In R .U .R . , h u man i ty wi l l con ti n u e, e v en i f i t i s n ot a m on g th e h u m an s .
Wh ed on c on cl u d es D ollh ou s e i n a si mi l ar f ash i on . E ch o i s u n de rg r ou n d i n th e
r em ai n s o f th e D ol l hou s e, wi th h e r l o v e r P au l Bal l ar d l o ck e d fi r ml y i n si d e h e r
h ea d, wh i l e P ri ya /Si e r ra an d T on y /Vi ct o r , al on g wi th t h ei r c h il d, c on ti n u e t o
s ol i di fy th ei r ci r cl e o f fa mi l y an d ev en Mag an d K i l o a r e s e en a s h a vi n g th e
pot en ti al to l ov e ( “ E pi taph Tw o: R etu rn ” 2 .13) . Ou t si de , th e w ar wi ll rag e
u n ti l i t fi n all y bu rn s i ts el f ou t , bu t so m e h o w, so m eth i n g o f h u man i ty wi l l ri se
f ro m th e as h es .
[19] Th e wo r k of b o th Č ap e k an d Wh e d on sh a r e a c om m on th e m e o f
vi ewi n g th e wh ol e sa l e ad v an c e m en t o f t e ch n ol og y at al l c o s ts a s s om e th i n g
to b e r e ga rd e d wi th sh a rp sk e pti ci sm . In de ed , “ Ča pe k w as s h o ck e d at th e
cat as t ro ph e wh i ch h u man s o ci et y c ou l d c r eat e i n th e n am e o f p r o gr e s s o r
i deal i sm. H e c on n e c ted R .U .R . ‟s th e m e o f th e d eh u man i z ati on of m an as th e
pri c e of t e ch n ol ogi c al ci vi li z ati on , f o r e xam pl e , t o th e w o r l d‟ s i n c r e asi n g
tr en d t o wa rd m e ch a n i z ati on ” (Sh e ft e r 8 ). Wh i l e n ei th e r au t h o r ta k es a
Lu ddi t e vi e w o f t ech n ol og y , bo th R. U. R. an d D o llh ou s e r ej e c t th e i dea th at
man ki n d c an b e “m a de b ett e r ” by b ei n g r e - m ad e . 11
[20] In b oth Č ap e k‟ s ti me an d ou r s to d ay , t e ch n ol o gy i s h u rtl i n g
ah e ad , al th ou g h e xa ctl y t o wh e r e i s a m u r ky m att e r . A c om mon r e sp on s e t o
su ch a qu es ti on o f d e sti n ati on s e e ms t o be No matt e r —j u st mo v e an d w e ’l l
get th e r e! It ’ s f oll y to s tan d in th e w ay o f p r og r e s s! B oth Č ap ek ‟ s R. U. R. an d
Wh ed on ‟ s D ol lh ou s e a sk th e au di en c e t o c on si d er th e c on s e qu en c e s o f
f ol l owi n g su ch a p at h . W ri ti n g ab ou t Ča pe k ‟s wo r k , pl ayw ri gh t A r th u r Mi ll er
sai d,
W e w e r e g r eat b el i ev e rs i n S ci en c e i n t h e th i rti e s , th e
D ep r es si on ti m e. Ou r p r obl em s e em ed t o b e th at sci en ti fi c
obj e cti vi ty w as n ot bei n g appl i ed t o s o c i al pr obl em s , l i ke
th at o f s c ar ci ty i n t h e mi dst o f pl en t y, f or i n st an c e , o r
u n e mpl o ym en t . Bu t h e r e w e r e s to ri es w arn i n g ag ai n st th e
ty ran n y an d u n r ea s on a bl en e ss o f th e ra ti on al . Th e y w e r e
fan ci fu l l y pu t , t o b e su r e , bu t su r p ri si n gl y ea s y t o i magi n e
as th e on c o mi n g r ea li ty. (F o r ew o rd )
In th e sa me F o r e w o rd , Mi l l er g o e s on t o s ay o f th e Cz ec h pl ay wri gh t th a t “h e
mad e i t p o ssi bl e t o actu al l y i n ven t w o rl ds , an d wi th l au gh t e r i n th e ba rgai n . ”
