A paragraph that really stood out to me is:
Of course (said Oryx), having a money value was no substitute for love. Every child should have love, every person should have it. She herself would rather have had her mother's love—the love she still continued to believe in, the love that had followed her through the jungle in the form of a bird so she would not be too frightened or lonely—but love was so undependable, it came and then it went, so it was good to have a money value, because then at least those who wanted to make a profit from you would make sure you were fed enough and not damaged too much. Also there were many who had neither love nor a money value, and having one of these things was better than having nothing. (Atwood 154)
Even though it is quite long, I think everything said is very important. Love is a very powerful thing and in this world, people are replacing the comfort and security of love with money values. These children who were sold have already given up on love. They know that their only purpose is money, and they also know that the more money they are worth, the more care they will be given.
It is a very sad outcome, to give up all hope and to just live for someone else's profit gain.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Ethnocentrism
Reading about how Oryx and Jimmy came to meet and how Oryx once lived in an impoverished village makes me think about ethnocentrism. The village where Oryx is from is obviously much different then what we, as Canadians, are accustom to, so we judge their culture based on how we live.
In Oryx's village it is accustom to sell children. A man of wealth comes in from the city and buys up to four children from their mothers. The mothers choose which children are going to have a chance at being bought. Once they are bought, they are never to be heard from again. The man promises that their children will have a good life, and that a portion of the money the children make will be sent back to the family. The mothers do not necessarily want to sell their children, but they do it for the money.
I find this whole concept very disturbing, as did Jimmy. Oryx insists that it was the norm of their society, and even though she was sold, it does not seem to effect her. Once Oryx was bought, she was again sold into the sex trade at a very young age, she does not find the village culture revolting. I think it is because she is trying to block out those memories, so showing no sign of suffering will help her forget.
I also find it kind of ironic how Jimmy had a lot of doubts about whether his mother loved him while she was around, now knowing Oryx's story. Jimmy's mother was not the typical motherly figure, and she did leave him, but it seemed like she did the best for someone in her state. She even tried to contact him just so Jimmy knew that she is still alive, even though she is on the run.
Yet, even though it was Oryx's mothers choice to sell her, she still believes she loved her.
"The mother of Oryx sold two of her children at the same time, not only because she was hard up. She thought the two might keep each other company, look out for each other. The other child was a boy, a year older then Oryx. Fewer boys were sold than girls, but they were not therefore more valued.
(Oryx took this double sale as evidence that her mother had loved her. She had no images of this love. She could offer no anecdotes. It was a belief rather than a memory.)" (Atwood 147)
Looking at Oryx's village, there are a lot of gender roles associated. It seems like all that the women are good for is baring children, which they already had an abundance of. But, to the child buyer, the girls are more popular. There are always a lot of girls to be sold, as well as girls to be bought.
I think that another theme of the novel could be how people will do anything for money. Like we see with Oryx, how her mother sold her for money. Also, in the compounds, how they genetically alter animals just for the consumer. Another is how violence in the media is to gain revenue. Everything is to make money.
In Oryx's village it is accustom to sell children. A man of wealth comes in from the city and buys up to four children from their mothers. The mothers choose which children are going to have a chance at being bought. Once they are bought, they are never to be heard from again. The man promises that their children will have a good life, and that a portion of the money the children make will be sent back to the family. The mothers do not necessarily want to sell their children, but they do it for the money.
I find this whole concept very disturbing, as did Jimmy. Oryx insists that it was the norm of their society, and even though she was sold, it does not seem to effect her. Once Oryx was bought, she was again sold into the sex trade at a very young age, she does not find the village culture revolting. I think it is because she is trying to block out those memories, so showing no sign of suffering will help her forget.
I also find it kind of ironic how Jimmy had a lot of doubts about whether his mother loved him while she was around, now knowing Oryx's story. Jimmy's mother was not the typical motherly figure, and she did leave him, but it seemed like she did the best for someone in her state. She even tried to contact him just so Jimmy knew that she is still alive, even though she is on the run.
Yet, even though it was Oryx's mothers choice to sell her, she still believes she loved her.
"The mother of Oryx sold two of her children at the same time, not only because she was hard up. She thought the two might keep each other company, look out for each other. The other child was a boy, a year older then Oryx. Fewer boys were sold than girls, but they were not therefore more valued.
(Oryx took this double sale as evidence that her mother had loved her. She had no images of this love. She could offer no anecdotes. It was a belief rather than a memory.)" (Atwood 147)
Looking at Oryx's village, there are a lot of gender roles associated. It seems like all that the women are good for is baring children, which they already had an abundance of. But, to the child buyer, the girls are more popular. There are always a lot of girls to be sold, as well as girls to be bought.
I think that another theme of the novel could be how people will do anything for money. Like we see with Oryx, how her mother sold her for money. Also, in the compounds, how they genetically alter animals just for the consumer. Another is how violence in the media is to gain revenue. Everything is to make money.
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