One
of the themes in this book is the interchangeability of blessings of curses, of
strength and weakness. In this way, Lord
Dunsany inverts the assumption that the practice of slavery is a sign of (abusive) strength,
portraying it instead as a sign of weakness.
The formula has implications for technology, as well: “For a long time
machines had been growing more and more powerful, while Man was no stronger
than ever he was, though believing that he was stronger because of all the
things that were done for him by machines, as lazy Romans believed they were
strong as ever when Rome was half full of slaves.”
Likewise,
the boon of intelligence has a shadowy side.
Towards the end of the story, the narrator reflects, “the cleverness of
the human race has been increasing its power to destroy itself for a long time….
I don’t think that cleverness will save us.”
In some ways, it boils down to a lack of awareness – the need for a thoughtfulness
that goes beyond being smart or clever. Fearing
the dangers of Pender’s intelligent automatons, the narrator muses, “How
curious… that the man who knows all the devilry in these machines should still
work for them, when it is his job to do so…. And, after all… are there not
thousands of men making bayonets who hate war…?”
Image:
British Library
