The Caves of Steel

“The City was the acme of efficiency, but it made demands of its inhabitants. It asked them to live in a tight routine and order their lives under a strict and scientific control. Occasionally, built-up inhibitions exploded.

He remembered the Barrier Riots.

Reasons for anti-robot rioting certainly existed. Men who found themselves faced with the prospect of the desperate minimum involved in declassification, after half a lifetime of effort, could not decide cold-bloodedly that individual robots were not to blame. Individual robots could at least be struck at.”

This early passage shows the escalating tensions between the Medievalists and the Spacers. Lije knows how quickly the crowd could turn into a riot. Asimov uses the incident at the shoe counter and the anecdote about the Barrier Riots to scaffold the themes of Tradition Versus Technology and The Core Difference Between Robots and Humans.

“The division between human and robot is perhaps not as significant as that between intelligence and nonintelligence.”

After the incident at the shoe counter, Daneel argues that the separation between the human and the robot is not that significant. This quote underscores the theme of The Core Difference Between Robots and Humans.

“It had been her name that had first made Elijah Baley really conscious of Jessie. He had met her at the Section Christmas party back in ‘02, over a bowl of punch. He had just finished his schooling, just taken his first job with the City, just moved into the Section. He was living in one of the bachelor alcoves of Common Room 122A. Not bad for a bachelor alcove.”

Chapter 4 begins with an anecdote about how Lije and Jessie met. This passage is an example of Asimov using anecdotes to further develop character. The story shows Lije’s appreciation of class rank and Jessie’s concern for and attachment to her name.

“Jessie shook her head in annoyance and said, ‘I’m surprised at you, Bentley. What would people say if they saw you eating by yourself as though your own family weren’t good enough for you or had thrown you out of the apartment?’”

Jessie’s concern for what people think is central to her character, as evidenced in her chastisement of her son. Jessie’s concern also serves to highlight the tension between technological advances and community, a central theme of the book.

“I am sorry if I have hurt your feelings, Elijah. My intention was only to indicate that, since human beings are occasionally capable of murder in defiance of custom, they may be able to violate custom for the smaller impropriety of eavesdropping.”

Daneel asks Lije if anyone could be listening in to their conversation about the murder. Lije tells him no one would even think of such a thing. Daneel points out the space for ambiguity, rule-breaking, and moral relativism in humans, highlighting the difference between robots and humans.

“I have been told that when Spacetown was first established, it was taken for granted by most of our people that Earth would be willing to adopt the integrated society that has worked so well on the Outer Worlds. Even after the first riots, we thought that it was only a matter of your people getting over the first shock of novelty.”

Daneel elaborates on the Spacers’ fundamental misunderstanding of Earth people’s psychology. They are unable to understand the resistance to robots as they are reliant on them for survival. This discussion supports the theme of Technology Versus Tradition.

“He brought his mind back to the issue at hand with something of an effort. He said, ‘I think I get what you’re driving at. Your Dr. Sarton was attacking the problem of Earth’s conversion to C/Fe from a new and promising angle. Our conservative groups or Medievalists, as they call themselves, were perturbed. They were afraid he might succeed. So they killed him. That’s the motivation that makes it an organized plot and not an isolated outrage.’”

Lije and Daneel continue to discuss possible motives for the murder. The escalating animosity of the Medievalists against the Spacers might have provoked the attack. The Spacers hope to change humankind and more fully integrate robots. This passage shows the motivations for Spacers on Earth and the possible avenues of growth for the species.

“The assignment of partnership with R. Daneel was an example of it. It was tough and unpleasant, but there was no question that it carried within it the germs of tremendous advance. The Commissioner might have given the chance to someone else. His own talk, that morning, of needing a favor masked but did not hide that fact.”

Lije’s motivation comes from a desire for class advancement and security. This passage demonstrates those desires and juxtaposes them with Jessie’s desires for social acceptance. Asimov uses this contrast to develop the theme of technology’s impact on the community.

