Oryx And Crake By Margaret Atwood Essay

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A dystopia is a hypothetical society inhabited by those who think it undesirable; it is often created to comment on the customs in contemporary societies. Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood is an example of a critical dystopia. Atwood constructs an apocalyptic, futuristic world based on present day principles, and through ‘speculative fiction’, she highlights the flaws of her dystopia and stimulates the reader to question their own society and its future prospects. Atwood achieves this by exploring two major themes: firstly, the ethicality of the avaricious nature of humans in exploiting the general population by creating a cult of perfection, which is manifested in the profit hungry corporations; and secondly the importance of individuality in relation to the reconstruction of culture, embodied by the protagonist, Jimmy. Through these ideas, it can be demonstrated that the author uses the …show more content…
The turn of the 21st century marked immense technological advancements in the field of genetic engineering and an increasing societal investment on beauty and health products. This contextual topic is communicated through Atwood’s setting for Oryx and Crake. The dystopian setting is one in which hegemonic corporations exercise control over its community in order to gain a financial advantage with complete disregard for humanitarian concerns. The corporations, using their scientific edge, create products and manipulate people’s desires to be a healthier, more beautiful, younger version of themselves in an “extreme marriage of science and capitalism” (Fowler, 2013). The setting Atwood devises lets her reflect on her own wanton society and by exemplifying these issues to a dystopic magnitude; she is able to caution readers to be vigilant of their own
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