The
structure of Cloud Atlas truly sets
the book apart. At first the shocking leaps forward in time were slightly
confusing; however, as the novel concludes, descending in reverse order, it
becomes apparent how critical the structure is in developing the characters whose
worlds share key similarities. It allows the reader to observe the connections
between characters and different time periods as the book progresses from the
past into the future. The names of the characters may change but some of their
significant qualities the issues they face remain the same. Cloud Atlas's complexity alone makes it
an AP worthy text. Throughout all of the different sections Mitchell develops his
many recurring themes allowing for the accumulation of enough evidence to write
an essay about almost any topic.
The
story begins and ends with the diary entries of Adam Ewing an “‘American Notary
of Letters & Law’” (477). In my first blogpost I discussed how Ewing
appeared to be a hypocrite. Even though he helps Autua, a black stowaway slave,
attain a position aboard the prophetess, other actions prove that he truly does
not believe in equality. The conclusion to Ewing’s story offers the reader a much
different perspective of the man. During his journey Ewing meets a preacher who
rants about how the “Highest of all the races on this ladder stands the
Anglo-Saxon. The Latins are a rung or two below. Lower still are the Asiatics-a
hardworking race, none can deny, yet lacking our Aryan bravery” (487). Ewing
struggles to accept such strong discriminatory perspectives and begins to
question the whole idea of colonization, pondering the thought that “Maybe the
Indians of the Societies & the Chathams would be happiest ‘undiscovered’”
(492). These thoughts are encouraged as Ewing observes the destruction of
discrimination aboard the Prophetess. One of the younger crewmembers, named
Rafeal, is subject to such horrid hazing that he takes his own life. Ewing is
struck by the event and the lack of a reaction from the Captain. In the end of
the story Ewing teeters on the brink of death, due to a long term poisoning
effort by his “friend” Dr. Henry goose. Yet, he is rescued by Autua slave he rescued
at the beginning of the story.
Autua’s
rescue of Ewing combined with Rafael’s suicide brings Ewing to strong
conclusions, which truly summarize key themes from the entire novel. He states “In
an individual, selfishness uglifies the soul; for the human species, selfishness
is extinction” (508). This thought echoes events from previous sections of the
book. Luisa Rey exemplifies the opposite of selfishness as she dedicates everything
to her pursuit of the Sixsmith report, which uncovers the wrongdoing of a
nuclear power company. Her fight against rampant corruption repeatedly brings
her within moments of death; however, she refuse to admit defeat until the
danger of the Swannekke B reactor is exposed. Ewing decides he must dedicate
himself to the Abolitionist cause “[…] because [he] owe[s his] life to a
self-freed slave & because [he] must begin somewhere” (508). Although he
imagines his father-in-law responding by saying “‘& only as you gasp your
dying breath shall you understand, your life amounted to no more than one drop
in a limitless ocean’” (509), Ewing states “Yet what is any ocean but a
multitude of drops” (509). This thought makes a connection with Sonmi’s
section. As Sonmi reveals to the archivist, she was aware to a degree that her
journey had been a set up by Unanimity, but that she wanted to finish her
declarations anyways. Regardless of the fact that the declarations are flaunted
by Unanimity as reasons to suppress the fabricants, Sonmi understands that the
distribution of her declarations could possibly influence future fabricants or
purebloods. Her action, her drop, could begin to allow fabricants to realize
the inequality that they face.
The
complexity of Cloud Atlas requires a reader
to dedicate too much time for it to be added directly to the curriculum but it
should be strongly suggested as a free choice book for ambitious readers.
Although I have now written four blogposts about it, I still feel as if I have
just scratched the surface of the themes found throughout the entire book.
You did a great job illustrating how the events in the last section transformed Adam Ewing from a passive character to someone with a cause. And while I agree with Cloud Atlas' impressive literary merit, I question its functionality on the AP test. With six separate stories, I think it's too easy to get lost on a tangent explaining the structure of the book and how the sections connect. In essay writing, do you think it would be easier to limit yourself by focusing on only one of the six stories, or take a step back and look at the overarching themes at the risk of being vague? Also, you mention Ewing, Luisa Rey, and Sonmi-451, the more obvious "heroes," in your post, but how do you think characters from other sections relate to book-wide themes, corruption and slavery or otherwise? Frobisher, for example, seems to try improve civilization or culture through his music, as evidenced on page 81 and 82, even if it is said in a critical tone.
ReplyDeleteYou've discussed it well, Owen, and your selection of quotations, which focus on the flaws and strengths of human nature, highlight the novel's meaning for me, as does the progression through time, which perhaps ultimately suggests that we will never totally improve as a species. But at least some people continue towards the goal of improvement.
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