Janet

Janet is the main characters in the story. Her outer characterisation only reveals that she is married to George, that she is a housewife, and that she is ill, worn out both physically and mentally by the chores she does around the house every day.

Inner characterisation

From her inner characterisation, the first thing we learn is her reluctance to accept having a household robot by her side: “It was simply an uneasiness about them, about being left alone with one—and a disinclination to feel such an uneasiness in her own home.” (ll. 15-16)

Most of Janet’s reluctance comes from the fact that she grew up in a home “which had used no house-robots” (l. 18). Furthermore, Janet is also characterised by a concern for her own privacy: “What she did dislike was the idea of one intruding upon her personal, domestic life, which was what a house-robot was bound to do.” (ll. 20-24)

Despite her reluctance, Janet is eventually persuaded by her husband and her doctor to acquire a household robot. Note that Janet's mind is changed because she encounters an advanced robot in the hospital and discovers what a comfort it can be (ll.1-4). Furthermore, the doctor argues that Janet needs a robot to help her because of her health: “ “To tell you the truth I was afraid we were up against a real neurosis there—and very inconveniently, too.” ” (ll. 30-32)

According to the following quotation, Janet feels more comfortable knowing that her household robot is human-like, which suggests her reluctance to...