While much of China Miéville's novel Embassytown explores a futuristic world facing a catastrophic war, elements of romance play into the novel. Avice, the protagonist, seeks--or stumbles upon--a variety of relationships. What is most interesting about these relationships is that none of them are built from a foundation that can endure the hardships in the novel. Granted, Avice is the only character through whom the reader observes romance in Embassytown. However, as her relationships seem fleeting, what does this indicate about love in this futuristic society?
As she tells the backstory of her tale, Avice evaluates her love life. "I couldn't claim that marriage was my real skill, but I was better at it than many," she reflects. "I'd had two previous husbands and a wife. I'd lost them to changes of predilection, without rancour--as I say, I wasn't bad at marriage. Scile was my fourth spouse" (18). Avice's view on marriage sets the tone for how she and other characters approach relationships: indifferently. Casually, Avice mentions that her relationships ended due to "changes of predilection"--in other words, a mere change in preference. Just because she and a spouse grow tired of each other, their marriage dissipates.
Another example of how characters in this society do not take marriage seriously is evident in Avice's relationship with her husband Scile. During their marriage, Avice has an affair with both Cal and Vin, who together comprise the Ambassador CalVin. Because Scile and Avice are of different species, they cannot have sexual intercourse. Nonetheless, they remain husband and wife, enjoying each other's company. Interestingly, Avice performs sexual acts with CalVin and tells Scile about her affair, to which he actively listens and asks questions. Clearly, Avice and Scile take the term "open relationship" to a new level. They are married yet perfectly comfortable with Avice having an affair with two other men--at the same time.
As the story progresses, however, Scile and Avice have a falling out and stop speaking to each other almost entirely. They view Language very differently: Scile advocates for keeping traditional Language the same and Avice strives to change it. They embark on different missions in life. Eventually, Scile becomes a simile like Avice, but their paths barely cross at all. Thus marks the beginning of the end of their marriage.
Later in the novel, Avice also has an affair with Bren, an old man and failed Ambassador whom she has known since she was a little girl. Bren was an old man while she was a child; years later, they develop an affinity for each other. Again, Avice shakes up what the reader may consider appropriate romantic traditions by falling for an elder. However, this relationship is not permanent; no marriage results.
In the end, the reader learns that Scile is imprisoned for murder; specifically, he killed Cal. Avice's opinion of Scile has shifted dramatically from the time they were happily married, as evidenced when she declares, "His actions disgust me--there are dead friends who'd be alive if it weren't for him--but could you not feel pity to see him?" (338). She despises him yet may still have an ounce of empathy.
Through Avice's love life, the reader observes romances that merely come and go. Is this what Miéville predicts will happen to the future of relationships? Are they not meant to endure the test of time? Perhaps this trend only applies to Avice, as the reader does not get as thorough a look into the love lives of other characters. However, from what Miéville indicates, romance in Embassytown is fleeting.
Relationships absolutely play a huge role in this novel, despite the fact that the book itself primarily focuses on a fictional world filled with various alien species. The end of the novel leaves the reader wondering what point China Mieville is making, if such point exists. It is important to realize that from Mieville’s perspective, relationships, and even romance, are most likely dealt with in the same way that he deals with politics.
ReplyDeleteIn an interview, Mieville agreed with the statement: “You might not be interested in politics, but it is interested in you.” With this, Mieville is saying that while his writing might be making some sort of political statement, it is not intentional. Thus, the same most likely holds true about relationships.
However, if Mieville’s writing continues to be examined in a similar fashion, it is doubtful that the state of relationships reflects his thoughts on how it will be in the future. It is much more likely that the novel is a reflection on his current thoughts. For example, Avice references her previous failed marriages. Through her discussion of the old marriages, in addition to the failure of her current marriage to Scile, it becomes evident people tend to enter a marriage without a full understanding of each other’s fundamental values. This then increases the chances of relationships surviving any unexpected hardships. The same could be said about modern relationships and the statistics surrounding divorce. People should take the time to get to know each other, instead of rushing into marriage for the sake of companionship.
Modern culture accentuates and glorifies romantic relationships. While these relationships are fundamentally important to us emotionally and physically, pop culture gives them more weight than they are worth.
ReplyDeleteIn an article written about Embassytown by Abigail Numbaum, she says, “…Miéville has managed to write sex and romance in a way that recognizes their importance without making them the crux of the story.” Miéville is not so much dismissing the importance of romance, but rather letting its importance be recognized without over-dramatizing it.
Miéville presents us with an alternatice way of approaching sexual and romantic relationships and that is by acknowledging a difference.Currently it is taboo to be sexually involved with someone other than your spouse, but Miéville argues that both a sexual and romantic relationship can be functional and seperate. Since Avice and Scile cannot engage in sexual intercourse, Avice has an open affair with the Ambassador CalVin and later on in the novel, Bren. Although Avice does have these affairs, and specifically the affair with CalVin, she seems ultimately devoted to her husband Scile. While sleeping with CalVin, on page 152, Avice asks one of CalVin, “I know you’ve seen Scile. I know. Where is he? What’s happening?” Even while with CalVin, her mind is on Scile.
Although Scile and Avice have a falling out, they thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company without ever being able to physically please each other. This is almost comforting, that in this futuristic world, two people can engage in a romantic relationship without the pressures and drive of sexual intercourse.
This is an interesting observation. Mieville seems to place a lot of emphasis on the relationships between Avice and the other characters in the book. What I find very interesting is that none of Avice's relationships that she builds throughout the book seem to be lasting relationships. I actually hadn't realized that or given that much thought until reading this post. Like you mentioned, it seems that the trauma going on in Embassytown overpowers and takes control over the relationships and friendships that Avice has.
ReplyDeleteAnother interesting point made in this blog post is that people in the society of Embassytown, and in all of the out, seem to take marriage a lot less seriously. It is true that the marriage between Avice and Scile is one that would be very odd in our society. In America, that relationship would probably be deemed impossible, or at least very dysfunctional. Also, although the divorce rate in America is rising, we seem to place a lot more emphasis on marriage as something that lasts forever, while in the society in the novel it is not even very apparent whether or not divorce is an official thing. Their marriages and relationships are a lot less binding, more open, and have blurred lines. Whether or not this means that they take marriage more lightly, it is apparent that they have a much different perception of marriage. I also find it interesting that throughout all of her marriages and sexual relationships, Avice never attempts to have children. Perhaps she has tried, but she does not mention it in her narration of the novel, which I also find very interesting.