Oryx and Crake the Last Entry

I have learned so much from Atwood's dystopian novel Oryx and Crake and here are some of the main themes that I was able to summarize and relate to our real world. I was fully satisfied with the denouement of the plot and loved the ambiguous ending.

One of the main themes in Margaret Atwood's dystopian science fiction novel, Oryx and Crake, is the theme of corruption. Some corruptions are directly related as some are underminded and symbolized. Corruptions can be found in the setting of the book, as related to environment, corporations or genetic enginneering. Other examples of corruptions can be found in the morals of the characters. Firstly, it is difficult to miss the fact that this novel takes its place in a dystopian future where environment has been severely damaged due to the exploitation of resources and many different developments. Environmental corruption has a significant role, initiating constant internal and physical conflict within Jimmy himself. Wild cliamte, water pollution and extreme exposure of ultra violet light from the sun due to the puntured ozone layer all symbolize environmental corruptions. These corruptions form the setting of the novel, bring struggles to the one and only human being left, Jimmy. Secondly, the society has fallen apart, including the ridiculous genetic engeering and the profit-centered corporations. Genetically modified animals are used for organ transplant, however, these modified organ can only be transplanted with a repect amount of money. Most of the families are part of the compounds or different types of corporations. Without certain amount of income and financial stability, it is unlikely to be part of the society in the world of Oryx and Crake. These corrupted society force residents to be part of the compounds. As the difference between rich and poor deepends, the profit-based corporation provide more services for the wealthy portion of the population. Lastly, the moral and ethical corruptions can be examined in the teeange life of Jimmy and Crake. They do not have any sense of guilt as they watch child pornography and suicidal videos. These actions, that we as people in present society question our ethics upon, are simultaneously enjoyed and exposed to teenagers in the future society of the novel. It is assumed that these moral-questioning acts are no longer questions in the future and moral corruptions have occured where moral standards are severely compromised by the people of the futuristic setting of the novel. These settings, charaterizations and conflicts fully illustrate Atwood's intended theme of corruption in her novel Oryx and Crake.

Oryx and Crake Eighth Entry

Crake visits Jimmy as he was traumatized by his mother's death. Jimmy was spending his time in vain, lost in the memory of his long lost mother in the past. Crake takes him to pleebland, where is like the city in the world of Oryx and Crake. Crake introduces Jimmy to his life, career and asks if he wants to work with him in Paradice. Jimmy, drunk with the unfamiliar atmosphere and the drinks, accepts and moves into the bubble dome where Crake works with many brilliant specialists. Crake explains the Blyss Pluss pills and how he is going to bring regulated and standarized world with controlled population growth and selection of genetically engineered offspings for next generations. There, Jimmy meets the crakers and his love, Oryx, who is an assistant working under Crake.

The big twist comes as we figure that there were viruses in the pills he was giving out to different various categories of population. A massive plague starts with high death and infection rate and the whole world falls apart in corruption. Jimmy who is the only one with the antidote that Crake has secretly provided to him and is left in the bubble dome all on his own along with Crake's creation also known as the "Crakers". The climax of the novel seems to be this part of spreading plagues and it is very dramatic indeed as Atwood carefully crafted and built the plot for the final dynamic fall.

Oryx and Crake Seventh Entry

As It is getting near the end of the book, I feel like I am starting to understand the author's intend of writing this novel. As I researched, she is an author who is one of the top Canadian writer for academic writings. She has wrote another dystopian futuristic novel, where religion of North America has gone extreme, changing the lives of everyone. I see the dedication she has towards this novel as I read more and more. It is quite clear that she has spent a great amount of time researching for scientific terms and knowledge she used writing her book.

As Jimmy arrived at the bubble dome, he starts remembering the past days when the bubble dome was called the paradice.
It seems like this is going to be his last flashback and I am quite excited to finally know about the Character Crake and Oryx and their deeds in the past.

Oryx and Crake Sixth Entry

The novel unit is coming near to the end and everyone seems to be in panic to finish their books. In fact, I'm in panic, finishing the blog posts. Some of my friends aren't even enjoying the book they chose which I feel sympathy for them. I remember when I was choosing the book, I wanted to avoid history and war related novels which narrowed it down to Atwood's two novels and The Life of Pi. Without any regrets, I am certainly glad to study this novel as a group in our English class.

