MaddAddam -- discussion guide · 2018-02-08 · MaddAddam -- discussion guide Bringing together...

MaddAddam--discussionguide

BringingtogetherOryxandCrakeandTheYearoftheFlood,thisthrillingconclusiontoMargaretAtwood’sspeculativefictiontrilogypointstowardtheultimateenduranceofcommunity,andlove.MonthsaftertheWaterlessFloodpandemichaswipedoutmostofhumanity,TobyandRenhaverescuedtheirfriendAmandafromtheviciousPainballers.TheyreturntotheMaddAddamitecobhouse,newlyfortifiedagainstmanandgiantpigoonalike.AccompanyingthemaretheCrakers,thegentle,quasi-humanspeciesengineeredbythebrilliantbutdeceasedCrake.Theirreluctantprophet,Snowman-the-Jimmy,isrecoveringfromadebilitating

fever,soit’slefttoTobytopreachtheCrakertheology,withCrakeasCreator.Shemustalsodealwithculturalmisunderstandings,terriblecoffee,andherjealousyoverherlover,Zeb.ZebhasbeensearchingforAdamOne,founderoftheGod’sGardeners,thepacifistgreenreligionfromwhichZebbrokeyearsagotoleadtheMaddAddamitesinactiveresistanceagainstthedestructiveCorpSeCorps.Butnow,underthreatofaPainballerattack,theMaddAddamitesmustfightbackwiththeaidoftheirnewfoundallies,someofwhomhavefourtrotters.AtthecenterofMaddAddamisthestoryofZeb’sdarkandtwistedpast,whichcontainsalostbrother,ahiddenmurder,abear,andabizarreactofrevenge.Combiningadventure,humor,romance,superbstorytelling,andanimaginationatoncedazzlinglyinventiveandgroundedinarecognizableworld,MaddAddamisvintageMargaretAtwood—amovinganddramaticconclusiontoherinternationallycelebrateddystopiantrilogy.

QuestionsandTopicsforDiscussion

1.WhyareAdamandZebsodifferent?Oraretheymoresimilarthantheyfirstseem?

2.TheMaddAddamitessetaboutbuildingabasiccommunityforthemselves,onethatmeetstheneedforfood,clothing,shelter,andanenergysource.Ifyouwereinthisposition,wouldyoudothingsdifferently?Shouldchildrenbetaughtelementarysurvivalskills?

English12APR.Guraliuk

3.Whatcomment,ifany,doyouthinkMargaretAtwoodismakingaboutenvironmentalisminthisbook,throughorganizationslikeBearlift?OrdoesBearliftsuffersimplyfromthehumanflawsthatappearinallorganizations,nomatterhowwell-meaning?

4.TheInternethasanalmostphysicalpresenceinMaddAddam—the“lilypads,”thegameIntestinalParasites.DoyouthinkthisiswheretheInternetisheading?Isitbecominga“real”entityofitsown?

5.IsTobyrighttotrustZeb?DoyouthinkhisfeelingsforTobyaregenuine?

6.TobyteachesBlackbeardtowrite.Isthatagoodthingorabadthing?WhatconsequencesdoyouthinkthiswillhavefortheCrakersandtheirnewworld?

7.MargaretAtwood’strilogyoftenportrayshumansandourfuturegrimly,butitisalsobothfunnyandprofane.IsAtwood’sgallowshumoreffective?

8.WhatparallelsdoyouseebetweentheeventsofMaddAddamandrecenteventsinourrealworld?AreAtwood’sthreedystopianbooksexaggeratedorcouldtheyreallybeourfuture?

9.Despitehavingseemedviolentanddisposedtoeathumans,thePigoonsultimatelydisplaymorecompassionthanmanyofthehumansinMaddAddam.IsthatbecausethePigoonsareanimals,orisitbecauseoftheimplantedhumantissueintheirbrains?

10.TheCrakersseekstoriesfromJimmyandTobytoexplaintheworldaroundthem.Whatdothesestoriessayabouthowmythsareformed?Isthedesireforreligioninnatewithinus?WhatdoyouthinkMaddAddamissayingaboutourneedforgodsandhowreligionsarecreated?

11.Howimportantislanguageinshapingandchanginghistoryandrumourintomyth?DiscussthewaygodsforminToby’smonologuestotheCrakers—includingtheonenamedforaswearword?

12.ReligionandourneedforbeliefisakeyconcerninMaddAddam.WhatdoestheChurchofPetrOleumsayaboutAtwood’sviewofreligion?Hasreligionbecomeacommodity?

13.Howdoyouthinkthehybridbabieswillturnout?WilltheybemorehumanorCraker,andwhichwouldbebestforthefutureofEarth?

14.IsAtwood’sviewofhumanityultimatelynegative?IstherehopeattheendofMaddAddam,andifthereis,wheredoesitcomefrom?

foradditionalinformationaboutMargaretAtwood,checkheroutat:

<margaretatwood.ca>