The Firth
Season, a science fiction novel written by N. K. Jemisin, explores the story of
Essen as she faces tribulation due to her status as an orogene. The novel is full
of heartache and death, oftentimes murders that would have been prevented if classism
was absent from the novel. The Fifth Season closely parallels some of the race
and socioeconomic class struggles America is dealing with today. By exploring
the themes of celebrating diversity and the unfortunate struggles of assimilation,
The Fifth Season highlights the issues our classist society faces in a
dystopian light through mythological characters and powers.
Essen, whose
story is revealed throughout the novel in three distinct times in her life as Syenite
(Syen), Damaya, and Essen, spends a majority of her life attempting to assimilate
and flee persecution outside the time she is protected in her status as an
orogene. In some of the most pivotal times during her life when she is discovered
to be an orogene in childhood and sent away to the fulcrum, or in her adult
life when her husband kills her orogenic son, Essun deals with the emotional
burden of having to constantly hide her identity to spare her the tragic fates
of many orogeneses around her. Revealed through N. K. Jemisin’s website (http://nkjemisin.com/2015/08/creating-races/)
and our class discussion, it is revealed that the different types of characters
in the book represent races of humans. As Jemisin notes on her website, “There’s
nothing visually distinct about orogenes; the thing that makes them unique is
perceptual, behavioral. Yet race in our own world is a social construct.”
Through issues like privilege and status as an outsider due to race, the book
closely shows that much of our perceptions of social hierarchy are unfounded
prejudices that have been passed through generations.
Hoa, presumably a stone eater who
has the power to change creatures into stone by biting his arm, and Tonkee, a
commless transgender character, are two figures who Essun travels with in Chapter
10. With Essun’s status as an orogene and the others’ unusual character traits,
they make up a sort of misfit caravan. Essen explains, “It almost makes you
feel normal, traveling with these two” (185). With each of these groups being
an outcast in society, there can be a deeper sense of comfort when joined by
other marginalized groups. However, it is through ignorance that we continue to
assume things about other races (or creatures in the novel), and minorities are
not immune from these missteps. Essun asks Hoa in Tirido in response to his explanation
about his deceptive appearance, “Why did you make yourself like this? Why not just
be… what you are?” (396). Through this, Hoa has revealed how he changed his
appearance to appear more like another group rather than maintaining his true external
identity. However, it also shows that the characters, like Americans, have preconceived
notions about the actions and appearances of other groups that we must overcome
if we hope to end discrimination once and for all.
As we
discussed in class, characters’ abilities to create or destroy can signal their
affiliation with the “good” or “bad.” Counterintuitive to this, I would propose
that destroying the classism and racism that taint our society is for the
better. Like Alabaster proposed, ending the world as it is may allow for a
better reconstruction. The elimination of characters like the guardians who
hold back orogenes from working together would allow this group of characters
to advance and be successful without their limited representation. Moving away
from “rogga” and other discriminatory words would build a sense of inclusivity.
Alleviating the pressures to hide orogenic behaviors and ending their
reputation as a monster would empower orogenes to interact with everyone on an
equal playing field. Through these steps, we can learn from The Fifth Season in
how we treat others as equal and create a more inclusive space for all to celebrate
what makes us diverse and unique entities to our population.
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ReplyDeleteIt is also interesting how some of the orogenes, like Alabaster, would use the term “rogga” instead of orogene. This seemed like an attempt to reclaim the word, like how many derogatory words have been reclaimed by marginalized communities in the real world. However, it is still clearly offensive to Syenite when Asael snaps, “You’re a rogga” (216). Syen said that at least her feelings were “out in the open” now, and it was clear that Asael was extremely prejudiced (216). Only members of the community are able to use the word without it being offensive, which draws a parallel with the use of the n-word in black communities.
ReplyDeleteThe terminology used gives the oppressors license to discriminate against the orogenes because they are so thoroughly dehumanized. The novel makes it very clear that the orogenes are not thought of as people. Dehumanization is prevalent throughout the novel. No one in the book is perfect, and another example of characters making insensitive remarks is when Essun calls Hoa both a “monster” and “unhappy child” (189). Hoa is not human, but by calling him a monster he is demonized, just like Essun herself is demonized because she is an orogene. However, once Essun “pushes the fear back down,” she is able to interact with Hoa without demonizing him (189).