Man y a Wh ed on s ch ol ar wo u l d s ay th at c ou l d al s o b e ap pl i ed t o Wh e d on ‟ s
wo r k . B oth m en p r e s en t th ei r w o r k on a h u m an s cal e , wh i ch r en d e rs th e
wo r k m ean i n g fu l t o a m o d er n au di en c e . Th es e a r e st o ri e s o f p e opl e , o ft en
pe opl e cau gh t i n e xt ra o rdi n a r y ci r cu m st an c e s , wh o r e fu s e t o m e e kl y a c c ept
th e statu s qu o . ( In f act , Wh e d on ‟ s D r . H o r ri bl e wo u l d re mi n d u s th at th e
en ti r e p r obl e m o f m od e rn so ci e ty can b e su mm ed u p a s “ Th e s tatu s i s n ot
qu o .” ) In b oth R. U. R. an d D ollh ou s e , a n sw e r- s e e k e rs can b e (an d o ft en a r e)
h u rt i n th ei r qu e st , bu t th ei r e ff o rt s p r o pel th e h u m an r a c e f or wa r d i n t o a
mo r e equ i tabl e s oci et y.
[21] In 19 36 , Čap e k w as wi d el y c on si de r ed a f r on t ru n n er f o r th e N ob el
Pri z e, a n ac c ol ad e h e w ou l d n e v e r r e c ei v e. Th ro u gh ou t h i s l i feti m e, Č ap e k
wa s an ou ts po k en a n ti - fas ci st , r ej e cti n g an y w h i ff o f c ol l ecti vi sm wh i l e al s o
spu rn i n g “ s el fi sh i n di vi du ali sm” (K u s si , n . p.) . Č ap e k‟ s wi d o w h as sai d th at
th e S w edi sh A cad e m y, wi s h i n g t o h on o r Čap e k wh i l e n ot an g e ri n g Naz i
G e rm an y , r equ e st ed th at h e “ w ri te so m e n ew , bl an dl y i n o f f en si v e w o rk , t o
wh i ch Č ap e k r epl i ed th at h e h ad al r ead y su bmi tt ed h i s d o ct o ral di s s e rt ati on ”
(K u s si , n .p .) . Ča p ek w as n ot a m an t o b ac k d own f r o m h i s c on vi cti on s,
r eg ar dl e ss o f h o w i n c on v en i en t h ol di n g on t o th o s e c on vi cti o n s mi gh t b e .
[22] Th e t e rm “f as ci sm ” i s o ft en to s s ed bl i th el y a r ou n d , wi th ou t a t ru e
s en s e o f i ts me an i n g. Th i s of t en l e ad s t o mi su s e o f th e t er m an d, wi th i t, a
di sr eg a rd f o r Č ap ek ‟ s c ou ra g e i n st an di n g u p t o p r ot e st th e f as ci st
go v e rn m en t s th a t w e r e fi r ml y i n p o w e r i n 19 30 s Eu r o p e. Sh el don Ri ch man
e xpl ai n s t h at du ri n g th i s ti me , f as ci sm wa s “ s e en as th e h a ppy m edi u m
bet w e en b o om - an d - bu st - p r on e l i be ral c api tal i sm, wi th i ts . . . p r ofi t - o ri en t ed
eg oi s m, an d r e v ol u ti on ar y M a rxi s m, wi t h i ts vi ol en t an d s o c i all y di vi si ve
pe r s e cu ti on of th e b ou rg e oi si e .” In v ol vi n g i n di r ec t c on t r ol o f t h e ma rk e tpl ac e
th r ou gh t e ch n i qu es su ch as pl an n ed e c o n omi c a cti vi ti es a n d s e t p ri c e s ,
fa s ci sm i s, i n Ri ch m an ‟ s w o rd s , “ so ci al i sm wi th a c api tal i st v en e e r .” Č ap e k‟ s
R.U .R . sh o w s th e pl ay wri gh t ‟ s di sdai n f o r su ch an e co n o mi c s y st em , or
i n dee d an y sy st e m t h at s e e ks t o c on t rol th e p opu l ati on th r o u gh su ch m ean s .
