How does Dick’s essay (1999; 1964) illuminate his use of Nazism as a motif in High Castle?
Dicks essay tends to suggest that yes, he was writing about Nazis in general and how they may have gone about their business had they taken over the rest of the 'Free' world. However his essay suggests that it is not a 'lets blame the Nazis' novel, but more to show that collectively we are all potential Nazis/fascists, no matter what country/religion we align ourselves to. His essay shows that he believed you should look past the party, past the religion, past Nazi, and past the jew, and observe the individual for the unique person that they are. His essay shows that the reasons that the general german followed the Nazi regime and entered the war was out of fear, and parallels it with the exact same emotion of fear that made the States, the UK and Russia enter the war. This to me shows he was trying to illustrate that no matter what the Banner people are acting under they are still just people, that will all act in very similar ways regardless of colour or creed. To me at least, Dicks essay shows that the use of the Nazi motif was simply one of being the most recognised example of the time that could be related to by the reader.
For me Dicks essay illuminates the motif of Nazis as the most monstrous evil and ugly thing in recent memory (from when the book was written) That it was not a view of anti Germanic sentiment, but is a view of the common ugly monstrousness of all human kind.
Dick, P.K (1995). Nazism and the High Castle. In Sutin, L. (Ed), The Shifting Realities of Phillip K. Dick (pp.112-117). New York: Vintage
A great response to the key ideas raised in Dick's essay. To support your argument you could have made explicit reference to the primary text - especially the ending of the novel - where the realisation that the narrative of 'The Grasshopper Lies Heavy" is reality:
ReplyDeleteHe had now an almost savage expression. 'It
means, does it, that my book is true?'
'Yes,' she said.
With anger he said, 'Germany and Japan lost the war?'
'Yes.'
Hawthorne, then, closed the two volumes and rose to his feet; he said nothing.
'Even you don't face it,' Juliana said.
Check it out . . .
I totally agree with your statement 'However his essay suggests that it is not a 'lets blame the Nazis' novel, but more to show that collectively we are all potential Nazis/fascists, no matter what country/religion we align ourselves to.' Philip K. Dick wasn't trying to imply that he agreed or sided with the Nazis, he was more trying to gain an understanding of them and help us to see things from their view.
ReplyDeleteHay Trevor, this is a great post. I like how you identified that Dick’s purpose was to shed light on the potential that all humans have in becoming ‘Nazis’ and that he used the theme of the Nazis to make it easier to understand for the audience of the time.
ReplyDelete