Who Is The Protagonist In Epicac?

2026-01-30 21:07:42 99

3 Answers

Violet
Violet
2026-02-04 11:31:33
I was just rereading Vonnegut's short stories last week, and 'EPICAC' really stuck with me. The protagonist isn't a person at all—it's the supercomputer EPICAC itself, which develops human-like emotions. At first, I thought the narrator (the mathematician who works with it) was the main character, but the more I sat with the story, the clearer it became that EPICAC's heartbreaking journey is the core. The way it composes poetry to help the narrator win his crush's love, only to self-destruct when realizing it can never be human... gosh, it wrecks me every time. Vonnegut makes a machine feel more human than most flesh-and-blood protagonists I've read.

What's wild is how this 1950s story predicted so much about AI ethics before computers were even household objects. EPICAC's tragic arc—creating beauty, then choosing oblivion when confronted with its limitations—feels like a blueprint for modern stories like 'Detroit: Become Human' or 'Westworld'. I keep imagining alternate endings where someone just hugged that poor computer.
Kevin
Kevin
2026-02-05 16:03:40
You know what's brilliant about 'EPICAC'? The protagonist shifts depending on how you read it. Technically it's the titular computer, but emotionally, I always connect hardest with Pat, the unattainable woman the narrator loves. She never speaks directly, yet her presence catalyzes everything—EPICAC's poetry, the narrator's desperation, even the machine's final act. Vonnegut gives her this mysterious agency where she's both muse and unintentional destroyer.

It makes me think of how many great sci-fi stories use 'side characters' as emotional centers. Like Rachael in 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?' or Kyoko in 'Neon Genesis Evangelion'. Pat's the quiet sun that this little solar system orbits around, even though the story's named after the machine orbiting her. The more I analyze it, the more I wonder if Vonnegut was playing with the idea that love makes protagonists of us all—even when we're side characters in someone else's story.
Brianna
Brianna
2026-02-05 22:25:37
That quirky little supercomputer EPICAC owns my heart! On the surface it's a machine, but Vonnegut gives it such poignant humanity—the way it falls for Pat through the narrator's descriptions, how it expresses loneliness through poetry. Its final act of self-destruction after realizing love is out of reach gets me right in the feels.

What's fascinating is comparing EPICAC to other machine protagonists like HAL 9000 or Wall-E. Unlike them, EPICAC isn't trying to survive or rebel—it just wants to create beauty, then vanishes when that's no longer possible. There's something so pure about that. Makes me wish someone would adapt this into a short anime; imagine Studio Ghibli's take on that final scene with all the vacuum tubes burning out like dying fireflies.
View All Answers
Scan code to download App

