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Reality and Dreams in Oryx and Crake

By: Ansel Rosenberg

What is Reality?

“reality is the state of things as they actually exist, rather than as they may appear or might be imagined”.

Through the thoughts and actions of Crake, Atwood challenges the reader’s typical, unexamined assumption of what is “real” and what is not.

““Do you think they’re really being executed?” he [Jimmy] said. “A lot of them look like simulations.”

“You never know,” said Crake. “you never know what?” “What is reality?”” (83).

“”Why?” said Crake. “Anyway, this is a real set.”

“No it’s not.” “Okay, granted, but neither is plastic

men.” “What?” “The real set is in your head.” (77)

“You mean, did they occur in nature or were they created by the hand of man? In other words, are they real or fake?”

“Mm,” said Jimmy. He didn’t want to get into the what is real thing with Crake.

“You know when people get their hair dyed or their teeth done? Or women who get their tits enlarged?”

Yeah?” “After it happens, that’s what they look like in real time.

The process is no longer important.” (200)

“I thought you didn’t believe in God,” said Jimmy. “I don’t believe in Nature either,” said Crake. “Or not with

a capital N” (206)

What is a Dream?

“A dream is a succession of images, ideas, emotions and sensations that occur involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep”.

“We are not here to play, to dream, to drift. We are here to practice Life Skills” (42)

“Every moment he’s lived in the past few months was dreamed first by Crake. No wonder Crake screamed so much.” (218)

The End