Butler - Robot Boy

“Robot Boy” talks about a young boy who was born a robot. The parents, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, are originally overjoyed to find out that they are going to have a child. However this changes when the child is born. The child does not have skin; rather he is made of tin and has tubes and wires sticking out of his head. The doctor informs the couple that the newborn child is not human rather the child is a robot. The doctor also believes that the father is actually a microwave blender. This infuriates Mr. and Mrs. Smith, causing the couple to ultimately hate each other. The poem ends by telling the reader that Robot Boy ultimately grows up to be a young man, however he is often mistaken for a trash can.

“Robot Boy” brings up a lot of ideas that can be easily found in Tim Burton’s life. The major issue brought up in “Robot Boy” that can be found in Burton’s life is Burton’s neuroses about outsiderness. Robot Boy is definitely an outsider. His parents, the people who should ultimately love him, hate Robot Boy. Robot Boy is not even seen as the person he truly is; rather he is seen as a trashcan, and that kind of life seems like it is very awful. Robot Boy also does not have a strong connection with his parents, as shown through Mr. and Mrs. Smith’s total hatred towards their son and Mr. and Mrs. Smith’s failed relationship due to their son. Burton also felt like an outsider as a child due to his mischievous nature and his hatred of the suburbs. Also, Burton did not have a strong connection with his parents as a child, which is seen through the fact that Burton moved with his grandmother as a child. This biographical criticism is often found throughout Burton’s works, and “Robot Boy” is no different.

Another feature that is prevalent in Burton’s works is Carl Jung’s idea of the archetype. Burton often develops characters around archetypes, and the characters of “Robot Boy” definitely are developed around archetypes as well. Jung believes in the Self, and the Self is constantly trying to become whole through individualism. Robot Boy presents an interesting look at the Self, as Robot Boy cannot feel whole without being plugged into the wall. Because of this, Robot Boy presents an interesting look at the Self because Robot Boy is not actively looking to become whole, rather he becomes whole when he comes to life after being plugged into an electrical socket.