Story Analysis: 'Liar!' by Isaac Asimov and the Human Condition

This essay provides a detailed analysis of Isaac Asimov's short story, 'Liar!,' focusing on the implications of the robot Herbie's telepathic abilities and their impact on human beings. The analysis examines the story's plot, characters, and themes, including the nature of human existence, the role of the human brain, and the dichotomy between human creators and their creations. The essay delves into Susan Calvin's actions and how they reflect human behavior, such as the difficulty in accepting flaws and the superiority complex. It also explores Herbie's behavior, which mimics and learns from human actions, highlighting the potential for machines to surpass human capabilities. Furthermore, the essay examines how the actions of Boggert, Lanning, and Ashe contribute to understanding human behavior and thinking. The conclusion emphasizes the potential for machines to replace humans due to superior intellect and the implications of this for the human race, drawing upon the story's exploration of emotions, intellect, and the ability to understand the world.

Running head: STORY ANALYSIS
STORY ANALYSIS: AN ANALYSIS OF “LIAR!” OF ISAAC ASIMOV
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

1STORY ANALYSIS
Introduction
As stated by Hale, the emotions, behavior and the way of thinking of the human beings
distinguish them from the other creatures on the planet. Bruni and Presutti are of the viewpoint
that the human beings over the years have tried to create a prototype of themselves through the
creation of the robots however these robots created by the humans lack their emotions, way of
thinking and also the specific behavior displayed by them. Furthermore, numerous scientists
have tried to imbue or inculcate these specific qualities of the human beings in the robots created
by them however they have not being able to achieve any significant amount of success in doing
so. In this relation, Isaac Asimov’s famous short story “Liar!” is an important since it shows the
creation of a robot which has telepathic abilities and the resultant effect that it is likely to have
for the humans. The purpose of this paper is to undertake a critical analysis of Isaac Asimov’s
“Liar!” in the specific light of the implications of Herbie’s actions or behavior for the human
beings and also the manner in which this is likely to change the perception of the human mind or
their behavior itself.
Plot Summary of “Liar!”
Isaac Asimov’s famous short story “Liar!” was first published in the year 1941 in
“Astounding Science Fiction” and was later incorporated within the “I, Robot” (1950) and also
“The Complete Robot” (1982) (Nair). This particular short story of Asimov holds a unique place
in the annuals of English Literature not only because of the concept that it tries to explore but
also on the score of the fact that as per the Oxford English Dictionary it was the first literary
work which used the word “robotics” (Petrescu). The plot of this short story revolves around a
robot “Herbie” who possesses telepathic abilities and is thereby able to read the minds of the

2STORY ANALYSIS
human beings. This in turn becomes the cause of amusement and also perplexity for the central
characters of the short story, namely, Calvin, Boggert, Lanning and Ashe’s since they are not
sure how the concerned robot had come to posses this particular ability. However, at the same
time it is seen that the robot tries its best not to miss-utilize this particular ability which it had
accidently come to posses although by lying to the individuals it inevitability hurts them. More
importantly, the central characters of the short story come to realize the fact that this is going to
have important implications for the entire human race since accidently they have created a
prototype of themselves which have the potential to replace them by virtue of being superior to
them in almost every regard (Hale).
Human Existence and the short story
The short story under discussion here clearly indicates that the factor which distinguishes
the human beings from the other creatures and even the machines created by them is their brain
which in turn is the source of the creativity or the innovation displayed by them. More
importantly, the human beings through the usage of the abilities of their brain have been able to
create the kind of machines or for that matter the technological advancements that have enabled
them to substantially improve the quality of their lives (Bruni and Presutti). However, the story
in a succinct manner also reveals the fact that rather than using these machines or the
technological advancements for the benefit of the human race these are being used by a handful
of individuals for dominating the people. Thus, it can be said that rather than the desire to benefit
the human race the greed of the individuals for power and influence is the factor which had
motivated them to invent the robots and the other kinds of machineries. However, at the same
time it needs to be said that the human beings in their greed have created the kind of machines or
technological advancements have are superior in comparison to them and thereby have the

3STORY ANALYSIS
potentiality to replace them if adequate measures are not being undertaken (Nair). This becomes
apparent from the concerns as well as the fears which the majority of the characters in the short
story under discussion here feel when they come to realize the fact that the robot created by them
possesses telepathic abilities and also is superior to them in almost all respects. In the light of
these aspects, it can be said that rather than presenting a caricature of the human race, Asimov
had tried to paint a true picture of the existence of the human beings and also what it means to be
a human.
Susan Calvin’s actions and the human mind
Susan forms an integral part of the short story under discussion here and her actions in
various sections of the story shed insightful light on the behavior displayed by the human beings
and also their intellect as well. In this relation, it needs to be said that an important aspect of the
behavior displayed by Susan in the different sections of the story reveals the fact that the human
beings find it very difficult to accept the truth that their creations can actually possess a higher
amount of intellect as well as knowledge in comparison to them and thereby have the potentiality
to replace them as well (Hale). However, there is a dichotomy to this as well since it is seen that
the human beings do not find it difficult to accept the fact that their children who are biologically
their creations can possess a higher intellect or knowledge in comparison to them and thereby
can even replace them as well. This particular dichotomy comes into play in the particular
context of the robots or the other non-living beings created by them. For example, in the short
story under discussion here it is seen that Susan cannot come to terms with the fact that the robot
that had been created through efforts can actually possess better abilities than her and is more-fit
for survival in the longer run in comparison to her (Bruni and Presutti).

