In the story EPICAC, we see a machine that develops not only a sense of self and well being, but also emotion and longing. In a way, EPICAC was humble in the way he lived and in the way he died. By falling in love with a human, he realizes who he is and who he can never be for her, and he begins to see the reality of the world, and the purpose in which he was made. In sacrificing himself for his love and for his friend, I think the robot really did understand true emotion of love and friendship. In his poems, he shows a true understanding of emotions that have to do with love, and the anguish that he is going through because of that love being lost. In a way however, it was also ironic that he was the smartest robot and could solve any problem because it is true that not every problem can be solved simply by facts. I think this story could have had potential to be that of the Frankenstein Complex, but it wasn’t because nobody feared him, or even knew about his talents. If the robot could talk or move, I think there could have been more of a fear because he could have gotten out of control with his emotions. He may have not given up on his love, but he did because of his imprisonment of his own body.
The Frankenstein Complex is better demonstrated in the other story we read, Mimicry. In Mimicry, the robot, or rather clockwork doll, wants to become more like the girl that she lives with. She really has nothing to fear but does because of the robot impersonating her. I think when it comes to the Frankenstein Complex, what we fear is not the robot itself. I think we fear the inability to control what we make to the point where we are being taken over by our own handiwork. In this situation, the girl feels exploited in her own personality because of the robot that longs to be her, and have her strong sense of identity as well.
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