| Xen: Ancient English Edition by D. J. Solomon |
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Second Place $250.00 scholarship & matching award to school
Utopias, or rather dystopias, in past literature scared readers because there was a
possibility that they could exist. However, the state of utopia portrayed in Xen is too
perfect that human nature itself prevents humans from reaching that goal. The main
reason it exists in the novel is because Pawkey Seneschal altered human DNA and
destroyed the seven deadly sins, or at least reduced them to the extent where they are
not so sinful.
Greed and gluttony still exist, but they are not as detrimental to society as they are in
the present world. Muliebris explains that in her world, "there is a cornucopia of
resources, or at least anything that anyone might need or want for their daily existence"
(Solomon 137). People still desire materialities, most likely more than they need to
survive on, but since all the resources are available for everyone, everyone is able to
acquire more than they need. However, this excessive consumption steals from neither
others, nor the general welfare of the state because there is no competition in Muliebris'
world. Everyone may be guilty of greed or gluttony only because society offers equal
resources to its members. They are no longer sins, but luxuries for everyone.
In the present world, humans are naturally competitive because society allows them to
be better than others and most people will take advantage of that opportunity. Many
times people will risk their own lives or sacrifice others to achieve their own goal.
Nations fight bloody wars to prove their strength and superiority. Even in professional
team sports, there will always be a winner and a loser. The current human society is
structured in a hierarchy. There have been many attempts in history to try to break this
hierarchy, such as the formation of communist nations, but most failed. This hierarchy is
permanent because the competitiveness of human nature nourishes it. As long as
humans exist, competition will coexist. People in Muliebris' society do things because
they want to, not because they feel obliged to surpass others in order to achieve their
own goals.
The want for more money is vital to human competition, but in Muliebris' world, "anything
is available to all members of Society" so "there isn't a need for money" (139). Many
crimes originate from the desire of money. In capitalist societies, people need to work
for money because money buys all the commodities required to live, such as food,
clothing, housing, and health care. However, money is not distributed evenly among the
workers. There is a hierarchy of those who own billions of dollars on the top and those
who own almost nothing on the bottom. This creates a problem because those who
have no money or not much are sometimes forced to commit crimes to gain the money
for survival.
Pride and envy no longer exist because everyone treats everyone else equally.
Muliebris explains "those with illustrious careers, who make many breakthroughs and
create many original ideas are no more celebrated or revered than anyone else" (138).
These people are genuinely motivated by their own interest and love for their work.
They fail to think of themselves as more or less valuable than others because society
respects them all equally despite their level of work. Such a system cannot work in the
present world because, once again, a hierarchy of respect exists. Those with
"illustrious" careers are revered more so than those with average jobs based on the
importance of their work. People today are celebrated for their achievements more so
than those without any are. Once society gives recognition to those who accomplish
more than others, humans will seek this glory.
In Muliebris' world, jealousy does not exist because "nobody has anything that you can't
have" (138). If someone wants something that another has, then he or she simply goes
to the market to acquire it. There is no such thing as money so nothing limits people
from getting what they want. If there is something that one wants, but is not in the
market, then he or she can ask for a customized item (141). In the present world, there
is definitely money and money restricts people from getting what they want. People can
only buy what their money will allow them. Wealthy people will undoubtedly buy more
than poor people will. Poor people might then be jealous of all the things wealthy people
own and want those for themselves. Jealousy over non-material things such as special
skills or talents is also rare in Muliebris' utopia because everybody does things based
on what they want to do. Her grandmother says "there is always someone better
looking, smarter, or more capable at a particular task or problem ... but accordingly,
there is no enmity for anyone's successes or adventures" (138). While current humans
always compare themselves to others, Muliebris' people are only concerned with their
own abilities, hardly ever comparing themselves to others because they understand that
different people have different strengths.
Another advantage of Muliebris' society is the absence of lust. She says that "no woman
or man is physically capable of undertaking sexual intercourse and achieving an
orgasm... unless in love and married to one who loves as dearly, and with whom they
have been intimate in this status on a regular basis for a substantial period of time"
(151-152). Obviously, this was a result of Pawkey's DNA transformations and is
impossible to achieve by current humans. Sexual intercourse is an ability humans
possess that does not require love or marriage. Many times sex is driven by lust and
lust can drive people to commit adultery or vicious crimes such as rape.
Anger no longer exists because the advanced DNA of the new species allows them to
live happily and peacefully. Pawkey designed this new generation of human beings "with
kindness in their hearts" which becomes the "one dominant characteristic of those who
survived" the virus outbreak (179). Kindness is no longer a choice that people make,
but rather a characteristic, a part of human nature. In addition, "people try to do that
which they have agreed to do" (138). Everyone is reasonable now and will not do or say
things that can harm or displease themselves or others. Such circumstances can never
exist with present Homo sapiens because anger is one of the basic human emotions,
but Pawkey erased it all to form his perfect world. Every generation after that will exhibit
the same kindness in their lives because kindness is permanently encoded in their DNA.
