2009,
Form B. Many works of literature deal with
political or social issues. Choose a novel or play that focuses on a political
or social issue. Then write an essay in which you analyze how the author uses
literary elements to explore this issue and explain how the issue contributes
to the meaning of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot.
A Discussion of
Social Issues in Margaret Atwood’s Oryx and Crake
Throughout
Margaret Atwood’s novel Oryx and Crake, a discussion of several of
today’s vices is examined and their negative impact on the world is implied by
the end of the book. Through Snowman’s memories, developed through flashbacks
and imagery, Atwood develops the argument that both experimentation with
genetics and cross-species, as well as more common vices such as pornography,
have extreme consequences and are driving the human race towards disaster. This
argument is developed in a reverse-chronological manner and demonstrates the result
of an excess of each of these things. These social issues play a key role in
Atwood’s book and are the reason for Snowman’s present life.
The
reverse chronology of the novel allows Atwood to effectively convey the
consequences of the actions which are explored later in the novel. Not even the
main character “know[s] which is worse, a past he can't
regain or a present that will destroy him if he looks at it too clearly” as he
looks back on the mistakes of the past and the resultant present (Atwood 23). The book starts with
a description of the land surrounding Snowman. The next page begins with the
introduction of a genetically-altered human. Only these humans are safe from
the tremendously intense ultraviolet rays from the sun, they are safe from the
toxic waters of the ocean, and they are safe from the other
genetically-engineered species that would rip an ordinary human being apart.
While each of these genetic changes allows for this new human cross-species to
survive in the new world, it is because of genetic experimentation that the
need for gene-altering arose. The impact of these experiments had wide-spread
consequences which could be seen in several aspects of life, such as media. The
magnitude of such interference with nature was highly anticipated by video
gamers. In fact, in Snowman’s past, there was a game called “EXTINCTATHON,
Monitored by MaddAddam” where “Adam named the living animals, MaddAddam names
the dead ones” and teenagers spent the day living out the negative effects of
genetic engineering (Atwood 281). The difference being that their experience
was a game and the actual companies were dealing with real life. Had national
corporations not spent years designing new viruses for warfare, new predators
for the environment and new types of livestock, all in a grand money-making
scheme, the need for a stronger and harm-resistant branch of humans would not
have been a necessity.
In
the end, it is extreme scientific experimentation which turns the world to
ash—literally. As Crake created a virus which would disintegrate all those
exposed to it, his success brought about the end of human existence as it was
known. His goal was to “break the link in time between one generation and the
next” so that it was “game over forever” for ordinary humans—eradicating the
vices of humanity (Atwood 364). While the presence of vices was eliminated, so
was mankind—all due to irresponsible creations in order to make more money. The
same issues are discussed in the media and amongst councils today. How far is
too far in the world of experimentation? This book serves as Margaret Atwood’s
commentary on this issue.
The
book also acts as her criticism on another issue: pornography. In the beginning
of Oryx and Crake, society is filled with different sexual innuendos and
a pornography overload. In a society not so different from the current one,
adults and teenagers alike were engaged in reckless sexual behavior—following
the trend as it currently leads. Child pornography was not frowned upon, but
rather looked forward to. Prostitution was openly accepted and even
occasionally encouraged. But each flashback that Atwood incorporated into her
novel about the irresponsible sexuality of men in this society was
strategically followed by an expression of Snowman’s misery following the end
of the world. He admits that “sex is like a drink, it's bad to start brooding
about it too early in the day”, therefore comparing sex to alcohol and
expressing his misery when thinking about sex (Atwood 12). Snowman also
remembers that his excessive indulgence in sexual behavior resulted in his
feelings that “sex was no longer what it had once been, though he was still as
addicted to it as ever”, again portraying the negative consequences of excess
sexuality (Atwood 297). Her negative view of such a vice was made clear—and in
today’s discussion is extremely relevant.
As
the irresponsibility of society today has far-reaching consequences—consequences
that cannot yet be seen—so too did the society in Atwood’s novel. Through
Snowman’s memories, Atwood develops the argument that both experimentation with
genetics and cross-species, as well as more common vices such as pornography,
have extreme consequences and are driving the human race towards disaster. Her
novel serves as a warning to corporations and societies today.
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