“Yes, disease. My dear Mr. Baley, the Earthmen who colonized the Outer Worlds found themselves on planets entirely free of Terrestrial bacteria and viruses. They brought their own, of course, but they also brought with them the latest medical and microbiological techniques. They had a small community of microorganisms to deal with and no intermediate hosts. There were no mosquitoes to spread malaria, no snails to spread schistosomiasis. Disease agents were wiped out and symbiotic bacteria allowed to grow. Gradually, the Outer Worlds became disease-free. Naturally, as time went on, entrance requirements for immigrant Earthmen were made more and more rigorous, since less and less could the Outer Worlds endure the possible introduction of disease.”

Fastolfe explains the reason for the Spacer isolation in Spacetown, telling Baley that they have needed to use back channels and emissaries to achieve their goals. Daneel was built for this purpose, to move among the population as the Spacers cannot. This passage underscores the fragility of life and the tension between progress and tradition.

“‘That’s your way of helping?’ Baley’s lips quivered. ‘You mean you’re creating a growing group of displaced and declassified men on purpose?’

‘Not out of cruelty or callousness, believe me. A group of displaced men, as you call them, are what we need to serve as a nucleus for colonization. Your ancient America was discovered by ships fitted out with men from the prisons. Don’t you see that the City’s womb has failed the displaced man. He has nothing to lose and worlds to gain by leaving Earth.’”

The interview with Dr. Fastolfe shows how the Spacers have contributed to the economic hardships of Earth, hoping to spur exploration. Instead of achieving this goal, they strengthened the Medievalist movement, turning the population to more traditionalism. Asimov uses Fastolfe to shape the argument in the thematic exploration of tradition and progress.

“With sudden, devastating clarity, he remembered a short story he had viewed as a youngster. It concerned the motorways of London and began, quietly enough, with a murder. The murderer fled toward a prearranged hideout in the corner of a motorway in whose dust his own shoeprints had been the only disturbance for a century. In that abandoned hole, he could wait in complete safety till the search died.”

This passage introduces another anecdote, Lije’s telling of the urban myth, the “Wandering Londoner,” that has passed around from generation to generation. Asimov uses this anecdote to highlight the dangers of living in a contained and massive city and the need for expansion.

“‘You see, Daneel, almost all Earthmen are Medievalists in one way or another. The Commissioner, Jessie, myself. Look at the Commissioner’s—’ (He almost said, ‘spectacles,’ then remembered that Earthmen must stick together and that the Commissioner’s face must be protected in the figurative as well as the literal sense.) He concluded, lamely, ‘eye ornaments.’”

Lije protects the Commissioner from the embarrassment of having less-than-perfect vision because they are friends and of the same planet. Lije does not realize he is covering up crucial evidence in a murder investigation. Asimov uses foreshadowing by explaining the spectacles and highlighting their importance, though this only becomes clear once the case is solved.

“It is my estimation that it would take fifty years to develop the basic theory of a non-Asenion positronic brain—that is, one in which the basic assumptions of the Three Laws are disallowed—and bring it to the point where robots similar to modern models could be constructed.”

Dr. Gerrigel tells Lije about the technical problems with creating a robot whose base code does not come from established robotics technology. This passage highlights Lije’s limited understanding of robotics. It also highlights The Core Difference Between Robots and Humans.

“He was looking about hungrily. Baley thought: He looks lost, half dead—declassified.”

As Baley looks at Vince, he sees the real consequences of failing to solve the case. The importance of classification and class rank is made clear by the pity and despair surrounding the declassified young man. Asimov uses Vince to show the genuine consequences of replacing humans with robots without partnership or growth.

“‘Can a wish be anything but conscious? Is that not a contradiction in terms?’

Baley stared at R. Daneel and despaired of attempting to explain the unconscious mind.”

This interaction between Lije and Daneel highlights The Core Difference Between Humans and Robots. Lije cannot find a way to describe a central human characteristic, acting from instinct or unconsciously. Asimov shows the complexity of humans and the lack of understanding of ambiguity in robots.

