In R.U.R., robots are sort of like machines, and they're sort of like workers or servants. But either way, they're power. If you control a lot of machines (or a lot of workers), you have more power than someone who doesn't control those things. You can tell your robots to build ships or factories or cars. You can tell them to raise crops. You can tell them to kill your enemies, if you're the sort of person who has enemies to kill. You need to be powerful to control the robots, and the robots give you power… unless they turn on you.
Questions About Power
- Does Domin want power for himself or for the human race as a whole? Is there a difference?
- Are the robots wrong to want power for themselves? Is it wrong for the powerless to want power?
- Does Helena have any power in the play? What results from her power, or lack thereof?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
In R.U.R, power corrupts.
Nope—we hate to stop you again, but in R.U.R., lack of power corrupts.