Man of Desolation in Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood

When studying history in modern-day society, people might often feel lucky to be born in this day and age一with phones, computers, artificial intelligence, and many other technological creations to improve our quality of life and make it more entertaining. Compared to a hundred years ago, life definitely does seem a lot easier, but of course, it does not come without any disadvantages. When inventing new technologies, the side effects of the invention are often overlooked. Nuclear weapons are a prime example of posing as a massive threat, not only to humans but also to the environment. 

The novel, Oryx and Crake (2003), written by Margaret Atwood, is a dystopian fiction set in a futuristic and post-apocalyptic world that explores the dangers of technological advancement and abuse of corporate power. The story revolves around a man named Snowman, or formerly known as Jimmy, struggling to survive as he is seemingly the last human alive after a devastating plague annihilated humanity. The events leading up to the present day are told through flashbacks of Snowman’s memories, starting from his childhood to how the plague began and how he ended up alone. Eventually, it is revealed that the plague was caused by the BlyssPluss pills created by his friend Crake in attempts to create a new and improved human race unbeknownst to the public. The world in Oryx and Crake is dominated by science and technology companies that focus on genetically modifying one species’ DNA using another species genetic material artificially. This field, known as “transgenic research”, also raises many concerns regarding morality by many researchers, including Jimmy’s mother, but was never challenged nonetheless. This topic is important because as technology is rapidly advancing, it is crucial to keep in mind the side effects of these creations in order to maintain stability and lessen conflict with the population as much as possible. At what point will science have gone too far and perhaps become the inevitable cause of humanity’s downfall?

Margaret Atwood, the author of Oryx and Crake (2003), is a Canadian writer born on November 18th, 1939, in Ottawa. Although controversial, she is well known for exploring gender, power and identity in her works. However, her most famous work up to this day is her dystopian novel, The Handmaid’s Tale (1985). The story revolves around a woman named Offred who lives in a totalitarian society that forces women to bear children due to declining birthrates caused by an environmental disaster.