17.3. "To Serve Man" Technology and Power

A famous Twilight Zone retells "To Serve Man." 

"To Serve Man" by Damon Knight

Today's story is most famous as an episode of the classic science fiction television show The Twilight Zone, but started as a short story. The producers of the show made significant changes to the way that the Kanamit looked (more like Frankenstein and less piggy).

Question to be answered: Consider the following quotation from the story. Click "Read More"

          The doctor again faced the delegation.  “Many such experiements were made,” he said, 

“and my colleagues and myself are satisfied that the mechanisms are effective.  Now -- ” he 

turned to the Kanama -- “I shall ask our distinguished guest to reply to the question put at the last 

session by the delegate of the U.S.S.R. -- namely, what is the motive of the Kanamit people in 

offering these great gifts to the people of Earth?”

          The Kanama rose.  Speaking this time in English, he said, “On my planet there is a 

saying, „There are more riddles in a stone than in a philosopher‟s head.‟  The motives of 

intelligent beings, though they may at times appear obscure, are simple things compared to the 

complex workings of the natural universe.  Therefore I hope that the people of Earth will 

understand, and believe, when I tell you that our mission upon your planet is simply this -- to 

bring you the peace and plenty which we ourselves enjoy, and which we have in the past brought 

to other races throughout the galaxy.  When your world has no more hunger, no more war, no 

more needless suffering, that will be our reward.”

          And the needles had not jumped once.

What turns out to be ironic about the Kanama's speech? (Your paragraph should explain what the humans think the Kanama's speech mean, and then what it turns out to actually mean.)