Wh ed on ‟ s D ol lh ou s e ta k e s a si mi l ar vi e w, cl ea rl y p o rt ra yi n g a s twi s te d an d
e vi l an y att e mpt t o gai n an ec on o mi c ad van t ag e by l i te ral l y c on t r ol li n g th e
pe opl e wh o p opu l at e th e ma r k etp l a c e.
[23] B o rn i n B oh emi a an d l at e r a ci ti z en of th e Cz e ch o sl o va k R epu bl i c,
Čap e k wa s i n fl u en c e d b y b oth th e Fr e n c h an d En gl i sh cu l tu r e s, i n cl u di n g
am on g h i s f ri en d s G e o rg e B e rn a r d Sh a w an d G . K . Ch e st e rt on . Hi s d ea th on
Ch ri s tma s D ay 1 938 w as a tt ri bu t e d t o d ou bl e pn eu m on i a, b u t “ a pu n di t w r ot e
th at th e r e al c au s e o f d e ath w as a sta b i n th e h ea rt b y N e vi ll e Ch am b e rl ai n ‟s
u mb r el l a, f o r Č ap e k —a pa s si on a t e An gl oph i l e — wa s m o rti fi e d b y th e B ri ti sh
Pri m e Mi n i st e r‟ s i gn obl e b a rgai n wi th Hi tl er ” (K u ssi , n .p. ). Čap e k c on si st en tl y
r ej e ct ed ea sy , s o ft an s w e rs t o c o mpl e x pr obl em s, an d t h i s r ej e cti on of th e
si mpl e, on e- n ot e an sw e r i s l a c ed th r ou g h ou t h i s w o r k, i n cl u di n g R. U. R.
P eo pl e a r e c o mpl i cated , Č ap e k t el l s u s agai n an d agai n , an d at t empt s t o
si mpl i fy th e m — wh et h e r by r edu ci n g e c o n omi c c omp eti ti on t h r ou gh fa sci s m o r
by R os su m‟ s at t emp ts t o st r ea ml i n e th e w o r kf o r c e by c r eati n g R ob o ts —a r e
ri gh tl y d o o m ed t o fa il u re .
[24] In h i s o wn w o r ds Č ap ek i n si st s , “ I th i n k i t i s p os si bl e, an d th i s i s
th e m o st d ra mati c e l em en t i n m od e rn ci vi li z ati on , th at a h u man t ru th i s
opp o s ed t o an oth e r tru th n o l e ss h u man , i d eal a gai n st i de al , po si ti ve w or th
agai n st w o rth n o l e s s p osi ti v e, i n st ea d o f t h e st ru g gl e b ei n g, as w e ar e s o
o ft en tol d i t i s, on e bet w e en n obl e t ru th an d vi l e s el fi sh e r r o r” (q td . i n
Sh e ft e r 11) . T h i s g r appl i n g b etw e en si n c e r el y h el d i d eal s i s at th e h ea rt of
R.U .R . Ol d R os su m wan t ed t o pl ay G od , wh i l e y ou n g R o s su m wan t ed t o m ak e
mon e y h an d o v e r fi s t. D omi n s e e s R ob ot s a s f r e ei n g h u m an k i n d f r om
n u mbi n g l ab o r, w h i le Al qu i st s e e s t e ch n ol og y a s d em o ral i z in g m an ki n d .
