Chapter 18

This chapter definitely saw a lot of transformation in many of the characters in the novel, particularly Isidore. It was action packed and strangely overwhelming. The three remaining andys are trying really hard to get into the mind and emotions of Isidore, to manipulate him, as they find some sick 'pleasure' out of 'controlling life' and need to use Iz to help them fool Rick. Only, as soon as Iz sees what they will do to mutilate the spider he found, he is overwhelmed with powerful rage and sickening disgust. Pris, especially, displays the utter and twisted fascination with the dwindling, beating life.

In 18, Dick also hints at manipulated situations and thoughts/memories, even implanted... Mercer, we find, is but a hoax, unnatrual and faded in this future. But as long as people believe in his ideas, he will exsit in/of them. Much reflection and referencing to postmodern philosophical ideas. Postmodern philosophy is particularly skeptical about simple binary oppositions characteristic of structuralism, specifically in the problem of the philosopher clearly distinguishing knowledge from ignorance, social progress from reversion, dominance from submission, and presence from absence. Again, seen in with hoax of Mercer.