The last deadly sin, sloth, is also gone. Muliebris says "physically you are competitive"
and "have exercised for as long as you can remember; all but a few people enjoy some
challenge and regular deployment of their bodies" (156). In her society, there is no
excuse for any laziness because people already do what they like to do. If they become
tired of their interests, they may choose another career, but when they stop working
altogether, then the society can no longer function.
Pawkey's new world is almost too perfect to believe, but there are also some
weaknesses. First, the absence of anger can be an advantage to human relationship,
but also as a loss of freedom because it limits the human range of emotions. However, it
is also understandable why Pawkey eliminated anger because anger often results in
violent situations so the absence of such a passionate emotion is necessary for the
creation of peaceful communities. Second, humans also lost their sexual freedom.
People can no longer choose who they wish to have sex with; biology controls that
choice now.
Another important reason why Pawkey's world is unreachable by modern humans is the
fact that nobody is "brainwashed on any physical or stimulus dependent Drug,
repressed in one manner or another" (141). Utopians in past literature are more
believable because most require the people take some type of drug or propaganda
issued by a totalitarian institution in order for them to behave so ideally. Real humans
are not able to do so in large quantities because humans are individualistic and the
individual will disrupt the general trends of the majority. Muliebris and her people are
able to behave so ideally on their own only because their DNA is specially designed to
do so, as opposed to the DNA of current humans, which have many weaknesses.
Before, literature only speculated how the world can reach utopia, but now we wonder if
humans will ever each it. Through Pawkey's revolutionary world, D. J. Solomon explains
that in our existence as Homo sapiens, we are physically and mentally incapable to
reach such a state of perfection no matter how hard we try. Glitches in our DNA are
what ultimately prevent us from reaching utopia. Unless there is a uniform, dramatic
change in human nature, such as Pawkey's DNA transformations, Wind would win the
bet and humans might lead to their own downfall.
Works Cited: Solomon, D. J. Xen: Ancient English Edition. Avar Press: 2004.
Utopias, or rather dystopias, in past literature scared readers because there was a
possibility that they could exist. However, the state of utopia portrayed in Xen is too
perfect that human nature itself prevents humans from reaching that goal. The main
reason it exists in the novel is because Pawkey Seneschal altered human DNA and
destroyed the seven deadly sins, or at least reduced them to the extent where they are
not so sinful.
Greed and gluttony still exist, but they are not as detrimental to society as they are in
the present world. Muliebris explains that in her world, "there is a cornucopia of
resources, or at least anything that anyone might need or want for their daily existence"
(Solomon 137). People still desire materialities, most likely more than they need to
survive on, but since all the resources are available for everyone, everyone is able to
acquire more than they need. However, this excessive consumption steals from neither
others, nor the general welfare of the state because there is no competition in Muliebris'
world. Everyone may be guilty of greed or gluttony only because society offers equal
resources to its members. They are no longer sins, but luxuries for everyone.
In the present world, humans are naturally competitive because society allows them to
be better than others and most people will take advantage of that opportunity. Many
times people will risk their own lives or sacrifice others to achieve their own goal.
Nations fight bloody wars to prove their strength and superiority. Even in professional
team sports, there will always be a winner and a loser. The current human society is
structured in a hierarchy. There have been many attempts in history to try to break this
hierarchy, such as the formation of communist nations, but most failed. This hierarchy is
permanent because the competitiveness of human nature nourishes it. As long as
humans exist, competition will coexist. People in Muliebris' society do things because
they want to, not because they feel obliged to surpass others in order to achieve their
own goals.
The want for more money is vital to human competition, but in Muliebris' world, "anything
is available to all members of Society" so "there isn't a need for money" (139). Many
crimes originate from the desire of money. In capitalist societies, people need to work
for money because money buys all the commodities required to live, such as food,
clothing, housing, and health care. However, money is not distributed evenly among the
workers. There is a hierarchy of those who own billions of dollars on the top and those
who own almost nothing on the bottom. This creates a problem because those who
have no money or not much are sometimes forced to commit crimes to gain the money
for survival.
Pride and envy no longer exist because everyone treats everyone else equally.
Muliebris explains "those with illustrious careers, who make many breakthroughs and
create many original ideas are no more celebrated or revered than anyone else" (138).
These people are genuinely motivated by their own interest and love for their work.
