Cartesian Perspective versus the Necessity of Non-dualism in Margaret Atwood’s Oryx and Crake

Abstract

Margaret Atwood in Oryx and Crake which is the first in the series of Maddaddam Trilogydetails a dystopian society represented by the Compounds comprising of genographers immersed in the tasks of manipulating the biological system of various animal species. These deeds of ruthless manipulation and exploitation are undertaken to further the selfish pursuits of the human community at the expense of non-human beings. Such ego-centric activities arise as a result of the “dualism between man and nature” (Shiva 39) which is the idea that informs the Cartesian world-view of perceiving nature. Ultimately, it rings the death-knell of the human race to purge the world of the malicious elements and pave way for ideal beings. The text thus, is speculative in nature and emphasises the need to develop and adhere to a non-dualistic philosophy that would foreground the inherent value and interconnectedness of all beings. The paper draws on the ideas put forth by Vandana Shiva in her work Staying Alive.