Image source: Blatantly stolen by your prof from a defunct role-playing game of the early 90s, complete with flying car from Blade Runner and a neo-Neo with high-tech eyes and armed girlfriend. In other words, nerd-candy!
Rayna left this for us to consider:
In Ready Player One, Cline presets many negative and positive aspects of cyberspace and online relationships. Clearly the OASIS seems better that the real world for kids like Wade who live in abusive homes and are social outcast.
The OASIS does offer some benefits, Wade is able to have a safe and engaging experience at school which he was unable to get in the real world. He also meets Aech who turns out to be a true friend even though the friendship is purely online. Despite highlighting these positives, Cline also makes it clear that living in the OASIS may not be completely healthy.
Although Wade meets his best friends and love in the OASIS, meeting them in person proves to lead to much deeper/more fulfilling relationships. Wade goes through a personal transformation throughout the novel, which is demonstrated both in and out of the game. Within the OASIS we see him act with honor and show morality. Outside of the OASIS, Wade actually begins to take care of himself. Ultimately, the true sign of his transformation comes at the very end of the book when Wade no longer has an interest in reentering the game.
Despite spending most of his life searching for Halliday's Easter eggs, when he finally wins the biggest prize of all, it no longer matters in comparison to the prize of real life and real friendship. Although set in a dystopian, cyber-punk setting, the themes throughout are relatively optimistic which I though made Cline's novel both entertaining and enjoyable.
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