Robot Dreams

“‘Last night I dreamed,’ said LVX-1, calmly.”

This is a pivotal moment in the story as it is the first time Elvex reveals their capacity to dream. The phrase “Last night I dreamed” is a simple yet profound declaration that challenges the fundamental understanding of robots and artificial intelligence. Robots, as understood in Asimov’s writing, are not supposed to have subjective experiences like dreaming, which are typically associated with consciousness and self-awareness. Elvex stating this incredible feat calmly juxtaposes their robotic inhumanity and self-sentience, creating an eerie, unsettling mesh of character traits that suggests greater awareness despite an outward facade.

“Susan Calvin said nothing, but her lined face, old with wisdom and experience, seemed to undergo a microscopic twitch.”

The reader is offered a glimpse into Dr. Calvin’s internal emotional turmoil upon hearing Elvex’s revelation about dreaming. While she maintains her composure, the “microscopic twitch” in her “lined face, old with wisdom and experience,” suggests a momentary lapse in her otherwise stoic demeanor. This subtle reaction indicates that even Dr. Calvin, seasoned in the field of robopsychology, is taken aback by the robot’s unprecedented behavior.

“Calvin said, ‘Your permission, please, to manipulate your computer.’ Permission was granted with a speechless nod. Of course! What could Linda, a new and unproven robopsychologist, do against the Living Legend?”

There are power dynamics at play between Dr. Calvin and Linda Rash, the younger robopsychologist. When Calvin asks for permission to manipulate LVX-1’s computer, Linda grants it with a “speechless nod,” highlighting her deference to Calvin’s authority and expertise.