oryx & crake .. 1

Write on (and be ready to discuss) any of the following topics: games, character development (Oryx, Crake, Snowman), the value of human life, ideals and morality versus reality and science, parenting, education, ethics and commercialization, security, language, gender/respect for women, history. INCLUDE A PICTURE. BLOG SHOULD BE APPROX. 250 WORDS.

Character development is a crucial concept, which is evident throughout the starting chapters of Margaret Atwood’s novel, Oryx and Crake. I find the transitions between the past and the present extremely helpful in understanding who Snowman really is. From the beginning, Jimmy is viewed as an innocent, yet an extremely intellectual child who places emphasis upon the acknowledgment of opinion, and character. From the very beginning he often states that he feels his parents don't really understand who he is. He expresses that he feels almost neglected when he states, "The two hormone-sodden love bunnies might have had the decency to do it in the garage, instead of rubbing Jimmy's nose in it all the time. They made him feel invisible (Atwood, 66). Atwood does a really good job demonstrating the segregation Jimmy endured in his childhood, by moving back in forth between Snowman’s past and the present. As concepts develop in the past, they are reflected in Snowman’s present thoughts and behaviors,which contribute directly to the development of both his character, and Jimmy’s.

Morality versus science within the first section of the book is a prominent factor, specifically within Jimmys parents relationship. Jimmy's mom continuously disapproves of Jimmy's fathers work. By genetically modifying animals in order to decrease the amount of flaws humans possess, she insinuates that he is being completely immoral. They often argue about this, and eventually it gets so out of hand that she leaves home without informing anyone. During one oftheir fights, she says to Jimmy's dad "why cant you get a job doing something honest?Something basic" to which he replies "Like what and like where? You want me to dig ditches?," she replies by saying "at least your conscience would be clean." This portion of the conversation directly relations to the debate between morality and science within Oryx and Crake.

This is a picture of the Burmese Monk protest symbolizing the fight for peace. I chose this picture due to the fact that it essentially shows people being punished for being moral...relating directly to the debate of morality with science. (Jimmys mom being punished for wanting to be ethical).