Baudrillardian Concepts of Hyperreality and Simulacra in Margaret Atwood’s Oryx and Crake

Abstract

The study attempts to analyze Margaret Atwood Oryx and Crake in the light of Baudrillard Theory. The discussion is based on Baudrillard theory of Hyperreality and Simulacra. Margaret Atwood's novel Oryx and Crake (2003) takes place in a future time where there are scientific progresses. The protagonist of the story is Snowman who used to be called Jimmy and who is the son of two genetic scientists. Snowman lives near some creatures that are called Crakers. When jimmy is near starvation, he decides to search for food in the ruins of RejoovenEsence. Jimmy and Oryx develop a relationship. The human race is wiped out and Jimmy realizes that all of these are planned by Crake. Crake says that the three of them are immune to the virus. Crake kills Oryx and he is killed by Jimmy. Jimmy also gets a disease and finally finds three humans, two men and a woman, and he does not know whether to kill them or become friend with them. He makes up his mind and goes towards them and the story ends there. It can be said that there is elimination of hyperreality in the novel as there is the decline of civilization. Baudrillard’s hyperreality explained the situation in the consumer society in which the real was lost. Thus, it can be said that the catastrophe in the novel has resulted in the elimination of the civilization, consumer society and thus hyperreality in the consumer society. But it should be pointed out that there is also hyperreality created due to the catastrophe because things are no longer what they used to be and some human made structures have lost their function, similar to the map in the Borges fable pointed out by Baudrillard.