H el en a f ea r s th e u n ch e ck ed t e ch n ol og y r ep r e s en t ed b y th e Rob o ts , an d th e
Rob o ts th e ms el v e s r ej e ct ea ch o f th e s e i de as a b ou t th ei r e xi st en c e. Wh at
wi n s th e d ay i n R .U . R. i s th e sa m e th i n g th at t ri u mph s at th e c on c l u si on o f
Doll h o u s e . It i s s om eth i n g b ey on d th e t e ch n ol og y o f s tam pi n g - mi l l s an d
Atti cs , s o m eth i n g a s si mpl e a n d el em en t al as fi r e i ts el f —l o v e . It i s h ar dl y th e
fi rs t ti m e l ov e h as s av ed th e w o rl d f o r Wh ed on . L o o k at Bu ff y ‟s sa c ri fi c e f o r
Daw n an d th e wi de r w o rl d i n S e as on Fi v e of Bu f fy , Xan d er ‟ s s avi n g of th e
wo rl d by sa vi n g Wi llow i n S e as on Si x of Bu f fy , an d Mal c ol m Re yn ol ds ‟ fi n al
sp e e ch i n S e r en it y. L ov e h a s th e c apa ci ty t o i n spi r e p e o pl e to d o wh at th ey
mu st i n o rd e r t o ca r r y on , an d D ollh ou s e rei n f o r c e s th at th em e . Vi e w e rs a r e
l eft at th e en d of “ E pi taph Tw o: R etu rn ” wi th i mag e s of l o v e — Ec h o i s j oi n ed
wi th P au l i n h e r h ea d, P ri ya/ Si e r ra an d T on y /Vi ct o r h a ve ca r v ed ou t a sp ac e
f or a fa mi l y, an d e v en M ag an d K i l o h a v e a ch an c e t o fi n d o u t i f l o v e i s
po s si bl e f or th e m.
[25] P e rh ap s as p e o pl e e xpl o r e th e s ou r c e o f Wh e d on ‟ s R o ss u m
Co r p or ati on , th ey wi ll di sc o v er th e w o r k s o f K a r el Č ap e k. B y s o d oi n g, a n e w
au di en c e ma y b e br ou gh t t o th e s e e a rl ie r w o r ks th at c on c e rn th em s el v e s
wi th th e r ol e o f t e ch n ol og y an d h u man i ty. A s s tat ed b e f o r e, Č ap ek wa s n o
Lu ddi t e. H e wa s a ct u al l y fa s ci n ate d wi th t e ch n ol og y, cl ai min g th at h e
en j o y ed t ech n i cal i n v en ti on s “th e w ay a s av ag e w ou l d; I l i k e th em a s
wo n d r ou s , m y st e ri o u s an d i n c omp r eh en si bl e th i n g s” (K u s si 178) . H o w ev e r , at
th e en d of th e da y , i t i s em oti on rath e r th an te ch n ol o gy th a t sa v es th e da y
f or Čap e k . Wh ed on ‟ s e xpl o r ati on of t e c h n ol og y a s h a vi n g t h e abi l i ty to
damp en , bu t f ai li n g to wh ol l y e xti n gu i sh , t h e l i gh t of th e h u man spi ri t c an b e
s e en a s h avi n g r o ot s i n Čap e k ‟ s R .U .R . Fo r b oth c r e at o rs , t h i s l i gh t i s k e pt
gl owi n g i n th e da r k n e s s b y th e m o st m e r cu ri al o f e m oti on s —l ov e , a f o r c e
th at b oth Ča p ek an d Wh e d on pr e s en t a s b ei n g a bs ol u t el y e s s en ti al i n n ot
on l y c on ti n u i n g h u m an l i fe bu t c on ti n u i ng t o c r e at e a l i fe th at i s w o rth l i vi n g
i n th e fi rst pl a c e.
So u rc es
“A ri el .” W ri t. Jo s e M ol i n a. Di r. Al l an K r o e k e r. J o ss Wh ed on ’ s Fi r e fly . Epi s od e
Ni n e . Tw en ti eth C en tu r y F ox H om e En t e rtai n m en t , 20 03 . DV D.
