Cloud Atlas Literary Analysis "book"

8/13/2019 Cloud Atlas Literary Analysis "book"

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Cloud tlas Literary nalysis


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Humanity is greatly influenced by the dynamics of power within interpersonal relationships.

Natural predation can almost be explained as a parasite that is waiting for the perfect host latch onto

and suck the life out of. The Parasite Dr. Goose in the Adam Ewingsstory provides a great example of

the predatory nature. He preys on the week such as cats prey on mice, and first mates prey on cabin

boys. The week are meat, the strong do eat(David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas.Pg. 523-4) as Dr. Goose

poisons Adam Ewing in a slow coldhearted way to steal his fortune, he inherently neglects to realize the

power of the human relationship between Ewing and Autua. Autua realizing that the man who saved his

life was now slowly being killed, so he intervened. In an alternative predatory notion, the man needing

to be saved could be considered weak, and the rescuer only acts out of self-interest. Doing these acts

automatically degrades the person being saved and they are now in debt to this person. In some

instances, this is a predatory act of personal interest so they may have somebody in debt to them. Autua

within you Ewings debt he feels obligated to serve in and in the end the debt repaid, in turn changing

the power dynamic. Mitchell will portray such ideas with the Swannekke island security chief Joe Napier,

who was rescued by Luisa Rays father, he tells Luisa the most humiliating thing you can do to a man is

to save his life(David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas.Pg. 415). As assassin Bill Smoke attempts to kill Luisa,

Napiersfulfills his debt to her father by saving her life, however according to him he humiliates Luisa in

the process.

In the story of Luisa Ray, predation seems to invade the capitalistic role on societies and the

characters within the novel. It is a Story of corporate America corrupted by using illegal means to

manipulate all situations whatever the cost as long as the power remains in their favor. From sweatshop

workers to nuclear waste with the potential use to make nuclear weapons, capitalism is portrayed as a

corrupt and is responsible for all the controversial activities. This brings us to the story of Sonmi-415

with a society where technological advancement triumphs over moral obligation. This resulted in a

society with genetically engineered fabricant clones designed to be used as slaves for a consumer driven


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industry known as Nea So Copros. This unchecked power over people and predatory nature leads to

endless consumption and a post-apocalyptic world of the Valley tribe. The main theme behind these

turn of events is our predatory natures and allthat goes along with it the need to conquer, consume,

and in turn destroy with no acknowledgment of the possible consequences of their actions.

Mitchell portrays a postmodern society within Sonmis world where consumer capitalism

ignores the impacts they have on the world and a society that is slowly poisoning in itself to death.

Poisoning coupled with predation is a theme that runs throughout Mitchells novel not necessarily

poisoning the world; it could be the literal poisoning by the hand of Dr. Goose in the Adam Ewings

story. Poisoning can take many forms and can be forcing on you to retain certain knowledge or the lack

of knowledge, the power of suggestion often times is invoked by poisoning their brains will without their

knowledge, it is used to retain power over a situation by preying on others. The environment, people, or

thoughts can be potential candidates for poisoning, but peoples minds most of all. People with power

often like to keep that power by poisoning the minds of a race or culture that could possibly overthrow

that power. Knowledge can cause the downfall in the hierarchy of power if a certain group or

community discovers the truth, therefore; poisoning of the mind, forgetting the past, or keeping people

in the dark are what a predatory society uses to stay in control. Us. Fabricants. We cost almost nothing

to manufacture and have no awkward hankerings for a better, freer life. We conveniently xpire after

forty-eight hours without a specialized Soap and so cannot run away.(Mitchell cloud Atlas 336 for

Sonmi and all the other fabricants are poisoned by their so-called soapwhich numbs their senses and

makes them compliant. The price of knowledge can be high; as Sonmi goes to a place called

Xultation, where she discovers that its not the Paradise they said it would be, instead after 12 years of

service, the fabricants are instead murdered and remanufactured into the soap theyconsume every

day. (David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas.Pg. 347) (summary ) The lack of knowledge of which what is really

happening keeps the society compliant and the fabricants physically and on the drug so it is impossible


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relationship. Arys is crippled and unable to play or compose music by himself. The desire to retain the

power he had the famous composer led him to employ Frobisher even to the point of poisoning his

reputation to enable his own success. On the other hand, Frobishers starving for the fame with his

cloud Atlas sextet he preys upon the weakness of Ayrs crippled condition and extreme actions as well as

extreme consequences without a second thought. Now once again they have both cannibalize

themselves because of the desire for power and success with the nature of predation at its core.

Mitchell exhibits the extreme consequences and self-destruction, which is preceded by predacious acts.

Making the wrong decision is a realization and thought which is carried out throughout the novel, Ewing

is this character; I believe examines the poor choices humanity has made, in the most depth. The end

of the world is humanities oldest past timeThe end is what we want, I am so afraid the end is what

were dam well going to get (David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas.Pg. 471) Mitchell seems to lay out an entire

history of the world exhibiting the mistakes humankind makes by being consumed with power and

predation. I believe the novel is trying to tell us if we continue down this path of poisoning our brothers

and sisters, consuming ourselves, and becoming a slave to corruption this will lead to our destruction.

However, what if we could change, can we learn from the mistakes and devastation from those who

came before us or destined to repeat the same mistakes of our ancestors. Mitchell shows us our desire

to change our path after the mistakes have been made. Timothy escapes from the Aurora house

compelled to see the place destroyed, Luisa still tempts fate trying to expose the corruption of

corporations even after several assassination attempts, Ewing after surviving his return to America

devotes his life to attempt to change the world. The greatest notion I got from Mitchells novel is that

we are destroying the world because of our choices to pray upon one another for personal gain. Society

can exist if we stop search for ways to gain power over one another, this is portrayed especially in

Zacharys narrative where the individual choices he made by overcoming the desire for control of


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something he does not understand, learning the truth and acting for everyones interest shows that our

future is not predetermined. I hope that someday we can all overcome our predatory nature.

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Cloud Atlas Literary Analysis "book"