The Soup of the Day is Cream of Beefaroni

"The Minority Report" by Philip K. Dick

Plot


"The Minority Report" features a fast-paced, "need-to-know" basis plot structure. Due to the relative brevity of the work, it starts in medias res with the main character, John Anderton, meeting a protagonist/antagonist and quickly setting up the conflict of his being framed for murder. With this kick off, the premise of "Precrime" is explained in the classic "So we both know this, but I'm going to say it anyway for the sake of the audience without acknowledging the audience." For example, "...Anderton said, 'You're acquainted with the theory of precrime, of course. I presume we can take that for granted.' 'I have the information publicly available,' Witwer replied." (pg 120). Although I won't put the whole quote on here, the "theory of precrime" is explained in its entirety by Witwer even though neither character needed the information. Such techniques drive me up a wall, but in this case is necessary to keep pace with the ever-moving plot line, but is expertly satirized in the best parody of the century in "A Very Potter Musical" as seen here from 0:00-1:00


As the plot continues to unravel, the suspense is clear through the terse action scenes and mind-bending explanation of the theory of precrime.

Point of View


The story is written in third person and stays exclusively to the narration of John Anderton. The omniscient narrator frequently lets the reader into the mind of Anderton as he works out the possibilities of who may have framed him. "His original impulse - to tear open the machines and remove all the data - was uselessly primitive. Probably the tapes agreed with the card: He would only incriminate himself further." (pg 123). This style gives the story a film noir vibe with a sci-fi twist as the would-be detective tries to solve the mystery while traipsing around a futuristic, war-devastated New York with the possibility of knowing the future through mutants. Only in sci-fi. The narration hardly ever strays from Anderton, revealing much about the character. The shortness of the piece almost requires this to fully develop Anderton into a dynamic, round character. Even the other "main" characters, such as Anderton's wife, Witwer, and Leopold Kaplan, the main antagonist, are only discussed by means of interaction with Anderton.

Point of View - get it? (She's pointing!)

Characterization

Characterization, surprisingly due to the story's short length (<--- oxymoron?), was achieved primarily through indirect characterization. This is because of the vast focus on Anderton and his actions and thoughts as a means to move the plot. With direct and outright telling what's what thrown by the wayside, this only leaves room for the characterization of Anderton through his thoughts, actions, and interactions. Each interaction, then, too was utilized as a way of characterizing the character with whom Anderton spoke. "Startled, Anderton backed off. What were the chances of his wife's friendliness being benign, accidental? Witwer would be present the balance of the evening, and would now have an excuse to trail along to Anderton's private residence. Profoundly disturbed, he turned impulsively, and moved toward the door." (pg 124). This is taken from the beginning of the story when Anderton is first contemplating the potential suspects and establishes his paranoia with which he deals throughout the story as he suspects his new assistant and even his own wife.

Indirect + Direct = Characterization

Setting

"The Minority Report" is set in the future of New York City after a devastating war. Anderton marches around the slums, in back alleys, rides in fancy cars, and has his private office in a fancy skyscraper. These locations, plus the dark imagery and mood ("The bus entered the vast slum region, the tumbled miles of cheap hotels and broken-down tenements that had sprung up after the mass destruction of the war." pg 132) exude a retro 1940s film noir. However, this story ain't all super-sluthin' around in fuzzy black and white. The juxtaposition of a far off, science fictional future adds a twist to the story to make the setting fresh and new in both the murder mystery (although in this case it's a hypothetical murder) and sci-fi genres. 

Just in case you were all "uhh, whats a film noir?" please study the above photo. 

Surprise! It's one of them confangled detective-y shows.

And have yourself a fancy theme song for further illustration. 

This was actually considered popular music in the '50s. There's some sweet action!

Theme

"The Minority Report" seems to explore the topic of "Big Brother" and the role he (he?) may play in the future as the government (or some other powerful agency) utilizes technology to better keep tabs on people. It also points out the ethics involved with progressing technology to the point of "Should we be doing this?" rather than "Can we do this?" In the final scene of Anderton explaining the whole hypothetical precrime conundrum, which provides a means for arrest for a crime (usually murder) that hasn't even happened, that started his mess, Anderton is quick to point out that his situation was unique and could only happen again to one person, the Precrime Commissioner, now Anderton's assistant, Witwer, who has access to the precrime reports telling the future. "'Better keep your eyes open,' he informed young Witwer. 'It might happen to you at any time.'" When all the other themes are combined, cooked, processed, wrapped, and shipped to happy children across the world, it really comes down to the addage "with great power comes great responsibility."

Spiderman, Spiderman,
Does whatever a spider can
Spins a web, any size,
Catches thieves just like flies
Look Out!
Here comes the Spiderman. 

(Relevant this time, I promise!)