Westworld : The dog story (spoilers)

SPOILER ALERT

It's been awhile since I've posted, so forgive me if this is a repetitive topic. I found the dog killing the cat metaphor to be profound and indicative of Ford and Arnold's philosophy.

1. Arnold saw the "dog" as the hosts, innocent but ultimately capable of becomming like "us" (humanity) in all of our faults. Therefore, he had Delores kill the hosts (including herself).

2. Ford saw the "dog" as humanity who inevitable will kill or conquer all other sentient life despite our best intentions. Therefore, he had Delores kill the humans.

Did anyone else interpret it this way?

Those are really interesting perspectives, but I had a very different thought when I heard that story. The theme was about chasing something for so long that you don't know what to do when you catch it. I saw Ford as envisioning himself as that dog: what he was chasing after for so long was building a sentient robot, but the younger Ford never thought ahead of what would actually happen when his creations reached sentience. It took the death of Arnold to sort of "wake him up."

But this is all very subjective. I'd be interested in hearing more people's opinions.

Thank you for your response and great point. I guess I never thought of it that way. I gathered that Arnold desired to "free" the hosts by killing them and by killing himself, prevent other hosts from being created. Moreover, it appeared he felt guilt in making a sentient being that had to suffer over and over but could not be released.

I plan on watching the series again! I'm still trying to digest it all.

This WESTWORLD Rap is awesome!!

I agree with your view about the meaning behind the story. Also in The Dark Knight The Joker compares himself to a dog chasing cars.

http://www.imdb.com/board/10468569/quotes?item=qt1214354


He wouldn't know what do with one if he caught up with it he just does things. Ford never considered the ramifications of creating a sentient android he just pursued his goal. So it is a recurring theme in Jonathan Nolan's work although it was Lisa Joy who wrote episode 5 which had the story in it.

My take is the two are somewhat related, the story of the dog hits me as being incredibly sad. I guess the moral being - it didnt know what to do with its conquest.

Arnold instructed Delores to kill the other hosts in an attempt to prevent Ford from opening the park. He realized that they would eventually become sentient resulting in them being trapped in a living hell.

Ford disagrees, so Arnold takes matters into his own hands and stated he wanted to shut down the park something to that effect.

Very similar to Frankenstein, Blade Runner, Ai, at what point do you assume or abandon responsibility for your creations?

I think most everyone knows the basic premise of the Frankenstein story, but when I actually read the full novel, I was incredibly touched by it, and felt very sympathetic toward the creature. The creator took an attitude in the beginning of just wanting to be able to accomplish something, but had no real plan for what to beyond the simple creation. When the creature felt abandoned by its creator, it was heartbreaking! I've heard the phrase "smart people know Frankenstein is not the monster. Wise people know Frankenstein IS the monster."

Returning to the dog story, I see Ford and Arnold in a similar light to Frankenstein at the beginning. They were so obsessed with whether or not they COULD do something, that they didn't think about the long term future of these things. Then all of a sudden when their creations are on the brink of actual awakening, they have a whole new set of thoughts and feelings.

It makes me wonder what the ulterior motives were for each. The show makes it clear that the original "project" wasn't just an amusement park, but a large scale "experiment." What is still vague to us viewers is what exactly that experiment is, and what purpose it aims to serve.

One of my all time favorite quotes comes from Jurassic Park. Dr. Malcolm says "Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they COULD, they didn't stop to think if they SHOULD." That applies to so much, and now this show too.

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hey were so obsessed with whether or not they COULD do something, that they didn't think about the long term future of these things.

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i like this point you made because another crichton work, jurassic park, almost has this exact line. i definitely see the connections between the two stories, men who think they can control intelligent beings find out they cannot.

'There's just a possibility that I will kiss a doorknob.'
Just call me Sleight