This story was published in the 1990s, when many people were experiencing the onset of the Information Age and its subsequent anxieties. What anxieties might this story bring up in the 2020s?

What is the purpose of Ben’s character in the story? Is he another protagonist? Is he an antagonist? Does he even qualify as a character, or is he more of a symbol? Explain using evidence from the story.

Describe Annie’s emotional shifts in the story. How has witnessing Ben’s reverse evolution changed her? How has she remained the same?