Snowman decides to march on a journey to find food and supplies for his survival. Leaving behind the children of crake, he is on an asphalt road. He suffers from the ultraviolet rays and is constantly in fear from the extreme exposure of ultraviolet ray from a hole in the ozone layer, and genetically motified beasts such as volvogs and pigoons. He finally arrives at a house where he obtain food and suppies. The residents are lying dead on the house, he is slightly scared but at the same time, used to the scenery. He feels somewhat hollow and feels as if the missing child of the household is himself.

Snowman's detailed description simulate imagery in the heads of the readers. As I was reading this part, I felt as if I was seeing the images he was seeing. I saw the destroyed house with shattered windows, empty roads with cracks and dry grains of sand. The author's intentional vivid description was enough to drew my attention through the present world of Snowman, which I secretly thought was less entertaining than the past of Jimmy.

Oryx and Crake Fifth Entry

Indeed, Vancouver has the best weather for reading a novel. I decided to madly read from friday night. Saturday turned out to be the best weather in months, sun shining for the whole day. Yet, I decided to stay home and intensely turned the pages. Actually, the book is thrilling, a real page turner, but after looking at the weather forecast for this week, I instantly regretted for not spending my saturday more wisely (I meant in more entertaining ways)

However, I must admit, I'm starting to fall in love with Oryx and Crake. This kind of novel was exactly what I was looking for, but simultaneously, very original and different from other dystopian novels I have encounted before. The characters, Oryx and Crake is reveiled in more detailed characteristics as Snowman has flashback of the time when he was "Jimmy".

Especially, the childhood of Oryx is presented in a long series of events in chronological sequences which I found very depressing. Oryx was a girl from a poor family background, who was sold to Uncle En for different various types of labours including sex, despite the fact she was only 12. This seemed very unrealistic from certain perspective, but the fact that these incidents has actually existed throughout the history and is still continued to this day in some parts of the world made me feel very bitter.

Atwood touches on not only the environmental issues of today with the setting, she also comments about the social conflicts that is underminded by the society and the trends people's action as the science develops through her smooth interconnected flashbacks Snowman has, changing his name to "Jimmy". I am quite impressed by the author's intend and insight in writing this book and I am greatly satisfied for choosing Oryx and Crake for this unit.

Oryx and Crake Fourth Entry

As I read more, I saw the internal conflict in Jimmy's family in his flashback. Jimmy's mother runs away from home along with Jimmy's pet and his best friend, Killer, Rakunk which caused grief for him. His father is also frustrated from the fact she destroyed his computer as she left.

Then I was introduced to the mysterious character, Crake, who we expect is the creator of the dystopian society Jimmy is living in the present. Crake's odd behaviors and personality caught my attention as I got to know more about him. I saw a great contrast between Jimmy and Crake in their lives and their personality. I am looking forward to learn more about Crake who seems like he is going to be Jimmy's best friend and the mysterious Girl, Oryx, who isn't illustrated in details yet.

I have spent my whole day yesterday, just reading in my bed. I guess I don't regret it since the Vancouver weather is perfect for indoor, educational activities such as reading.

Oryx and Crake Third Entry

As I was researching about the environmental degradation for the Pecha Kucha media presentation, I found myself highly interested by the Atwood's perspective towards the current trends of science development from the setting and the main conflict in her novel. 

The novel takes it's setting in a dystopian future where severe damage has been done to the environment due to the uncontrolled genetic engineering modification. From the severe environment damage, the humanity's standards of living are greatly compromised.  Especially, water pollution has a great emphasis in the setting of Oryx and Crake, relating to a serious plague that has left the protagonist, Jimmy who might be the last man of humanity. 

I came to a moment of self realization about the connection between the setting of the novel to our real world. Humans continue to push technology forward at the expense of the environment. Of course, our collective reason for doing so is to make our lives more comfortable. However, many studies and images easily found on internet reveal the damage that we are doing to the environmental in this pursuit of comfort. Atwood specifically illustrated her setting and the conflict that deals with the environmental problems that is starting to appear as our technology leaps forward with time.