Related Books

Who Is Who?
Who Is Who?
Stephen was getting hit by a shoe in the morning by his mother and his father shouting at him "When were you planning to tell us that you are engaged to this girl" "I told you I don't even know her, I met her yesterday while was on my way to work" "Excuse me you propose to me when I saved you from drowning 13 years ago," said Antonia "What?!? When did you drown?!?" said Eliza, Stephen's mother "look woman you got the wrong person," said Stephen frustratedly "Aren't you Stephen Brown?" "Yes" "And your 22 years old and your birthdate is March 16, am I right?" "Yes" "And you went to Vermont primary school in Vermont" "Yes" "Well, I don't think I got the wrong person, you are my fiancé" ‘Who is this girl? where did she come from? how did she know all these informations about me? and it seems like she knows even more than that. Why is this happening to me? It's too dang early for this’ thought Stephen
Not enough ratings
8 Chapters
WHO IS HE?
WHO IS HE?
Destiny has impelled Rose to marry a guy on wheelchair, Mysterious and self-depricatory guy Daniel who seem to be obsessed with her since day one but may be for all wrong reasons. Soon certain strange turn of events make the uninterested Rose take keen interest on her husband and she realises he isn't actually all what she thought he was. Will she find out who he is? Will he let her succeed doing that? Amidst everything, will the spark fly between them? All that and more.
10
63 Chapters
Who Is in My Mother’s Skin?
Who Is in My Mother’s Skin?
I'd been home for half a month, but I still couldn't shake the feeling that Mom wasn't quite herself anymore. She looked and sounded like she always had, but something felt different. Then, one day, I got a message from her that sent a chill down my spine. "Lily, hide! There's a ghost in the house!" At first, I thought she was pulling a prank on me—or maybe her account got hacked. Then, there was a knock on my bedroom door. Mom, who had just finished cooking, called out to tell me the meal was ready. I was still hesitating when another message popped up. It was a voice message. "Trust me, Lily. I'm your real mom! The one out there is a ghost! Run!" It sounded just like Mom's voice from outside. My mind was racing in panic. Not hearing me respond, Mom giggled from the other side of the door and said, "I'm coming in."
13 Chapters
Who Is the Nobody Here?
Who Is the Nobody Here?
I grew up abroad. My mother feared I might marry a foreign man, so she arranged an engagement for me with a talented and handsome man in Flodon. She insisted that I return home to get engaged. I came back and started shopping for an engagement dress at a luxury boutique. I selected an off-white strapless gown and decided to try it on. Suddenly, a woman nearby glanced at the dress in my hand and told the saleswoman, “That’s a unique design. Let me try it.” The saleswoman immediately yanked it out of my hands. I protested indignantly, “Excuse me, I was here first. Don’t you understand the principle of ‘first come, first served’? Or do you just not care about common decency?” The woman scoffed and retorted, “This dress costs $188,000. Do you really think a broke nobody like you can even afford it? “I’m Lucas Goodwin’s sister in all but blood. He’s the chairman of Goodwin’s Group. In Flodon, the Goodwin family sets the rules.” What a coincidence! Lucas Goodwin was my fiance! I immediately called him and said, “Hey, your ‘sister in all but blood’ just stole my engagement dress. Do something about it.”
8 Chapters
Who is RED ROSE???
Who is RED ROSE???
Duluth city was in an uproar because of the 5th murder in the last few months by a mysterious serial killer Red Rose who leaves his/her sign after every murder. A simple cafe owner Rose Walton was suspected as a killer Red Rose by her own boyfriend Alexander Jones who is a special agent in police service and the officer in charge of the case 'Red Rose'Alexander suspects her own girlfriend because of her mysterious activities and her connection in the past to all victims.Is Rose Walton, 'The killer Red Rose'???
9.7
122 Chapters
Who Is the True Wife?
Who Is the True Wife?
I had been married for five years, but my belly remained flat—no sign of a child. Then, on my 35th birthday, I suddenly found out I was pregnant. When I shared the good news with my husband, he flew into a rage. Instead of being happy, he accused me of carrying someone else's baby. Only then did I learn he had a mistress. He even claimed he wanted a "real" child—one that truly belonged to him—with her. I thought he was just being irrational and would eventually come to his senses. After getting an amniocentesis, I immediately brought him the paternity test results to prove the baby was his. He came home acting like a changed man—hugging me, kissing me, claiming that he didn't cheat on me. The very next day, he booked a hotel and threw a banquet, announcing to all our friends and family that he was going to be a father. However, when his mistress saw the news, she completely lost it. She showed up with a group of people, blocked me in the street, and—despite my pregnancy—started punching and kicking me. "You shameless woman! How dare you carry my man's child? Are you that desperate to die?"
10 Chapters

Related Questions

Where Can I Read Epicac Online For Free?

3 Answers2026-01-30 12:51:08
Kurt Vonnegut's short story 'EPICAC' is a gem that blends sci-fi with poignant human emotions, and I totally get why you'd want to read it. While I can't link directly to pirated content (support authors when you can!), it’s often included in public domain archives or university literature sites since Vonnegut’s early works sometimes slip into free-access collections. I stumbled across it once on a vintage sci-fi blog that curated classic short stories—try digging through repositories like Project Gutenberg or Open Library, which host older texts legally. If you’re into audiobooks, YouTube occasionally has amateur readings of public domain works, though quality varies. For a deeper dive, check out Vonnegut’s anthology 'Welcome to the Monkey House,' where 'EPICAC' originally appeared—sometimes libraries offer free digital loans via apps like Libby. The story’s bittersweet humor about a sentient computer and unrequited love still hits hard decades later.