They fail to think of themselves as more or less valuable than others because society
respects them all equally despite their level of work. Such a system cannot work in the
present world because, once again, a hierarchy of respect exists. Those with
"illustrious" careers are revered more so than those with average jobs based on the
importance of their work. People today are celebrated for their achievements more so
than those without any are. Once society gives recognition to those who accomplish
more than others, humans will seek this glory.
In Muliebris' world, jealousy does not exist because "nobody has anything that you can't
have" (138). If someone wants something that another has, then he or she simply goes
to the market to acquire it. There is no such thing as money so nothing limits people
from getting what they want. If there is something that one wants, but is not in the
market, then he or she can ask for a customized item (141). In the present world, there
is definitely money and money restricts people from getting what they want. People can
only buy what their money will allow them. Wealthy people will undoubtedly buy more
than poor people will. Poor people might then be jealous of all the things wealthy people
own and want those for themselves. Jealousy over non-material things such as special
skills or talents is also rare in Muliebris' utopia because everybody does things based
on what they want to do. Her grandmother says "there is always someone better
looking, smarter, or more capable at a particular task or problem ... but accordingly,
there is no enmity for anyone's successes or adventures" (138). While current humans
always compare themselves to others, Muliebris' people are only concerned with their
own abilities, hardly ever comparing themselves to others because they understand that
different people have different strengths.
Another advantage of Muliebris' society is the absence of lust. She says that "no woman
or man is physically capable of undertaking sexual intercourse and achieving an
orgasm... unless in love and married to one who loves as dearly, and with whom they
have been intimate in this status on a regular basis for a substantial period of time"
(151-152). Obviously, this was a result of Pawkey's DNA transformations and is
impossible to achieve by current humans. Sexual intercourse is an ability humans
possess that does not require love or marriage. Many times sex is driven by lust and
lust can drive people to commit adultery or vicious crimes such as rape.
Anger no longer exists because the advanced DNA of the new species allows them to
live happily and peacefully. Pawkey designed this new generation of human beings "with
kindness in their hearts" which becomes the "one dominant characteristic of those who
survived" the virus outbreak (179). Kindness is no longer a choice that people make,
but rather a characteristic, a part of human nature. In addition, "people try to do that
which they have agreed to do" (138). Everyone is reasonable now and will not do or say
things that can harm or displease themselves or others. Such circumstances can never
exist with present Homo sapiens because anger is one of the basic human emotions,
but Pawkey erased it all to form his perfect world. Every generation after that will exhibit
the same kindness in their lives because kindness is permanently encoded in their DNA.
The last deadly sin, sloth, is also gone. Muliebris says "physically you are competitive"
and "have exercised for as long as you can remember; all but a few people enjoy some
challenge and regular deployment of their bodies" (156). In her society, there is no
excuse for any laziness because people already do what they like to do. If they become
tired of their interests, they may choose another career, but when they stop working
altogether, then the society can no longer function.
Pawkey's new world is almost too perfect to believe, but there are also some
weaknesses. First, the absence of anger can be an advantage to human relationship,
but also as a loss of freedom because it limits the human range of emotions. However, it
is also understandable why Pawkey eliminated anger because anger often results in
violent situations so the absence of such a passionate emotion is necessary for the
creation of peaceful communities. Second, humans also lost their sexual freedom.
People can no longer choose who they wish to have sex with; biology controls that
choice now.
Another important reason why Pawkey's world is unreachable by modern humans is the
fact that nobody is "brainwashed on any physical or stimulus dependent Drug,
repressed in one manner or another" (141). Utopians in past literature are more
believable because most require the people take some type of drug or propaganda
issued by a totalitarian institution in order for them to behave so ideally. Real humans
are not able to do so in large quantities because humans are individualistic and the
individual will disrupt the general trends of the majority. Muliebris and her people are
able to behave so ideally on their own only because their DNA is specially designed to
do so, as opposed to the DNA of current humans, which have many weaknesses.
Before, literature only speculated how the world can reach utopia, but now we wonder if
humans will ever each it. Through Pawkey's revolutionary world, D. J. Solomon explains
that in our existence as Homo sapiens, we are physically and mentally incapable to
reach such a state of perfection no matter how hard we try. Glitches in our DNA are
what ultimately prevent us from reaching utopia. Unless there is a uniform, dramatic
change in human nature, such as Pawkey's DNA transformations, Wind would win the
bet and humans might lead to their own downfall.
Works Cited: Solomon, D. J. Xen: Ancient English Edition. Avar Press: 2004.
| © Copyright 2004-2008 by Avar Press. All rights reserved. Copyright of the individual essays belongs to the respective writer and may not be reproduced in any fashion without express written permission from each author. Interested parties may contact the author via their high school or by sending correspondence to Avar Press. |
| Summer Li Mercy High School San Francisco, CA Can Humans Ever Reach Utopia? |
