This week in class (4/15) we talked about Children of God, and one of the interesting topics that came up for discussion was the idea of “freedom.” Are the Runa more “free” now that they dominate the planet and have subjugated the Jana’ata? One answer is that this idea of “freedom” that Sophia and Supaari bring to the Runa is actually an ideal native to human, or Western, thought. On Rakhat, this freedom might be detrimental. When Sophia remembers the quote “do not do unto others what is hateful to you,” (p146) she immediately thinks back to the bloodshed that has marked Earth’s history. Somehow, human ideals of freedom and equality lead to suffering and war.
Maybe the perfect balance of Rakhat civilization was achieved by the realization that not all people are equal. Certainly, the Jana’ata were a predating species and the Runa were a prey species, but there were further distinctions within Jana’ata society. Not all Jana’ata could have children, because the “freedom” of child-bearing would encumber society itself. This brings to mind Todorov’s distinction between sacrifice and massacre. Where humans commit genocide (massacre) as an act of war, the Jana’ata sacrifice their own and others’ lives to prevent the bloating of society that leads to discontent and conflict. What if the humans, believing that they set the other species free, merely led them into a historically unprecedented chaos?
I think the first thing I'd like to say is that they are certainly more "free." They control their own fate more than before, when they were herded like cattle. Whether they will destroy themselves or the planet is another matter, but they are certainly more free.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of intervention leading to the destruction of the planet/ species seemed to be a fairly popular one in class. "Western" ideas being imposed on others sounds terrible. It seems that when arguing this point, you make the statement that, even should the Runa like the "Western" ideas, they shouldn't or shouldn't be allowed to know them because they aren't Earthlings. They aren't the West as we understand it. I question though the idea that the Rana'ata system isn't a similar imposition. What is the difference between the Runa following the society brought by Sophia and the society forced upon them by the carnivores that devour them? Within one rests choice. We don't know whether this new system will prove to be disastrous. Until we know that or not, at least one isn't forced upon them. I think we can all see the appeal in that.
I would also argue that your own idea of individuals not being equal works to defend the violence done by the Runa. Their life is not the same as the Rana'ata. They kill to not be killed. They have also created a system where one is not values the same as the other.