Oryx and Crake (Extended Essay)

Oryx and Crake was an amazing novel that combined post-apocalyptic themes with ideas similar to that of George Orwell’s 1984 or Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World. The story begins with the main character, Snowman, or Jimmy, living after humans as we know them have been demolished. The only other “humans” are the new super humans, referred to as Crakers.

The story than flashes back and forth throughout Snowman’s life, slowly building up to what really happened to cause the catastrophe he seems to be living in alone, as well as his relation to Oryx and Crake.

Although only one story is being told, it is split into two or even three different events. The first is Snowman’s journey after the apocalypse, his way of living, and his journey to survival. Unlike most main characters within this theme, Snowman seems to have, for the most part, given up on survival just short of committing suicide. He doesn’t seem to have a very stable form of food or shelter, and only decides to venture back out into the dangerous world as a last resort.

The second story involves Snowman’s relationship to Crake and Oryx. We meet Crake first. Crake is a young brilliant mind, yet a little strange and mysterious. Snowman, or Jimmy, struggles with his own mediocrity throughout his entire life, while Crake continues to propel to excellence. Crake’s location after the apocalypse remains mysterious for most of the novel, as does Oryx’s.

Jimmy’s introduction to Oryx and how they came to be together is told very slowly and is withheld until almost the end of the story. The tension of his romantic feelings for her is not acted upon until almost the end of her life. Information about her life in general is given to the reader in bits and pieces throughout the novel, holding the reader’s attention hostage.

The third narrative involves the advancement of technology. Unlike 1984, the progression of technology and the government’s interference is not shown as such a hazard, but the negative effects are still apparent. Jimmy grows up in an isolated community for most of his life. Jimmy and Crake, as young boys, spend most of their time watching or playing games on the computer, but not being involved in actual activities. This may just be an example of their personalities and their hobbies, but it demonstrates the evolution of technology being used as a pasttime rather than advancing and improving society.

The danger of misusing technology is fully demonstrated as we see how it is being used via medicine and extending human life. Eventually, what is supposed to be helping humans ends up becoming a dangerous weapon. The steadily increasing pace of medicine and technology, in the end, destroys humans.

Oryx and Crake’s ending is left open. The reader never finds out what Snowman decides to do when finally finding other humans. However, the true ending of the story was the final realization of how civilization was destroyed, therefore, leaving the reader to decide what Snowman ultimately does increases the impact of the wonder and imaginative aspects of the story.