Drunks In Oryx And Crake

Imagine a world where almost any organism can be created, the only limit being a person’s imagination. These unique organisms could be created to then do whatever you wish-both for good and evil actions. This is the world that Margaret Atwood describes in her novel Oryx and Crake, which takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where people have been all but wiped out. Throughout the novel, Atwood introduces numerous organisms that are created by human beings to either for entertainment or help humanity prolong their ability to survive in an environment that is becoming more hostile with each passing year. However, as can be seen in our current society, a few of the inventions/organisms that were created to benefit humanity end up harming it. …show more content…
During the part of the novel where Jimmy is recalling the first time that he met his birthday present from his dad, Killer, Jimmy recollects that, “Jimmy took killer up to his room, where it made a nest in his pillow. It did have a faint smell, strange but not unpleasant, leathery and sharp, like a bar of designer soap for men. He slept with his arm crooked around it, his nose next to its own small nose,” (52). The imagery in the phrase “He slept with his arm crooked around it, his nose next to its own small noise” illustrates how intimate the two are, which helps the reader to understand the empathy that Jimmy and Killer have. Additionally, the use of the simile comparing the rakunk’s scent to a scent of a human being further implies how close the two are. The simile makes it seem like Killer has human characteristics, and because people are usually better able to have a connection with other human beings instead of other species of animals. From the portrayal of human characteristics onto Killer it can be inferred that Jimmy is able to create such a strong bond with his pet. The use of the phrases “leathery and sharp” and “designer soap for men” strengthens the image in the reader’s mind about the two. At a young age, Jimmy appears to struggle with human interaction, and therefore needs to pretend that his pet rakunk has human traits to be able to create connections with other human beings later in his life. Thus, the role of the rakunk as an organism created by people to help Jimmy succeed in human society is crucial, and as a result, the creation of the rakunks is beneficial for human society. Furthermore, when Jimmy is reminding himself about what happened when his mom left him and took Killer with her, he remembers that “Jimmy had mourned for weeks. No, for months. Which one of