-
Essay / Maddaddam as a Biblical Allegory
The MaddAddam series by Margaret Atwood can best be described as a commentary on all aspects of society. One of the most prevalent themes in Atwood's series is religion, which is evident in the names she gives to different aspects of her society (God's Gardeners) and in the many biblical references and symbols such as the snakes used in Scales and Tails, tempting their morally corrupt clients. In each of the individual novels, many overtly religious aspects are integrated, but when thinking about the series as a whole, the obvious biblical plot becomes clear. Atwood uses symbolism, character development, and tone to develop the MaddAddam series as a biblical allegory. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Starting with Oryx and Crake, plot and symbolism are used to set up the events that unfold. The novel begins with the idea that everyone in the futuristic society is trying to play God, through genetic experimentation and excessive scientific "progress". Already we are beginning to see how this society imitates that of the Old Testament, in the fact that people begin to believe themselves invincible; act selfishly and without morality. Then the flood is introduced. The idea of the flood is derived from the flood in which God allowed Noah to survive with the animals destined to repopulate the earth. In Atwood's Flood, Jimmy is assigned to survive by Crake and is supposed to take care of the Crakers, who must repopulate the world. In the novels, Crake obviously fulfills the role of God, taking charge of the life and death matters of the human race. in his own hands. He creates a new race of humanoid Crakers and appears almost omniscient when he allows Jimmy to kill him and raise this new race of creatures. He is also worshiped as a God in the post-Flood world. "Yes. Well, nice, Crake. Please stop singing or I can't continue the story", the Crakers are allowed to think lovingly of their creator while Jimmy knows Crake's true nature; it allows them to see their creator as a merciful and kind god, rather than a vengeful god (Oryx and Crake 64). In this way, he acts much like Jesus in the New Testament. Jimmy's story that he is a flawed individual, who does not act the way everyone expects him to behave. Atwood portrays him as a portrait of Jesus Christ, who came to save humanity, no. like a god, but as an imperfect hero After the flood, Jimmy acts as a spiritual guide and teacher to the Crakers, teaching them their history and encouraging them to ritualize and worship Crake and Oryx in. as long as Jesus Christ appears in MaddAddam, when he sacrifices his own life for the betterment of society by saving Toby, who then teaches the Crakers to write. Atwood also develops the biblical mood of the series through her use of tone. The atmosphere and mindset of God's Gardeners creates an extremely religious tone for the entirety of The Year of the Flood. “The task of saving the chosen species was given to Noah,” Atwood alludes to the Bible, “keeping God's beloved species safe until the waters of the Flood had receded” (The Year of the Flood 90). Lines like these help reinforce not only the biblical references in Atwood's novels, but also the story of Jimmy acting as Jesus Christ. Atwood also continues the tone of Oryx and Crake, before integrating the teachings of God's Gardeners, with concepts such..