McEwan explores morality through the character Charlie’s selfish motives rather than
moral responsibilities and obligations. Using ideas from the critical anthology to inform
your argument, to what extent do you agree with this view?
Morality refers to 'principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and
bad behaviour’- ‘a particular system of values and principles of conduct’, or ‘the extent to
which an action is right or wrong’ (Oxford Languages). Moral responsibility refers to ‘acts or
states of affairs for which one can be praised or blamed’ (CrashCourse, 2016), and a moral
obligation refers to ‘the duty to act or refrain from acting based on moral principles’ (Gert, B.,
2005). In McEwan’s Machines Like Me, the narrative itself is a means of moral exploration,
particularly into the concepts of selfishness, justice, and their counterparts. It could certainly
be argued that McEwan mainly explores morality through the narrator Charlie’s selfish motives.
However, morality is also thoroughly explored through how the characters act out their self-
perceived moral obligations and how moral responsibility is assigned to a character by
themselves, other characters or the narrative. Overall, McEwan weaves an exploration of
morality into the fabric of Machines Like Me through the conflict between these factors to
engage readers in a multifaceted exploration of moral dilemmas.
Undoubtedly, McEwan explores morality through the character Charlie’s selfish motives. First
presented to the reader is Charlie’s impulse purchase of an advanced robot companion, Adam,
to satisfy his intellectual curiosity and somehow initiate a romantic relationship with his
neighbour, Miranda. This ‘event provides the “Call” which will transform [his life]’ and
inevitably ‘involve conflict and uncertainty’ (Brooker, C.), specifically inner moral conflict for
each of our characters. The word ‘bind’, connoting restriction, and the anaphora of ‘I’d wanted’
emphasises Charlie’s selfish motive to one-sidedly tie himself ‘closer to Miranda in the process’
of ‘raising’ Adam with her. As demonstrated, Charlie’s initial, primary selfish motive is
obsessive self-satisfaction. Charlie selfishly disregards what Adam thinks about being used as
a makeshift child and presumes that Miranda would agree to participate in ‘digital parenthood’
(Theroux, M.). This has the effect of intensifying what he perceives as Miranda’s betrayal and
he displaces feelings of vindictiveness and bitterness onto Adam (‘Also, Miranda did not
“belong” to me… I had no good cause to feel betrayed.’). Charlie’s naturally illogical human
emotions show through- Miranda initiated the encounter, and Adam may not have felt he could
refuse one of his owners. Hence, McEwan crafts Charlie as a character most notable for his
human flaws, a moral foil to the artificially perfect Adam. He is driven by self-interest, jealousy,
insecurity, and pride. A floral metaphor accentuates his insecurity (‘It pained me that she
seemed different, refreshed, newly arranged.’); ‘I had my dignity to protect’ infers Charlie’s
feelings of humiliation as a ‘cuckold’; ‘I was not going to appear crushed’ implies through
litotes his vulnerability. Moreover, McEwan makes Charlie an unreliable narrator, perhaps to
mirror the complicated, subjective nature of human morality; ‘the gap between appearance and
reality… show[s] how human beings distort or conceal the latter’ (Lodge, D.). Consequently,
readers are required to question Charlie’s biases and form moral judgements on his actions.
Furthermore, throughout the novel, emotions fuel his fluctuation between two perceptions of
reality: Adam as a conscious individual or merely more intelligent than most robots. For
example, Charlie cites what he expects from Adam: conditionals portray an indignant tone (‘He
was supposed to be my moral superior’ and ‘Had he been my friend’), and his objectification
of Adam is shown by assonance and degrading language (‘What does the slave owe to the
owner?’). The linear narrative is often disrupted by flashbacks and historical reimaging, equally
reflecting Charlie’s moral inconsistency. Thus, McEwan displays Charlie’s selfish motive to
assert control over Adam and subsequently explores the moral dilemma surrounding Adam’s
consciousness and what moral responsibilities and obligations Charlie has to him.
moral responsibilities and obligations. Using ideas from the critical anthology to inform
your argument, to what extent do you agree with this view?
