Word Processor of the Gods

This story focuses on the downtrodden Richard’s miserable life. For years, he has been unsatisfied with his family: Lina, who’s lazy and unpleasant, and Seth, his teen son of whom he is “ashamed and unable to hide it.” (283) He yearns for a better life, and when given the power to change his fate, Richard metaphorically and literally jumps at the chance to harness that power and create a better world for himself without thinking of the repercussions of the potential destruction that his desires might bring. He is in awe of the word processor because of its ability to manifest the words on its screen into reality and aims to use its power for himself. However, while Richard crafts a happy ending, exercising this power results in others dying, calling into question the morality of using such power.

At first, his wishes are mundane and harmless, such as removing Lina’s portrait on the wall. However, when he realizes that the word processor can do more than just remove unwanted portraits, this power leads him to make extreme decisions to craft the life he’s always wanted but could never grasp. His desire for a better life combined with his lust for power has devastating consequences: He deletes his entire family because he covets his brother’s wife and son.