Oryx and Crake: Themes
Written by Dunja Matic
After reading and enjoying two of Margaret Atwood’s novels, I feel confident in saying that I will finish Atwood’s MaddAddam trilogy. Similar to what she did in The Handmaid’s Tale, Atwood has managed to turn Oryx and Crake into a haunting novel that worries its readers about what the future of our world may hold. That is to say that overall, Oryx and Crake was an eye-opening novel that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. Atwood creates a lot of suspense and tension that keeps the reader wondering what will happen next, particularly in terms of when Jimmy will finally reveal what the biological catastrophe that has taken place is. Apart from the suspense she creates, Atwood also explores a huge range of themes throughout the novel. Two theme topics that stood out to me were the division of class and capitalism, both of which I will discuss in today’s post.
The division between classes
From the very first few chapters of the novel, Atwood presents a clear division of social class in Oryx and Crake’s society due to economic and/or social status. It is this division in the novel that serves the purposes of showing how even a progressive and futuristic society still has problems encountered by the people of society today. This divide is established with the Pleebanders and Compounders. The Compounders are seen as middle or upper class people who live in areas known as Compounds, which are essentially gated communities. Jimmy describes the Compounds as neighbourhoods “where the top people lived”(Atwood, 26) and that they “were for keeping [him] and [his] buddies nice and safe inside, and for keeping everybody else outside”(28). The “everybody else” in this quote refers specifically to the people who are known as Pleeblanders. These people are in much worse living conditions described as areas where “the addicts, the muggers, the paupers, the crazies”(27) live. Compounders hold their communities gated for the purpose of keeping Pleebanders out such that they won’t bring in any infections or diseases. It is also worth noting that each Compound is the property of a biotech company and only families who work for that company may reside in the Compound. Essentially this ensures that intelligent and working people live in each Compound. Later on in the novel this separation is furthered by the way the Compounders treat the Pleeblanders. For example, before going to the Pleeblands, Crake tells Jimmy that they must be vaccinated because “the Pleeblands are a giant Petri dish with a lot of guck and contagious plasm spread around”(287). Also, Crake actually tests the Blysspuss drug on Pleeblanders in places he refers to as “sex clinics [...] and whorehouses”(313). This division of Pleeblanders and Compounders is very relatable to our modern world. Many gated communities are essentially Compounds where fences are put to keep “undesirables” out and to gain social standing. Atwood clearly sums up the issues of social divisions and the exploitation of people who are of lower class.
Capitalism
Another theme topic that is explored throughout this novel is capitalism. Atwood takes the characteristics of capitalism to the extreme in attempts of criticizing the flaws that are present in our society today. Capitalism is a political and economic system where a country’s trade is controlled by private owners rather than the state. The society in which Jimmy lives in exhibits many capitalist traits. Privately owned companies known as HealthWyzer and OrganInc Farms run the government and create a divide between the capitalist and working class. These two opposing companies in this novel work to develop genetically engineered pigs. Each company has people known as the CorpSeCorps which are the society’s police force, showing that the government is run by the companies rather than the other way around. These corporations in Oryx and Crake visibly separate society into Compounds and Pleebands as I just discussed. Atwood’s main criticism of capitalism is that the companies who run the society are not interested in benefitting the people, but rather in gaining profit to benefit themselves. Even Jimmy's mother admits that they are simply looking for ways to “rip off a bunch of desperate people” (56). Essentially, Atwood provides readers with a warning to the dangers of capitalism and its effect of human relationships.
Final Thoughts
In the end, I’m really glad that I chose to read Oryx and Crake. As I’ve mentioned, not only was it an enjoyable read but it also taught me a lot and broadened my view on today’s society. Atwood’s ability to delve into multiple themes throughout the entire novel helped to keep things interesting and never allowed for room anything boring. Furthermore, her writing style served the great purpose of keeping her readers pondering as to what would happen next. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next series in the novel The Year of the Flood.
Sources
Atwood, Margaret. Oryx and Crake: a novel. Toronto: Vintage Canada, 2009. Print.
Well written Dunja! Your analysis of capitalism and the division between classes as theme topics was very apt. Your words on how gated communities are used to keep out undesirables and increase the social standing of its residents made me think of the real world. In third world countries, especially ones where there is a less prominent middle class and/or a high rate of crime, gated communities such as the ones you mentioned are more common. While I do think that an argument can be made in certain cases in defense of their existence, I definitely agree that they tend to be an issue in most cases.
ReplyDeleteYour analysis of capitalism in the novel was chillingly reminiscent. I could definitely imagine a scenario where a government could become corrupted by too much capitalist freedom, and I'm sure it has happened before. Health, food, and water related companies could easily exploit the populace if given too much free reign, since all three are necessities for human life.
Overall, this was a great piece of writing. Your comparisons were startlingly realistic!
This is a great post Dunja. You are so right; capitalism and the division between classes is a huge part of Oryx and Crake's story. Even a character seemingly devoted to creating the perfect society like Crake continues to exploit the lower classes to test out his drugs. Atwood truly does it again by taking a facet of our society and pushing it to a terrifying extreme.
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree with all of your points, I would argue that all of the themes in Oryx and Crake boil down to a basic comment on human nature. The fact that a futuristic and scientifically advanced society continues to have the same consumerist values and class divides is representative of how we as people remain the same. No matter the situation, there will always be people who try to exploit others, and people who are easy to exploit. This naturally leads to a society composed of a powerful and less powerful class.
Humans are not inherently moralistic. Atwood drives this point home again and again, with the chillingly clinical way Jimmy and Crake watch child porn and executions, to the way even the Crakers start to fall back into familiar patterns. The Crakers seem to gravitate towards religion even though they have no experience with it. This could be blamed on Snowman's influence, which definitely has an impact, but I think Atwood's point is that human nature is our downfall. Without a society that governs and enforces morals upon the population, we fall into chaos. This is evidenced by the way of life in the Pleeblands, as well as current affairs. Even within the constraints of an ethical government, people find a way to continue to be amoral, unethical and cruel to one another.
The over-reaching message that I got from Oryx and Crake is that our concept of utopia is impossible. As flawed beings, it is impossible for us to live 'perfect' lives.
Overall, excellent post on all counts, Dunja!