4STORY ANALYSIS
Another important aspect of human mind reflected by the actions of Susan can be
attributed to the fact that it is not at all easy for the human beings to accept their flaws or for that
matter their shortcomings. For instance, the human beings because of the different kinds of
achievements that have been able to make through the entire course of history consider
themselves as superior creatures and thereby cannot conceive the idea of the other things or the
creatures to be superior in comparison to them, be it, in terms of intellect, knowledge or
emotional abilities (Hale). Lastly, the actions or the behavior displayed by Susan in the short
story also reveal the fact that it is not easy for the human beings to readily accept defeat because
of the superiority complex that they have. This becomes apparent from the line of the story
wherein Susan says “I don’t want to know what he thinks,….Keep quiet” (Asimov). This makes
it apparent that Susan cannot conceive the idea of being defeated by a machine which had been
created by her and thus rather than acknowledging her defeat she simply chooses not to discuss
about the same.
Herbie’s behavior and the human mind
The majority of the actions or for that matter the behavior of Herbie in the short story not
only mimes human behavior but also is an indicative of the fact that it possesses the ability to
learn from the behavior displayed by the human beings around it. For instance, when Herbie is
being three books for reading, it sits on a chair with a desk in front and starts to read the three
books is a meticulous manner just like the human beings (Nair). This actually reflects the human
psychology that individuals can focus much better if they are sitting on a chair with a desk in
front of them rather than reading while lying on a sofa or a bed. Furthermore, this particular
action displayed by Herbie is also in synchronicity with the thought process of the individuals
that in order to study effectively they need to have a certain discipline. These actions or for that

5STORY ANALYSIS
matter the behavior displayed by Herbie clearly indicate that while being able to mime human
actions it is being able to effectively understand the reasons because of which the human beings
indulge in such actions and this in turn makes it a superior being in comparison to the humans.
Contribution of Boggert, Lanning and Ashe’s action towards the understanding of human
behavior and ways of thinking
Petrescu is of the viewpoint that prior to the invention of robots, the human beings used
to hold the idea that it is only they who have the ability to comprehend language, understand
logic, have emotions or feeling and also are able to respond to the other creatures in a clear and
coherent manner. However, in the short story under discussion here it is seen that the actions of
Boggert, Lanning and Ashe, that is, the act of creating the robot, Herbie, completely changed this
perception held by the human beings. For instance, the robot is not only being able to understand
the language spoken by the humans, understand logics, has telepathic abilities but is also being
able to respond to the humans effectively while being able to lie to them if the situation demands
the same (Hale). It is true that in order to perform these activities the robot takes the help of
different codes, mechanical language, integrated circuits and others however the story clearly
reveals the fact that the robot is being able to perform these activities even better than the human
beings. More importantly, rather than taking pride in the achievement that they have been able to
make, it is seen that Boggert, Lanning and Ashe are not only confused but also afraid that this
particular machine is likely to replace them in the near future because of the advancements over
the human race that it possess.

6STORY ANALYSIS
Conclusion
To conclude, human beings are superior in comparison to the other living as well as the
non-living beings because of their intellect, emotions and also their behavior. However, as the
short story under discussion here reveal there is a chance that would be replaced by machines or
robots who would possess a higher level of intellect, would have the ability to mime their actions
and also understand emotions in a much better manner than the human beings themselves. This is
likely to have serious implications for the entire human race since over the years they have taken
pride in their unique way of thinking, their emotions, their intellect, their ability to understand
the world around them and others. These aspects of the human mind and their way of thinking
become apparent from the above analysis of the same in the particular context of the short story
“Liar!”.

7STORY ANALYSIS
References
Asimov, Isaac. I, robot. Spectra, 2004.
Bruni, Emanuela Piga, and Christiano Presutti. "The Human in the Age of Mechanical
Reproduction: the Artificial Unconscious in Science Fiction." Between 9.17 (2019).
Hale, Kimberly Hurd. "Free Will and Choice in Isaac Asimov’s I, Robot." Flattering the Demos:
Fiction and Democratic Education (2018): 51.
Nair, Lekshmi R. "Artificial Intelligence and the Instrumental Marvellous in Isaac Asimov’s
Foundation Novels." Writers Editors Critics (WEC): Vol. 7, No. 1 (March 2017) 7
(2017): 26.
Petrescu, Relly Victoria. "About Robotics, Mechatronics and Automation that Help us Conquer
the Cosmic Space." Journal of Mechatronics and Robotics 3 (2019): 129-155.