Manipulation In Oryx And Crake By Margret Atwood

In the world of Margret Atwood's Oryx and Crake humanity has become indifferent in its dealings and unsympathetic and deceitful in its pursuits. The dystopian novel demonstrates a theme of its characters and setting as the cause and consequences of a humanity left uncaring to the world surrounding them. First stating how the book's futuristic man became desensitized to the world around them. Then I'll show examples of and to what end characters within the novel commit acts of subterfuge and manipulation to complete their goals. Next I'll touch upon countering instances of trust within the book. Thus, my central argument is that in the novel a humanity lacking a true recognition of and with one each other was integral in how the story's Earth

ends up. Thus, man's genocide and near extinction may not have come to pass if they had returned to showing more respect and empathy towards their fellow man and planet.
In Oryx and Crake's dystopian setting the upper class of humanity has a main focus on scientific profit as the norm. They show few limits on the lengths went to achieve this profit. Instead of any sort of government it seems large corporation conglomerates are in charge. They even own and control large compounds for people who live in that aren't included with the poor. The main characters Jimmy and Crake lived in them. The majority of the corporations are science based and focused and decide on what is important based on what will make a profit. For instance, most-if not all of the products are developed with zero intention of making it easy available for consumers without paying exorbitant prices else they be left without. The issues of this practice with the then newly completed NooSkins is upsetting to few; aside from Jimmy's mother in the novel (55). This sort of business wouldn't be left alone if the residences were more connected to their fellow man.
When it came to the world of Oryx and Crake, deception was abundant when achieving one's ambitions. The reason they are is as a result from desensitization from the already constant exploitation in practice at the compounds. When practicing science for their businesses whether or not one should is hardly taken account over could. Crossing species of animals to create new ones for human use is a common tactic. (which ultimately becomes a problem for Snowman to deal with later on.) “There is nothing sacred about cells and tissue...”(57) as stated by Jimmy's father. Boundaries are constantly being crossed that ethical issues hardly stir a rise anymore. In their youth, Crake and Jimmy would surf the Net; their viewings gradually escalating in graphic content as they grew bored of the old stuff in search of stimulation. The reason they were so starved for it was because the community they lived in was closed off. As was encouraged by the Compounds. You can only react to so much that one doesn't consider as real. People tend to consider an incident as more real when directly confronted with them compared to just hearing about it. For instance the change in Jimmy's indifference to the illicit online materials he would view with Crake in their childhood. The distance viewing from a screen allowed Jimmy to push away his doubts on whether the things he watched actually occurred. Meeting Oryx changed that and gave weight to what Jimmy was witnessing and then Jimmy could hardly stop thinking about the videos he saw online and the people in them (142). Before then the Compounds use of propaganda kept residences closed in.
The people of the business communities were very much isolated from the outside world. Owners discouraged migration through propaganda so people didn't leave unless they had to. The world outside was referred to as the Pleeblands. Unpredictability and danger were emphasized. After all the compound had guards and security to protect citizens so why go to the barbaric cities outside. So with most never really seeing people from the Pleeblands for their selves they seemed less like real people with their own lives and feelings. As a result making it easier to use them without thinking much of it. Like Jimmy nonchalance of Crake's taking advantage of the poorer off in the Pleeblands to test his pills (296).
Crake was an example of someone from the firmly unsympathetic and pragmatic centered environment. He was highly praised in the world they lived in and the desired outcome in life. In the Compound's world “Crake's value lies in the potential of his mind...” (Spiegel 1). He thought little of the overly sentimental and emotional concepts such as sexual relations and directs blame of the problems of the such as wars, crime, infidelity, environmental destruction and inequality on them (293). However, when its time to have his creations be taught he chooses Oryx for her softer demeanor that is so unlike his own to encourage the Crakers to live peacefully. He ultimately decides the world would be better off with humanity replaced by his Crakers, not showing much sympathy for his fellow man at all. In the end he was the cause of the most death than any in humanity that he criticized. His aim was to wipe humanity out with the a hidden horrific disease he concocted within the BlyssPluss pill. This is ironic since his father was killed for being against such practices and aiming to expose and cease them. Crake's father was not unlike Jimmy's mother in their protest against Compound practices. Crake demonstrated little concern over the ethical stipulations in his plan's development. With his friend’s superior way with words to sway the masses the BlyssPluss pill was advertised and spread. Despite being his friend, Crake manipulated Jimmy into taking responsibility for the Crakers. And despite loving Oryx he involves her in his genocidal plan without her fully aware of it knowing that she ultimately wouldn't be able to handle what was left. Under the guise of a simpler vaccine for Jimmy's traipsing through the Pleeblands, Crake immunized Jimmy to the hidden plague within the pills. And at the end after his devises were set in motion, his last manipulation was enraging Jimmy to shoot and kill him after having murdered Oryx in front of him. Crake relied on Jimmy's feelings for his plan.
Jimmy, then later Snowman, was almost as much a manipulator as he was manipulated.

