Time Out Of Joint Essay

Words: 1340
Pages: 6

Time Out of Joint by Philip K Dick employs a “time out of joint” effect where the main character, Ragle, believes he is in the 1950’s when, in fact, the true setting in the novel is actually in the late 1980’s. Through this effect, Dick is highlighting Americans of the 1950’s to be the type to: imagine a faux reality when presented with an undesirable reality, value this faux reality for providing a life worth living, and display a decaying innocence of youth as knowledge increases. The entire novel itself comments on the rising conflict of moral authorities in relation to a dissipating apparent power authority; as Ragle dictates how the world should exist, he inadvertently submits to those in power. Time Out of Joint takes in all these criticisms of the 1950’s in order to comment on the culture of fear which plagued the 1950’s. Dick accomplishes these criticisms by employing rhetorical devices such as characterization, point of view, and narrative structure. Furthermore, the “time out of joint” effect creates an anachronistic effect that not only has the reader (as well as the main character) question the validity of the time period, but also critically evaluate the decade of the 1950’s. Dick’s creation of a distorted reality allows for insight into the context in which the novel was written. The …show more content…
Such disparities (such as the mention of Uncle Tom’s Cabin) were familiar to Ragle, as they “gave him a sense of certainty,” as opposed to a present that drove him to a state of psychosis (Dick 228). Just as easily as the Americans of the 1950’s held onto the peacefulness of the time and the prosperity of the economy, would they hide away from the paranoia that lived within themselves. Dick’s time warp of the novel is a direct criticism of the 1950’s American