A Question Of Our Future

As a global society with many different individuals, the world is always progressing at a fast rate. Many individuals have different perspectives which influence society as a whole. Being a society with so much diversity, many issues also arise. Over the past century the world has changed more-so than it has ever before. The population of the world has soared, the environment has been strained and society has modernized their everyday lifestyles. Many technological advances have been made in increasing the convenience and comfort of human beings. With the world changing at such a rapid rate, the state of the future is often contemplated. In Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel, Oryx and Crake, she portrays the human race dying out due to a huge catastrophe caused by Crake, a eccentric scientist. Contrarily, in Ayn Rand's novel Anthem, she depicts the future society as being dictated by small groups of people, however all individuality is lost. Both these books illustrate a possible future to the current state of the world and predict completely opposite outcomes. In Ayn Rand's Anthem, and Margaret Atwood's Oryx and Crake, the hope for an improved future is dependant on the role of man, organization of society and technology. However, neither of these aspects actually improve the state of the future and ironic as it may be, neither of the two different futures that are portrayed would be favorable for anyone.

The role of man in both books varies. In Oryx and Crake Snowman, whose real name is Jimmy, is the last man left on earth, as far as he is aware. He finds himself responsible for the Crakers, which are the genetically engineered forms of humans that Snowman's dead, genius friend Crake, created. The Crakers obey him because he is the only one with knowledge from the time "before" and they see him as a role model. The Crakers were released into the wild after mankind was demolished, so they have no real experience with living amongst real humans. The role of man in Oryx and Crake ends up being the role of the single man on earth, which is Snowman. He assumes the role that the Crakers have given him, as the wise one. They looked to him with their questions and their entertainment because of his obvious difference from them. In Anthem, the role of man is completely different. Partially because more than a single man actually exists, however, because the future described in this novel is far later in the future, a completely different society exists. The role of man is carefully chosen by a group of people called the Council of Vocations. The protagonist of this book, named Equality 7-2521, was chosen to be a street sweeper because of his extraordinary intelligence and physical advantage over others. In this society, being intelligent and superior to others in any way, is looked down upon. Equality 7-2521 is taught,

"It is forbidden, not to be happy. For, as it has been explained to us, men are free and the earth belongs to them; and all things on earth belong to all men; and the will of all men together is good for all; and so all men must be happy." (Rand 46).

Neither Snowman, nor Equality 7-2521 is happy with their roles. Equality 7-2521 proves this with his daring inventiveness. The only form of light in his society is candle light. He creates a box of electric light despite the fact that inventing this could cause the end of his life. Because individuality is completely forsaken, Equality 7-2521 commits many sins due to his natural human instinct.

"We were guilty and we confess it here: we were guilty of the great Transgression of Preference. We preferred some work and some lessons to the others." (Rand 22).

This is a simple example of the possible crimes that are committed by Equality 7-2521. Things that are normal for humans to feel have been banned for these people to even think about. Many people go insane with their disability to adhere to the rules of this world.

"All is not well with our brothers. [Ð'...] a quiet boy with wise, kind eyes, who cry suddenly, without reason, in the midst of day or night, and their body shakes with sobs they cannot explain. [Ð'...] but they scream in their sleep, and they scream: Ð''Help us! Help us! Help us!'" (Rand 47)

A great war triggered the Great Rebirth, which was the time in which this new society was created. The rules that were set down were created so that everyone lived peacefully and all men could cooperate with each other. Evidently, the characters in the book are miserable. In Oryx and Crake, Snowman is angry at Crake for leaving him alive and alone on the planet. He rages because he is thirsty for any sort of company.

"'Crake!' he yells. Ð''Asshole! Shit-for-brains!' [Ð'...]

Ð''You did this!' he screams at the ocean. [Ð'...] No answer, which isn't surprising." (Atwood 15)

The reason Crake invented the Crakers was because he wanted a society that was peaceful and harmonious, and he chose features in these creatures which would avert all problems. Crake planned for Jimmy to stay behind with the Crakers to watch over them. However, Crake's intent for a happier and better future is still unsatisfactory to Snowman. The protagonists in these two books are completely different in terms of their roles, and these roles were created to encourage harmony and peace. However, in neither of these books are these characters satisfied with their lives.

In Anthem and Oryx and Crake societies are organized in differing ways. In Anthem the society is very strict and controlled. Every aspect of human life is controlled by different councils. A council, itself, decides who will belong to which home or council. There is no freedom of expression and no free will. The citizens of this world are manipulated into believing that they are all indeed friends and are happy, however, it is rare to find one person that is, in reality, happy. There is a World Council which makes all the major decisions and the members of the Council of Scholars are the people who study science. They declare that there are no secret mysteries, about which Equality 7-2521 wonders. The citizens have no choice but to believe everything the House of Scholars tell them. Due to the loss of individuality, there is no use of the word "I", "me", "my", etc. No single man is allowed to act alone, change anything or show any signs of wanting to be different because there are severe consequences for that, including punishment by death. In Oryx and Crake all of society is wiped out due to a international pandemic and Snowman is the last man left alive. The "future's" society consists of him, Crakers, more