Word Processor of the Gods

Richard discovers that this “space-age equivalent of a magic lamp” (296) has the power to turn whatever is typed on its screen into reality. He possesses an object that humans cannot and should not have, and it is therefore symbolic of his and humanity’s hubris. In stating that it is “of the gods,” Richard represents the way mortals, given this kind of power, play god and try to fulfill their own desires without thinking about the effects on others. It is also a physical manifestation of humanity’s greed, as Richard covets Roger’s family and tries to make them his own using the word processor. In his selfishness, he deletes his wife and son from existence, all so he can have the ideal and perfect life he daydreamed about with Belinda and Jon as his wife and son. The things Richard wishes for on the word processor highlight the limitations of his imagination, underscoring his hubris as a man and the deep divide between humanity and divinity: Technology cannot literally make men into gods.

The word processor also symbolizes the complex relationship between families. Jon builds it for Richard out of outdated parts, mismatched electronics, and pieces of children’s toys. This cobbled-together device nonetheless has divine power, representing the value of non-nuclear family relationships like Jon and Richard’s, especially when compared with both characters’ unfulfilling home lives.