R.U.R. and the Insect Play

Anyone who grew up immersed in science fiction (as I did) has likely heard of the play R.U.R. This play, written by a pair of Czech brothers, gave us the word and the concept of "robot." (R.U.R. stands for Rossum's Universal Robots.) It is unfortunate, however, that more people haven't read this play because it is very good.Written in the intellectual ferment between the world wars, R.U.R. tells the story of a world where mechanical robots (the Czech word for "worker") are taking the place of human workers. Though the human manufacturers of the robots all seem to have noble intentions (apart from the desire to get rich), things get out of hand when the robots revolt against their human masters and destroy the human race. The play ends with the hope for reinvention of the human race through the robots.Though first produced in the 1920's, it is amazing how little this play has become dated. There is an obvious formalism in the dialogue which places it in its period but the social themes and commentary remain pertinent for a modern audience. The vision Capek had which is so predictive of our modern relationship with science and invention is truly amazing. This is a play I would love to see produced.Allegorical and satirical, The Insect Play has also aged well though its lack of conflict makes it a lesser experience than R.U.R.; however, with its flighty "butterflies," miserly "beetles" and war-like "ants," The Insect Play is another bit of clever social commentary.

R.U.R. is an immensely important book for its contributions to our language and our perception. Equally, it is excellent commentary on the mechanization of work, and the quest to turn people into simple, perfect machines.Nonetheless, this translation falls short as literature. Devoid of irony and wit, and possessing only a simple, transparent plot, R.U.R. does not equal the standard set by Capek himself with "War with the Newts."

In the play RUR, the brothers Capek coined the word Robot as meaning mechanical man for the first time. The play probes the ethical issues of humaniod robots and what constitutes humanity, life and the human soul and spirit. Written just before WWII the Insect Play is a wonderful fantasy full of political allegory and social commentary. It is important to keep in mind when reading the Insect Play that Josef Capek died in a Nazi concentration camp.