Margaret Atwood s Oryx And Crake - 1113 Words

In Margaret Atwood’s Oryx and Crake, she describes a frightening dystopian futuristic society that consists of the compounds and the pleeblands. The compounds are home to â€Å"wealthier† class, that work in industrial plants during the day and enjoy the shopping malls and fancy dining at night. The pleeblands are nearly the exact opposite. Snowman, the main character of the novel and former inhabitant of the compounds, describes them as disease infested, drug ridden ghettos. These two communities could not be further separated. Unfortunately, it appears as if Margaret Atwood’s dystopia is upon us. In Slavoj Zizek’s Violence, we are reminded of the time period just several years ago right after Hurricane Katrina, when the city of New Orleans†¦show more content†¦Zizek is trying to address a systemic problem of objective violence that is a result of global isolation and division. He writes on page 102, â€Å"This new racism of the developed is in a way much more brutal than the previous ones: its implicit legitimisation is neither naturalist (the ‘natural’ superiority of the developed West) nor any longer cultural (we in the West want to preserve our cultural identity), but unabashed economic egotism. The fundamental divide is one between those included in the sphere of (relative) economic prosperity and those excluded from it†(102). This quote perfectly describes the global epidemic that we now face, where the global community is so fixated on building walls and turning our heads to those who do not fit our mold. What is more frightening, however, is that economic egotism along with racial and sociological isolation is happening on a domestic basis. It’s not as simple as national pride and desire to keep our cultural intact, as Zizek notes. Rather, in the United States, seen first hand in New Orleans, there is a blatant rejection for those who are not on the same economic and social platform as ou rselves(102). In Oryx and Crake, Margaret Atwood illustrates a fantastical world with compounds and pleeblands. Over the course of the book the reader is given many images of the pleeblands. A good example is whenShow MoreRelatedMargaret Atwood s Oryx And Crake1509 Words   |  7 PagesChildhood in Margaret Atwood’s Oryx and Crake Childhood is a reoccurring theme in Margaret Atwood’s novel Oryx and Crake. Children often grow up and become unique individuals based upon their own morals and values, however their later lives are largely influenced by their childhood experiences and those who played significant roles in their lives. Atwood describes the childhood of two characters. One being Jimmy, who is also known as Snowman and another being a girl by the name of Oryx. The novelRead MoreMargaret Atwood s `` Oryx And Crake ``1552 Words   |  7 PagesAmerican education system, there is often an emphasis placed more on math and science, rather than the arts. Similar to Marc Slouka’s central argument in â€Å"Dehumanized†, Atwood agrees that capitalism has led to a culture where it is almost shameful to pursue the arts and humanities. This conflict is reflected in Margaret Atwood’s Oryx and Crake, where the protagonist struggles to clutch onto the seemingly intangible value of the art s amidst a capitalist society where scientific innovation is encouraged.Read MoreMargaret Atwood s Oryx And Crake1428 Words   |  6 PagesChildhood is a reoccurring theme in Margaret Atwood’s novel Oryx and Crake. Children often grow up and develop into unique individuals based upon their own morals and values however their later lives are largely influenced by their childhood and those who were around them. Atwood dives into the childhood of two characters Jimmy who is also known as Snowman and a young girl by the name of Oryx. The novel follows the characters back and forth between childhood and adulthood and it is made clear whatRead MoreAnalysis Of Oryx And Crake Biography1217 Words   |  5 PagesOryx and Crake Biography Author/Author Background: Personal: Margaret Atwood, the proud writer of numerous award-winning novels including The Blind Assassin, The Tent, or Oryx and Crake, originated in Ottawa, Canada on November 18th, 1939. She pursued writing at a young age and stuck with it. Education: Margaret graduated from Victoria College at the University of Toronto in 1961 and worked toward her master’s degree over the course of the following year. Also, throughout her line of employmentRead MoreMargaret Atwood : A Social Activist1225 Words   |  5 PagesMargaret Atwood: a Social Activist Through Feminist Literature The 1980s signified the continuation of an era of social and political upheaval in the United States of America. At the forefront was a socially conservative agenda that aimed to rescind women’s rights only ratified less than a decade before, a marked display of the nation’s desire to uphold traditional values that defined the preceding generation (Franà §oise). Among the devastating political climate, however, was Margaret Atwood:Read MoreAnalysis Of Oryx And Crake By Margaret Atwood1321 Words   |  6 Pagesrighteous and unrighteous characteristics of individuals. Having said that, ethics plays a significant role in Margaret Atwood’s novel, Oryx and Crake. The world in which Oryx and Crake are presented differs from our own. The lifestyle throughout the novel demonstrates the value and importance of ethics in one’s life and how it can effortlessly lead to a tragedy. In the novel, Margaret Atwood focuses on the excess of the lack of moral responsib ility and freedom showing that as much as science can helpRead MoreGenetically Modified Organisms By Margaret Atwood926 Words   |  4 Pagesorganisms? Margaret Atwood shares her view on GMOs in Oryx and Crake. Atwood often expresses distaste for these altered organisms through her examples of pigoons and other genetically modified foods, which are still relatively new in our society. Despite more commonly occurring dislike from Atwood, she sees a few positives to GMOs. Although GMOs can increase food supply with higher yields, genetically modified organisms should be regulated to a certain extent for the sake of society s overall wellbeingRead MoreAnalysis Of Oryx And Crake By Margaret Atwood2021 Words   |  9 PagesMargaret Atwood expression on her views with education in her book Oryx and Crake shows the conflicting battle between two disciplines; science vs. humanities. Atwood describes sciences and humanities by dividing between social aspects as well as how they are viewed in society and how our education places us in this society. In Oryx and Crake, Atwood uses the terms words person and numbers person to describe the intellect of a person that places them into a category that ultimately shapes howRead More Knowledge as a Double Edged Sword in the novels Oryx and Crake as well as A Canticle for Leibowitz4038 Words   |  17 Pagesas arming us with the tools to completely eradicate all life. In the novel of Oryx and Crake, a slightly more advanced civilization than ours, where biotechnology has brought numerous wonders to the world is brought into perspective. This civilization, wrought by corruption, has eliminated disease, and now is making synthetic viruses in order to cash in on the destruction, the perfect scheme. One of the protagonists, Crake, discovers this scheme, and with this knowledge, seeks to destroy the corruptedRead MoreThe Year Of The Flood By Margaret Atwood1993 Words   |  8 PagesENG4U - Interim ISU Progress Report The book I have chosen to read for my ISU is Margaret Atwood’s ‘The Year of the Flood’. The book has 434 pages in total and I am currently on page 170. The book is not hard to read, but the fact that it switches from different times and perspectives every chapter, which are not consistent or within a certain pattern occasionally makes it confusing. This book is also different from the books I am used to reading, giving me a unique and interesting change in perspective