Morality refers to 'principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and
bad behaviour’- ‘a particular system of values and principles of conduct’, or ‘the extent to
which an action is right or wrong’ (Oxford Languages). Moral responsibility refers to ‘acts or
states of affairs for which one can be praised or blamed’ (CrashCourse, 2016), and a moral
obligation refers to ‘the duty to act or refrain from acting based on moral principles’ (Gert, B.,
2005). In McEwan’s Machines Like Me, the narrative itself is a means of moral exploration,
particularly into the concepts of selfishness, justice, and their counterparts. It could certainly
be argued that McEwan mainly explores morality through the narrator Charlie’s selfish motives.
However, morality is also thoroughly explored through how the characters act out their self-
perceived moral obligations and how moral responsibility is assigned to a character by
themselves, other characters or the narrative. Overall, McEwan weaves an exploration of
morality into the fabric of Machines Like Me through the conflict between these factors to
engage readers in a multifaceted exploration of moral dilemmas.
Undoubtedly, McEwan explores morality through the character Charlie’s selfish motives. First
presented to the reader is Charlie’s impulse purchase of an advanced robot companion, Adam,
to satisfy his intellectual curiosity and somehow initiate a romantic relationship with his
neighbour, Miranda. This ‘event provides the “Call” which will transform [his life]’ and
inevitably ‘involve conflict and uncertainty’ (Brooker, C.), specifically inner moral conflict for
each of our characters. The word ‘bind’, connoting restriction, and the anaphora of ‘I’d wanted’
emphasises Charlie’s selfish motive to one-sidedly tie himself ‘closer to Miranda in the process’
of ‘raising’ Adam with her. As demonstrated, Charlie’s initial, primary selfish motive is
obsessive self-satisfaction. Charlie selfishly disregards what Adam thinks about being used as
a makeshift child and presumes that Miranda would agree to participate in ‘digital parenthood’
(Theroux, M.). This has the effect of intensifying what he perceives as Miranda’s betrayal and
he displaces feelings of vindictiveness and bitterness onto Adam (‘Also, Miranda did not
“belong” to me… I had no good cause to feel betrayed.’). Charlie’s naturally illogical human
emotions show through- Miranda initiated the encounter, and Adam may not have felt he could
refuse one of his owners. Hence, McEwan crafts Charlie as a character most notable for his
human flaws, a moral foil to the artificially perfect Adam. He is driven by self-interest, jealousy,
insecurity, and pride. A floral metaphor accentuates his insecurity (‘It pained me that she
seemed different, refreshed, newly arranged.’); ‘I had my dignity to protect’ infers Charlie’s
feelings of humiliation as a ‘cuckold’; ‘I was not going to appear crushed’ implies through
litotes his vulnerability. Moreover, McEwan makes Charlie an unreliable narrator, perhaps to
mirror the complicated, subjective nature of human morality; ‘the gap between appearance and
reality… show[s] how human beings distort or conceal the latter’ (Lodge, D.). Consequently,
readers are required to question Charlie’s biases and form moral judgements on his actions.
Furthermore, throughout the novel, emotions fuel his fluctuation between two perceptions of
reality: Adam as a conscious individual or merely more intelligent than most robots. For
example, Charlie cites what he expects from Adam: conditionals portray an indignant tone (‘He
was supposed to be my moral superior’ and ‘Had he been my friend’), and his objectification
of Adam is shown by assonance and degrading language (‘What does the slave owe to the
owner?’). The linear narrative is often disrupted by flashbacks and historical reimaging, equally
reflecting Charlie’s moral inconsistency. Thus, McEwan displays Charlie’s selfish motive to
assert control over Adam and subsequently explores the moral dilemma surrounding Adam’s
consciousness and what moral responsibilities and obligations Charlie has to him.