While more empathetic than Crake-both positively and negatively-Jimmy was often a bystander himself. He shows this in his outrage on Oryx's behalf for the wrongdoings she endured during her life. Before then Jimmy used to be sad at the prospect of hurting the pigoons having been so familiar with them (24).When waiting for Crake to arrive to the Paradise building during the spread of the BlyssPluss plague Jimmy tricked and killed the remaining scientists to prematurely ensure his well-being. In his desire for affection, he charmed women using their sympathy for him regarding his relationship with his estranged mother. Before that in his need for attention and to receive a reaction from his mother he often would push her until he received one relating in his need to get a reaction from others. He often attempted this with Oryx, looking for her to get upset to justify his need to after discovering her childhood porn video. And attempted unsuccessfully to do the same wooing to Oryx at first their first official meeting. Snowman played his part in that in an effort to survive in his deliberate action went against Crake in helping establishing him as a higher power with Snowman himself as a messenger. It allowed him to hold sway over the naive species for sustenance and company. Though even then it seems that the Crakers may be starting to have their doubts starting with their somewhat leader

Abraham.
As for more minor instances, for Oryx herself, it's implied that she, at the command of Crake as “he is her boss”(313), to manipulate Jimmy's obsession with her to promise to protect the Crakers. After all Crake knew Jimmy way better then Jimmy did him and likely would have been aware of Jimmy's tryst with Oryx and utilized it for his ends. “Crake's strategy to win Jimmy over seems a very good strategy indeed” (DiMarco 1). As Crakes inspiration, the major heath companies own medicine was also contaminated with old and newly concocted diseases. Their diseases were always made with a cure for the businesses to sell to the pleebs after infection. They took advantage to create their own economy. They are not totally unlike the concocted Wolfdogs which fabricate a facade of innocence and false good intentions when in reality they aim to harm to satisfy their own self interests, whether it is profit or instinct.
There can hardly be deception without a sort of trust. The Crakers legitimately believe in Snowman. He taught them about the planet and gave them security and reassurance and led them out of the Paradise building so they could find a place to live. Despite his differences he had shown that he was generally there for them and supportive of their well fare. He and his teachings are all they know. For Jimmy, Crake was the only real friend Jimmy had. They knew that they would keep the other's confidant. Crake didn't make a fuss when discovering where Jimmy's mother had been, and Jimmy even if not understanding will stand by Crake. Crake through his understanding of his friend knew that Jimmy not being a ”numbers man” would be what his budding Crakers would need following the new world (74). They needed someone who could verbally guide and teach them with Oryx gone, as Crake knew that she wouldn't be able to handle being in the decimated world.
In conclusion, the world of Oryx and Crake has many of its issues deriving from man having a shortage of sympathetic feelings within in its individuals and communities past achieving one's aims. Had the at least the main players have more of an understanding of each other Crake's Apocalypse may have never come to pass. The three could have worked to even make the world a better place without starting anew.