“We won’t. The Outer Worlds were settled by Earthmen who came from a planet that did not have Cities, by Earthmen who were individualists and materialists. Those qualities were carried to an unhealthy extreme. We can now colonize out of a society that has built co-operation, if anything, too far. Now environment and tradition can interact to form a new middle way, distinct from either old Earth or the Outer Worlds. Something newer and better.”

Lije parrots Dr. Fastolfe’s hopes for planetary expansion here, and the importance of current people going out into space. Asimov underscores the adaptation of a species needing to constantly evolve and use best practices for the best result.

“We can’t ever build a robot that will be even as good as a human being in anything that counts, let alone better. We can’t create a robot with a sense of beauty or a sense of ethics or a sense of religion. There’s no way we can raise a positronic brain one inch above the level of perfect materialism. We can’t, damn it, we can’t. Not as long as we don’t understand what makes our own brains tick. Not as long as things exist that science can’t measure. What is beauty, or goodness, or art, or love, or God? We’re forever teetering on the brink of the unknowable, and trying to understand what can’t be understood. It’s what makes us men.”

Lije rants to Clousarr about the myriad differences between robots and humans. He clearly understands the strengths and weaknesses of each, yet he also acknowledges the importance of harnessing these different strengths for the good of humankind. Asimov uses Lije to support his central themes of the line between human and machine and the importance of technology for a future community.

“We were glad your Commissioner recommended you. From your psychic profile we judged you to be a useful specimen. Cerebroanalysis, a process I conducted upon you as soon as I met you, confirmed my judgment. You are a practical man, Elijah. You do not moon romantically over Earth’s past, despite your healthy interest in it. Nor do you stubbornly embrace the City culture of Earth’s present day. We felt that people such as yourself were the ones that could lead Earthmen to the stars once more. It was one reason Dr. Fastolfe was anxious to see you yesterday morning.”

Daneel’s characterization of Lije here shows him as a neutral narrator. Lije resists the pull to the extremes of progressivism or traditionalism, libertarianism or authoritarianism. He remains objective, allowing Asimov’s greater thematic points to carry more weight than if Lije were a convert or crusader.

“No, conviction does not come that easily. But the cerebroanalytic changes demonstrated conclusively that the Medievalist mind is open to that sort of conviction. I experimented further myself. When leaving Yeast-town, guessing what might have happened between you two from his cerebric changes, I made the proposition of a school of emigrants as a way of insuring his children’s future. He rejected that, but again his aura changed, and it seemed to me quite obvious that it was the proper method of attack.”

Daneel’s interaction with Clousarr offers a new avenue of hope to the Spacers and their desire for a C/Fe culture. The Spacers realize they can leverage the romanticism of the Medievalist movement to push humans back into space travel. This use of romanticism plays into the theme of progress and tradition.

“There are degrees of justice, Elijah. When the lesser is incompatible with the greater, the lesser must give way.”

As Daneel and Lije debate the end of the murder case, Lije appeals to Daneel’s justice circuit. Daneel’s approach remains logical and lacks ambiguity. This instance lends itself to the theme of the line between human and machine.

“Aimless extension of knowledge, however, which is what I think you really mean by the term of curiosity, is merely inefficiency. I am designed to avoid inefficiency.”

Daneel’s chastisement of humanity indicates the gap between robotic and human thinking. Curiosity is a central characteristic of humans, driving innovation. Asimov uses Daneel’s objection to highlight the differences between humans and machines.

“It was in that way that the ‘sentence’ he had been waiting for came to Elijah Baley, and the opaque jelly shuddered and settled and changed into luminous transparency.”

This passage is the moment of anagnorisis, when the final truth is revealed to Lije. The moment comes from Daneel’s statement about curiosity above. The moment of clarity comes from the interaction between Daneel and Lije, supporting the theme of progress and tradition.

“You must be a big wheel in New York’s Medievalist organization, maybe even in the planetary setup. Maneuver them in the direction of the colonization of space. You can see the propaganda line, can’t you? We can go back to the soil all right—but on other planets.”

This passage underscores Asimov’s point about progress and tradition. Enderby is offered a middle road, the ability to live a more natural life but on a new planet. Asimov uses the C/Fe future to bridge the gap between the Medievalists and the Spacers.