Oryx and Crake: A Successful Depiction of Loneliness and Isolation

Margaret Atwood's speculative fiction novel, Oryx and Crake, portrays a possible future for humankind through the integration of present-day technology and science fiction. She explores and exploits the flaws of human nature while postulating on potential consequences.

The novel depicts a world in the near future that has genetically engineered animals, shortage of natural resources, and various diseases. In doing so, Atwood shows the dangerous results of humanity's obsession with technology through the extinction of humans by a deadly virus engineered by the diabolical genius, Crake.

The eradication of humans left the narrator, Snowman, as the lone survivor. Unfortunately, as the only human, he suffers from an excessive loneliness, which can have drastic effects of the psychological mind and physical body. Despite the extremities of her work, Atwood's portrayal of Snowman, the lonely and psychotic narrator stuck in a world void of other humans, accurately represents someone isolated from any social contact.

His situation parallels that of prisoners held in complete isolation, who suffer from extreme depression, unbearable anxiety, and especially distortion of time and reality.

Social contact is an essential factor in preserving a person's sanity and Snowman's loneliness stems from his social isolation. Atwood explicitly states that Snowman yearns for interaction with another human being. "

He feels the need to hear a human voice-a fully human voice, like his own. Sometimes he laughs like a hyena or roars like a lion-his idea of a hyena, his idea of a lion" (Atwood 10).

His yearning for companionship shows that he feels a sense of loneliness that compels him to act in strange ways, such as laughing like a hyena.

This concept that friendship is necessary is prevalent throughout modern society. According to Hara E. Marano, Editor-at-Large for an online scientific magazine Psychology Today, "friendship is a lot like food. We need it to survive. What is more, we seem to have a basic drive for it."

Marano supports the idea that companionship is essential for survival, which provides a potential explanation for Snowman's desire to "hear a human voice" (10).

He exclaimed, "Things happened, I had no idea, it was out of my control! What could I have done? Just someone, anyone, listen to me please!" (Atwood 45). Snowman's outbursts represent his release of lonely frustration and his innate desire for friendship. Without human relationships, according to Margaret Mary Wood, author of Paths of Loneliness, the individual feels a sense of "inadequacy."

Sources:
http://www.oryxandcrake.co.uk/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oryx_and_Crake
http://psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-20030821-000001.html