The
three novels that we have read so far in AP English all end with conclusions
that have left me unsatisfied. I understand that their endings add to the final
development of their themes, yet, none of the endings truly compare to the
endings found in Cloud Atlas. In the last
pages of each part of the sextet, David Mitchel completes each character’s story
with final contributions to key themes.
Sloosha’s
Crossin’ An’ Ev’rythin’ After
“I
watched the clouds awobbly from the floor o’ that kayak. Souls cross ages like
clouds cross skies, an’ tho’ a cloud’s shape nor hue nor size don’t stay the
same, it’s a cloud an’ so is a soul. Who can say where the cloud’s blowed from
or who the soul’ll be ‘morrow? Only Sonmi the east an’ the west an’ the compass
an’ the atlas, yay, only the atlas o’ clouds.” (308)
As
I reread each ending it becomes increasingly apparent how they influence the
reader’s perception of the novel’s themes. Throughout the first five sections I
noticed the comet shaped birthmarks appearing on each main character. Yet, none
of the characters acknowledge the concept of reincarnation until Zachary does
in this section. As Zachary says a cloud’s shape and hue may vary it’s still a
cloud, which allowed me to begin to understand how the central characters in Cloud Atlas share a soul and possess key
similarities. One of the most striking illustrations of this concept was when
Frobisher begins to refer to himself as “Frobisher the stinker […] and
Frobisher the Composer […]” (469) just as Zachary does in his section. Both of
their characters struggle to do “the right thing” and continually question
their own behavior. Yet, their questioning is not necessarily a negative aspect
of their character as it demonstrates their consideration of what is right and
wrong.
The
Orison of Sonmi-451
“We
see a game beyond the endgame […] As Seneca warned Nero: No matter how many of
us you kill, you will never kill your successor.” (349)
When
the archivist and Sonmi first introduce the fact that her journey was arranged
and that declarations are flaunted by Unanimity as evidence for further
constriction of the rights of the fabricants, I was greatly dismayed. However,
Sonmi’s perspective convinces the reader that there still is hope her
declarations could have a positive impact. An idea can truly become a movement
when it is spread throughout a society. Regardless of how the declarations are
introduced, they are spread all throughout Sonmi’s society, which could have a
future impact. Sonmi’s use of Seneca’s warning illustrates how Corpocracy could
finally fail. They may kill all the fabricants they desire, yet, they will
eventually be succeeded and their successor may fail to carry out their work.
Societies can never last forever, as displayed by the presence of Zachary’s
story. Mitchell would have us believe they will cycle in an orbit as suggested
by the comet shaped birthmark found on every character.
The
Ghastly Ordeal of Timothy Cavendish
“Middle
age is flown, but it is attitude, not years, that condemns one to the ranks of
the Undead, or else proffers salvation. In the domain of the young dwells many
an Undead soul. They rush about so, their inner putrefaction is concealed for a
few decades, that is all.
Cavendish’s
tale truly offers a “ghastly” perspective on the consequences of aging and
joining the ranks of the elderly. He fights his forced captivity in the Aurora
House and finally achieves escape with two fellow captives. His successful
escape appears to suggest that age is not truly a number but rather an
attitude. Although Cavendish is not characterized as exceedingly brave or
strong, in fact the opposite may be true; he does not have an “Undead soul”.
Rather than admitting to the terrifying wrath of Nurse Noakes and company,
Cavendish constantly pursues escape even after he suffers a stroke. His
dedication in the pursuit of his goal is admirable and is paralleled in other
sections such as Luisa Rey’s.
Half
Lives: The First Luisa Rey Mystery
“Are molecules of Zedelghem Chateau of Robert
Frobisher’s hand, dormant in this paper for forty-four years, now swirling in
my lungs in my blood? Who is to say?” (436)
I
was not as impressed by the story of Luisa Rey. Her determined investigation of
the danger of the Swannekke B reactor and the corruption behind its
construction and operation was commendable. However, she had to be saved rather
often throughout her journey and never successfully outwitted her pursuers
alone. The ending to her tale offers a logical transition in the second section
of Robert Frobisher’s story and provides further evidence of reincarnation.
Letters
from Zedelghem
“Time
cannot permeate this sabbatical. We do not stay dead long. Once my Luger lets
me go, my birth, next time around, will be upon me in a heartbeat. Thirteen
years from now we’ll meet again at Gresham, ten years later I’ll be back in
this same room, holding this same gun, composing this same letter, my
resolution as perfect as my many headed sextet. Such certainties comfort me at
this quiet hour.” (471)
I
still puzzle over the ending to Robert Frobisher’s tale. It bothered me how
positive a light it paints on his decision to take his life. His certainty that
he would return, that the events captured in “Letters from Zedelghem” will
continue to occur, aligns with the theme of reincarnation being a cycle. Yet, this
does not qualify as proper justification for taking your life. Frobisher idea
that life should be spent like a firework, bright and fast, bothers me to a
degree. Although I enjoyed how Mitchell illustrates how problems such as
discrimination permeate all societies and how people will always fight such
problems, I did not understand how this allowed suicide to be acceptable.
The
Pacific Journal of Adam Ewing
“If
we believe that humanity may
transcend tooth & claw, if we believe divers races creeds can share
this world as peaceably as the orphans share their candlenut tree, if we believe leaders must be just, violence
muzzled, power accountable & the riches of the Earth & its Oceans
shared equitably, such a world will come to pass. I am not deceived. It is the
hardest of worlds to make real. Torturous advances won over generations can be
lost by a single stroke of a myopic president’s pen or a vainglorious general’s
sword.” (508)
The
concept of believing in such lofty goals for humanity would have stuck Ewing as
pointless at the beginning of his journey; yet, when Autua saves him from the
brink of death, Ewing’s perspective greatly changes. He shakes off the prejudicial
views held by the despicable men who surround him. Ewing understands that a
perfect world with just leaders and equitable sharing of resources is the
“hardest of worlds to make real”, but he is not intimidated by this reality.
The novel as a whole illustrates why one should have hope for humanity. Each
character, possessing the same soul, resists an aspect of their society and
fight for what they believe is just. Although their actions could easily be scraped
by a single malicious leader as Ewing notes, the book ends on a brighter note. Ewing
ends his journal with: “‘& only as you gasp your dying breath shall you
understand, your life amounted to no more than one drop in a limitless ocean!'
Yet what is any ocean but a multitude of drops” (509), giving the reader hope that
each person can have an impact on the world.
