logo

34 pages 1 hour read

Karel Čapek

R.U.R.

Karel ČapekFiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1920

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Important Quotes

Quotation Mark Icon

“You see, he wanted to somehow scientifically dethrone God.”


(Prologue, Page 7)

Domin talks to Helena about Old Rossum. Rather than create robots as workers, Rossum wanted a new kind of human made by science rather than procreation. His debate with his son, the young Rossum, was over the kind of robot produced, and sprung from their different motives.

Quotation Mark Icon

“Young Rossum successfully invented a worker with the smallest number of needs, but to do so, he had to simplify him.”


(Prologue, Page 9)

Domin discusses the Rossums’ robotic creations. Young Rossum, the son of the original Rossum, is interested in mass production and industry. He created his robots to fill certain roles or, in other words, to occupy a specific class, changing the power relations created by labor.

Quotation Mark Icon

“You’d never guess she was made of a different substance than we are. She even has the characteristic soft hair of a blonde, if you please.”


(Prologue, Page 10)

Here, Domin describes his robot secretary, Sulla, to Helena, explaining that her mistaking Sulla for a human is understandable. She also mistakes humans for robots when meeting the directors, suggesting how robots and humans are alike. The inability to distinguish between the two—human and robot—is a central concern of many works of science fiction created after R.U.R.

blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
Unlock IconUnlock all 34 pages of this Study Guide

Plus, gain access to 8,450+ more expert-written Study Guides.

Including features:

+ Mobile App
+ Printable PDF
+ Literary AI Tools

Related Titles

By Karel Čapek