After
completing five out of the six stories in Cloud
Atlas, I am in awe of how David Mitchell has woven numerous themes through
each of the stories. Although the novel as a whole travels through time, the problems
that plague the world of Adam Ewing persist through each tale. Cloud shows how racism morphs over the
course of time; however, it never disappears.
The
section titled “Sloosha’s Crossin’ an’ Ev’rythin’ After” brings the reader back
to a setting similar to that of Adam Ewing’s tale; yet, it is set hundreds of
years in the future. Society has reverted to its simple roots after an event known
as the fall. The peaceful Valleysmen live in fear of the “[…] painted savages […]”
(240) the Kona. In the Valleysmen society, “[…] if you stole another’s life no
un’d barter nothin’ with you nor see your nor nothin’ ‘cos your soil was so
poisned you may give ‘em a sickness” (301). The similarities between: the conflict
between Valleysmen and the Kona and the conflict between the Moriori and the Maori,
in the “Pacific Journal of Adam Ewing, are striking. Through this parallel,
Mitchell suggests that time truly does not bring an end to such problems. As
long as there is a need for a ruling structure, societies will turn to both violent
and peaceful solutions.
+The
most rattling scene in the second section of the Orison of Sonmi-451 offers the
reader an idea of how her corpocratic society has continued the reign of
discrimination. Rather than forcing lower strata purebloods to “[…] work the
factory line? Process the sewage? Feed the fish farms? Xtract oil and coal […]”
(326), Unanimity manufactures fabricants designed for each task. They condition
the fabricants to believe that Xultaion on the island paradise awaits them
after their twelve years of service, but they do not fulfill this promise.
Instead the expiring fabricants are destined for a “[…] slaughterhouse
production line [...] manned by figures wielding scissors, sword saws, and
various tools of cutting, snipping and grinding” (343). To prevent the opportunity
of rebellion Unanimity breeds fabricants to work as mindless slaves. Unaware of
the fact that they will eventually become the “[… the] liquefied biomatter”
(343) used to create more fabricants and to feed the new fabricants and rest of
the society. How Unanimity abuses the fabricants so mercilessly is shocking as
they are basically a step away from becoming a “human” like Sonmi.
The
end of the “Ghastly Ordeal of Timothy Cavendish” gives the reader a startling
perspective on our maltreatment of the elderly. Cavendish explains how the
elderly “[…] commit two offenses just by existing. One is Lack of Velocity. [They]
drive too slowly, walk too slowly, talk too slowly[… Their] second offense is
being Everyman’s memento mori. The world can only get by comfy in shiny-eyed
denial if we are out of sight” (361). Cavendish’s
depressing narrative about his time stuck in the Aurora house truly forces the
reader to really question the depth of their offenses. Although their offenses
may not be severe, their sentence is unwilling confinement. Mitchell’s use of
Cavendish’s experience being held captive forces the reader to consider the way
we treat our elderly.
Cloud Atlas clearly
describes how issues such as discrimination will continue to plague societies
forever. Mitchell allows the reader to consider how the problems appear in
various societies and how they deal with them. Societies must continue to
address discrimination in its various forms to prevent its harmful effects.
A thoughtful discussion and analysis of the thematic links between the various sections of the novel. Certainly, mankind looks pretty grim in the novel based on what characters are willing to do to each other.
ReplyDeleteDo you see Mitchell as offering anything to counter the inherent darkness of mankind?
Many of the characters offer hope for mankind as they are willing to make great sacrifices for what they believe in. For example Luisa Rey is almost certain that the Swannekke B reactor company is responsible for the death of Robert Sixsmith. Yet, she is fearless in her investigation of their corruption. During Sonmi's journey with Hae-Joo she has an inkling that their journey is set up by Unanimity, however, she completes her Declarations anyways because she understands that they will be expressed everywhere and could possibly cause citizens to understand the problems plaguing their society.
ReplyDeleteI thought that you did a nice job describing the themes and the different discriminations. The discrimination and maltreatment of the elderly in the future seems quite harsh. I do believe that it makes somewhat of sense that they would be poorly treated in the future because of their slow speeds; as time goes on, people are creating ways to move and do actions faster and faster. With the older generations, it is difficult for them to move and learn at such speed.
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