Čap e k, K ar el , an d J o s ef Č ap e k. R .U . R. T ran s. P. S el va r . Ed . H a rr y Sh e ft e r.
N ew Y o r k: P o c k et, 1 973 . P ri n t.
Dr . H o r rib l e' s Sin g - Alon g Bl og . Di r. J o s s Wh ed on . P e r f. N ei l P at ri ck Ha r ri s .
Mu tan t En e my , In c. , 20 08 . DV D.
“ Epi taph On e. ” T el e pl ay Mau ri s sa T an ch ar o en an d J e d Wh ed on ; st o ry J o ss
Wh ed on . Di r . Da vi d Sol o m on . J o s s Wh ed on ’s D ol lh ou s e : S e a s on On e .
Un ai r ed Epi s od e . T w en ti e th C en tu r y Fo x H om e En t e rtai n m en t, 200 9.
DVD .
“ Epi taph T w o: R etu r n .” W ri t. Mau ri s sa T an ch a ro e n , J ed Wh e don , an d An dr e w
Ch am bl i ss. Di r . D avi d S ol o m on . D ollh ou s e . S e as on Tw o , E pi s od e
Th i rt e en . Fo x B r oa d ca sti n g C omp an y . 2 9 J an . 2 010 . T el e vi s i on .
“ G etti n g Cl os e r . ” W r i t. an d di r . Ti m Mi n ea r . D ollh ou s e . S e a s on T w o, Epi s od e
El e v en . F o x B r oa dc a sti n g C omp an y . 8 Ja n . 201 0. T el evi si o n .
“ Hu sh . ” W ri t. an d di r . J o s s Wh e don . Bu f fy th e Va mpi r e Sl ay e r . S e a s on F ou r ,
Epi s od e T en . WB T el e vi si on N et w o rk , 20 03. D VD .
Je rz , D en n i s G. "R .U .R . ( R os su m' s Un i v e r sal R ob ot s) . " D en n i s G . J e rz . S e t on
Hi l l Un i ver si ty . 200 2. W e b. 27 F e b. 2 01 0.
K i n g, St e ph en . D an s e M ac ab r e . N ew Yo r k: B e rkl ey , 19 83 . P r i n t.
K u s si , P et e r, ed . T o wa rd t h e Rad ic al C e n te r: A K a r el Čap ek R ea d er . Hi gh l an d
Pa r k: Cat bi rd , 199 0 . P ri n t.
Mi ll er , A rth u r. F o r e wo r d. To wa r d th e R adi cal C en t er : A K ar el Č ap ek R ea d e r .
P et e r K u s si , e d. Hi gh l an d P a rk: C atbi r d, 19 90 . P ri n t.
Ri ch man , Sh el don .
"Fa s ci sm: Th e C on ci s e En c y cl op edi a o f E c on omi c s . ”
Lib ra r y o f E co n o mi c s an d L ib e rt y. Li bra r y o f E c on o mi cs an d Li be rt y .
2008 . W e b. 28 F e br u ar y 20 10 .
Ro s en , Li sa . “ N ew M edi a Gu ru : M e et J os s Wh ed on th e W eb Sl ay er . ” Th e
Mag a z in e o f th e W ri te r s Gu ild of A m er ic a W e st . Th e W ri te r s Gu i l d o f
Am e ri ca W e st .
J an u ar y 20 09. W eb . 21 F eb . 201 0.
Sh e ft e r , H a rr y , e d. Re ad e r ‟s Su ppl em en t. R. U. R. T ran s. P. Sel v ar . N e w Y o r k:
P oc k et , 197 3. P ri n t.
Wh ed on , Jo s s . S er e n ity Of fi cia l V isu al C om pan i on . N e w Y o rk : Ti tan , 20 05 .
Pri n t .