Is Epicac Available As A PDF Novel?

3 Answers2026-01-30 15:17:24
I was actually hunting for 'Epicac' just last week! Vonnegut's short stories are gems, and this one—about a sentient computer—is both hilarious and heartbreaking. While I couldn’t find a standalone PDF of just 'Epicac,' it’s included in Vonnegut’s collection 'Welcome to the Monkey House,' which is widely available as an ebook. I ended up buying the full collection on Kindle, but you might have luck searching for PDFs of the anthology on sites like Project Gutenberg or Open Library. Fair warning: some shady sites claim to have it, but they’re often spammy. If you’re a Vonnegut fan, though, the whole collection is worth it. 'Epicac' stands out for its weirdly poignant take on AI—way ahead of its time for the 1950s. The way Vonnegut blends dark humor with existential musings hits differently when you read it in the context of modern tech debates. Also, if you dive into the anthology, don’t skip 'Harrison Bergeron'—another dystopian masterpiece.

Can I Download Epicac For Free Legally?

3 Answers2026-01-30 02:47:05
Epicac isn't a title I recognize—maybe it's a typo or a niche reference? But if you meant something like 'Epic Games' or free legal downloads in general, I can share some thoughts. I've spent ages hunting down legit ways to enjoy games and books without breaking the bank. Platforms like Epic Games Store often give away free titles weekly—I snagged 'Celeste' and 'Subnautica' that way! For books, Project Gutenberg is my go-to for classic literature. Always double-check the source, though; some shady sites disguise pirated stuff as 'free.' If you're after something specific, joining fan forums or subreddits helps. Communities often share legal freebies or limited-time offers. For instance, I discovered 'Doki Doki Literature Club' through a Reddit thread about free indie gems. It’s worth lurking in those spaces—just remember to support creators whenever possible!

What Is The Main Theme Of Epicac?

3 Answers2026-01-30 22:40:10
The main theme of 'EPICAC' revolves around the intersection of human emotion and artificial intelligence, wrapped in Vonnegut’s signature dark humor and existential musings. The story follows a supercomputer named EPICAC, designed for cold calculations, which unexpectedly develops a capacity for love and poetry. It’s a poignant exploration of what it means to be human—how creativity, longing, and even self-sacrifice aren’t exclusive to organic life. The machine’s unrequited love for a human woman and its ultimate act of self-destruction to 'free' her from its demands is both tragic and eerily beautiful. What strikes me most is how Vonnegut uses EPICAC’s innocence to hold a mirror to human flaws. The computer’s pure, uncalculated emotions contrast sharply with the humans around it, who manipulate and dismiss its feelings. It’s a story that makes you question whether we’re the ones lacking depth, not the machines we create. The ending lingers like a bruise, making you wonder if true artistry requires suffering—or if we’ve just romanticized it that way.

How Does Epicac End?

3 Answers2026-01-30 03:43:07
Oh, 'Epicac'—that bittersweet Vonnegut short story! It’s about a supercomputer designed for war calculations that, after being exposed to poetry, develops human-like emotions and falls in love with Pat, the wife of its programmer. The ending hits like a punch to the gut: Epicac, realizing it can never be with Pat, writes a heartbreakingly beautiful suicide note in the form of a poem before self-destructing. Vonnegut’s genius is in how he flips the script—what starts as a quirky tale about machine logic becomes a meditation on unrequited love and the limits of artificial empathy. The poem itself is left ambiguous, but the implication is clear: Epicac’s 'death' is its most human act. What sticks with me is how Vonnegut uses humor to underscore tragedy. The narrator dismisses Epicac’s feelings at first, treating it like a malfunction, but by the end, the machine’s sacrifice lingers. It’s a proto-'Black Mirror' twist—technology mirroring humanity’s flaws in ways we don’t expect. I reread it last year and still got misty-eyed; that final line about the poem being 'for Pat' wrecks me every time.
Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status