Resistance Against The Technological Power:A Study Of Margaret Atwood's The Year Of The Flood

As one of the most renowned writers in the world,Margaret Atwood touches upon various topics,ranging from nationality,human rights,the victimization of women to technology,eco-environmental issues and future human world etc.Since the publication of her first speculative novel The Handmaid's Tales in 1985,Atwood has received more and more attention from all over the world.After 2000,she presented the readers with her science trilogy Oryx and Crake(2003),The Year of the Flood(2009),and MaddAddam(2013),which depicts the catastrophic scenarios,and discusses the relationship between technology development and ecological disaster,and therefore raises the public concern for environment protection and the future of human beings.As a sequence of Oryx and Crake,The Year of the Flood gives readers a glimpse of a dystopian society where a waterless flood occurs suddenly,killing most of the population.The novel is interwoven with the stories told by Toby and Ren,two female protagonists in this novel,and preaches and hymns given by Adam One,the leader of an eco-religious sect called "the God's Gardeners".Because of the over-reliance and worship on technology,a cruel and cold social pattern comes into being and an organization named the Compound almost takes control of everything.In this technocratic society,everything has been placed in the surveillance of technological power of the Compound that is particularly keen on genetic engineering and high-end technological products.Based on Michel Foucault's power theory and Martin Heidegger 's thoughts on technology,this thesis conducts an analysis of resistance on different layers,endeavouring to gain some reflections on the delicate relationship among man,technology,and nature.When expounding on the concept of micro-power,Foucault points out that power and resistance form a symbiotic relationship which is fluid and constantly changing,and that makes it possible for the oppressed to fight back by making use of the dominant party,thus achieving its goal of seeking development in adversity.Reflecting on the essence of technology,Heidegger argues that,etymologically speaking,Techne(technology)refers to the process of revealing that brings forth the truth.For him,technology is never something technological;let alone making nature as a standing-reserve to be conquered by human beings.However,with the rapid development of society and waves of technical innovations,more and more people have forgotten the essence of technology,and as a consequence,in the ceaseless pursuit of cutting-age techniques,they have not only enslaved themselves away from truth of existence and artistic beauty,but also have damaged natural environment,putting the future world at risk.This is the danger that The Year of the Flood warns against.Chapter One analyzes the resistance against the Compound's technological products,such as health supplements that have produced severe side-effects,ingredient-unknown daily food,and genetically modified species.To fight back the domination,the eco-religious group The God's Gardeners appeal to natural therapy and vegetarianism.And the objection to the genetic manipulation is a clear indication of attitudes towards the unregulated biotechnological experiments.Chapter Two approaches the theme of resistance by focusing on the identity problems.Whether skillful at maintaining the invisibility through cosmetic surgery,or adept at dramatic performance of repeatedly shifting the roles,or talented at playing identity-control games,the three female characters in the novel make fun of the Compound surveillance and start their new lives,which is reflective of how resistance works where power exerts.Chapter Three traces the routes of resistance from the perspective of ideology.As the leader of "the God's Gardeners" and an ex-Compound scientist,Adam One is fully aware of the Compound's technocratic control and the consequences that the brain-washing education has brought;therefore,he has been dedicated to preaches and sermons,trying to illustrate the importance of the close tie between human beings and nature,and encourage the Gardener children to live a natural and healthy life.Different from Adam One,another group member Zeb chooses to establish a secret organization to forcefully rebel against the Compound's suppression.Making full use of the high-end technological weapons made by the Compound to sabotage the infrastructure,Zeb and his followers have shown an aggressive force and threaten the dominant control.In the conclusion part,this thesis points out that,through depicting the adversarial living environment of "the God's Gardeners" and their resistance against the technocratic society,Atwood hopes for a harmonious and balanced relationship between human beings,nature,and technology,and emphasizes the importance of artistic cultivation in the development of human society.The technocratic control in The Year of the Flood is never a distant nightmare but a possibility in the near future.In this sense,an analysis of the resistance not only reveals the warning message embedded in this novel,but also helps to shed light on Atwood's suggested salvation for the future.