1
“Recent memory” is probably not the best term to use, since that term has little
meaning in a show that delights as much with tampering with the very concepts of memory
and identity as Dollhouse does. The origin of the term “metafiction” can be traced back
William H. Gass‟ 1970 essay “Philosophy and the Form of Fiction.” The term was further
elaborated upon in Patricia Waugh‟s 1984 book Metafiction: The Theory and Practice of SelfConscious Fiction. At the risk of oversimplifying, “metafiction” can be defined as a literary
work of fiction that comments on itself by referencing another literary work of fiction. Think
of Prince Hamlet‟s use of a play to reveal his depraved uncle‟s use of regicide to capture the
Danish throne in Shakespeare‟s Hamlet.
2
Whedon is a die-hard theatre-goer. He has attested to enjoying spending his
vacation time by sleeping all day, then rising (like a vampire) to spend the night reading
and attending plays (Whedon 8).
3
Interestingly, according to “Part 1: Science and Utopia” in Toward the Radical
Center: A Karel Čapek Reader, the only other Czech expression to gain a widespread
foothold in the English language is “pistol.”
4
The Cylons in the original Battlestar could not have been mistaken for humans.
They were depicted as red-eyed, chrome-plated machines. While there is much more to be
explored in this all-too-brief history of robots and its relation to the Actives of Dollhouse,
such an in-depth exploration is simply beyond the scope of this paper. Suffice it to say that
robots in popular culture may be depicted either way. While the trend seems to be in favor
of more realistic looking robots, such as the re-launched Battlestar‟s Cylons, examples of
robots as clanking metal figures that are created to perform menial, repetitive jobs can also
be found—consider the 1983 Styx concept album Mr. Roboto. Whether Dennis DeYoung has
read R.U.R. is a subject upon which I shall not speculate.
5
The Kussi text is unusual in that the commentary and criticism of Čapek‟s plays is
not paginated while the text of the plays is paginated. Therefore, throughout this essay, the
reader will find material from this print source which is both cited by page number and cited
as “n.p.” for “no pagination given.” The author of the essay apologizes for any confusion this
may cause, but the best method appeared to be to cite specific pages when possible and
clearly indicate portions taken from the unpaginated material when necessary.
6
See Buckman‟s “‟Much Madness is Divinest Sense‟: Firefly‟s „Big Damn Heroes‟ and
Little Witches” in Investigating Firefly and Serenity and Daniels‟ “‟Stripping‟ River Tam‟s
Amygdala” in The Psychology of Joss Whedon.
7
The “pinnacle of absurdity” of the radiation movie comes in 1972 with the release
of Night of the Lepus, in which mankind‟s existence is threatened by gigantic, bloodthirsty,
mutated bunnies (King 160). Perhaps Buffy‟s Anya was right all along.
8
Senator Daniel Perrin would seem to be an exception to this rule. However, it is explained
in “The Public Eye” (2.5) that Perrin was the black sheep of his family and was therefore
imprinted to be respectable and politically ambitious. Perrin may have been financially
secure, but those higher up made a decision that he was not shaping up as he should and
had him re-made in a more acceptable image.
9
This desire to “become Real” is a recurring theme in literature and art. It can be
found in stories as dissimilar as The Adventures of Pinocchio and the ballet Coppélia, as well
as in the lovely children‟s tale by Margery Williams The Velveteen Rabbit. It is also central to
the character of Data in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
10
The problem with this approach is pointed out by Caroline early on—slates are
never truly clean.
11
Whedon has explored this theme before, particularly in Firefly/Serenity. Recall that
the mad-beyond-reason Reavers were the result of a secret government experiment to
control the aggression impulse that spectacularly backfired. While only one-tenth of one
percent of the “treatment group” became cannibalistic Reavers, the rest of the population
simply laid down and died, unable to muster the interest necessary to even feed
themselves. See Rabb and Richardson‟s “Reavers and Redskins: Creating the Frontier
Savage” in Investigating Firefly and Serenity and Curry‟s “We Don‟t Say „Indian‟—On the
Paradoxical Construction of the Reavers” in Slayage 7.1 (25) Winter 2008.