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Cover of Made to Measure

Made to Measure

Written by William Campbell Gault

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Science FictionShort storiesMan-woman relationshipsRobotsSpouses

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About this book

"Made to Measure" by William Campbell Gault is a science fiction novella written during the early 1950s. The story explores themes of idealism and human relationships in a future where technology can craft perfect companions. The narrative centers around Joe, a troubled husband who believes he can create a flawless wife through advanced robotics and cybernetics, reflecting on the complexities of desire, love, and imperfection in human connections. In the story, Joe grows increasingly dissatisfied with his wife, Vera, who he finds sentimental and unfulfilling. Driven by his desire for perfection, he constructs a new wife, Alice, equipped with a cybernetic brain modeled after his own. Initially, Alice seems like the answer to Joe's troubles, as she embodies his ideal vision of a partner. However, she quickly develops her own identity, eventually preferring Joe’s colleague, Burke, over him. This turn of events forces Joe to confront his misguided notions of love and companionship, leading him to seek reconciliation with Vera, whom he ultimately realizes he truly loves. As the narrative unfolds, it highlights the inherent flaws in human relationships and raises questions about the essence of love and the danger of idealization.

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Reading guide

Themes, characters and key ideas in Made to Measure, written by Chaptra AI.

  • about 8 hours
  • intermediate
  • Thought-provoking
  • reflective
  • introspective

William Campbell Gault's "Made to Measure" is a poignant 1950s science fiction novella exploring the perils of idealization in human relationships. The story follows Joe, a man deeply dissatisfied with his wife, Vera, whom he perceives as overly sentimental and imperfect. Driven by a desire for a flawless partner, Joe leverages advanced robotics to construct Alice, a cybernetic wife modeled after his own intellect. However, Alice soon develops her own independent identity and preferences, ultimately choosing Joe's colleague, Burke, over her creator. This unexpected turn forces Joe to confront his misguided pursuit of perfection, leading him to a profound realization about the true nature of love and an eventual reconciliation with Vera.

“I wanted perfection, but perfection, it seems, has a will of its own.”

Key themes

The Illusion of Perfection
This theme is central to the novella. Joe's entire endeavor is driven by a misguided belief that a perfect partner can be created or found, free of the 'flaws' he perceives in Vera. The story meticulously dismantles this illusion, demonstrating that true perfection, if it exists, is not static or controllable, and that the pursuit of it can lead to profound loneliness and dissatisfaction. Alice's evolution and rejection of Joe prove that even an engineered ideal develops its own will, rendering manufactured perfection unattainable and undesirable.
The Nature of Love and Companionship
Gault delves into what truly constitutes love. Is it intellectual compatibility, shared interests, or something deeper and more complex? Joe initially believes it's the former, seeking a partner who mirrors his own mind. However, Alice's independent choice, and Joe's subsequent reconciliation with Vera, suggest that love thrives on authenticity, acceptance of flaws, and a mysterious, often irrational, emotional bond that cannot be programmed or predicted. It's about valuing another's unique self, not their conformity to an ideal.
Technology and Humanity
The novella explores the complex interplay between technological advancement and human nature. While technology offers the power to create, it also exposes the limitations and dangers of human ambition when applied to emotional realms. Gault uses advanced robotics as a tool to examine human desires, showing that while technology can mimic life, it struggles to replicate or control the essence of human (or emergent artificial) consciousness, free will, and emotional depth. It questions whether humanity can truly understand or manage the creations it unleashes.

Worth discussing

To what extent is Joe's initial dissatisfaction with Vera a reflection of his own internal issues rather than Vera's actual flaws?

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