Kim Stanley Robinson's novel, The Ministry for the Future, attempts to offer solutions to the rapidly approaching climate crisis primarily affecting underdeveloped nations. Robinson insists that major world powers must implement solutions to improve the state of the climate. The novel follows the lives of Mary Murphy, the head of The Ministry for the Future, and Frank May, a survivor of the major heat wave in India struggling with PTSD. Throughout the novel, Robinson parallels Mary's relationship with Frank to the responsibilities of major world powers to slow the effects the climate crisis as Mary attempts to console Frank in his struggles.
Although traumatic, Frank's violent and abrupt entry into Mary's life leaves her inclined to help him. Frank and Mary meet as he attacks her on her way home from dinner. He forces her into her apartment and is enraged by her inadequate efforts to decrease carbon-based energy (Robinson 98). Frank blames Mary, the head of The Ministry for the Future, for the continuously deteriorating climate as she does not do enough to help improve it. Before fleeting the scene, Frank advises, "You need to do more" (Robinson 102). Again, Frank suggests that Mary, as a powerful individual, is responsible for creating change within the world to stop the overwhelming effects of climate change which majorly effect smaller nations. After the police arrive, Robinson writes, "She realized as she spoke to them that she would never be able to tell anyone what had really happened. Things like that hour were not tellable" (103). Robinson suggests that Frank's accusations leave Mary to examine her minuscule efforts. This is confirmed as Robinson explains, "...in some ways he had fought hard to persuade her. Words like fists to the face...It was enough to make her heart hammer all over again. Her face burned with the memory" (107). Here, Mary feels guilt after her interaction with Frank as his accusations are true. Mary is left feeling sorry for Frank as she remembers his anger and frustration as he pleads for her to do more.
After Frank is arrested, Mary starts to visit him in jail. Mary reflects on her decision to keep visiting him as Robinson writes, "I visit you because I want to rest easier, because I am helping you to rest easier" (283). Mary works to help Frank, yet she feels comforted by his ease. Mary feels compelled to help Frank as their first interaction left her dissatisfied with her efforts. Through this, Mary sees Frank as a small nation, unable to help itself. Mary takes on the role of a larger nation as she feels compelled to help Frank.
Frank and Mary's relationship grows stronger as Frank is diagnosed with a brain tumor. As he enters into hospice, Mary relocates her office to his bedside as she believes he should not be left alone in his final days (Robinson 493). Mary commits herself to helping Frank through his final moments while visiting him frequently to comfort him. Soon after Frank passes, Mary steps down as the head to The Ministry for the Future (Robinson 501). Here, Mary implies that her friendship with Frank mirrors her work duties. Frank's death signals the end of her duties as his friend, and as the head of the organization, as she retires. As both jobs come to an end, they mirror each other as Mary is unable to work for the Ministry without Frank's friendship.
The comparison of Frank and Marry to developing/developed countries respectively is super interesting. In light of COP26 this relationship is even more relevant as many developing nations expressed dissatisfaction in the response of developed nations in regards to climate policy. One nation that particularly stood out in COP26 was the island nation of Tuvalu. In this instance Tuvalu representatives expressed the urgency of more effective policy to target threats they are already experiencing exponentially compared to other nations (ie. their island is sinking into the ocean). Similarly Frank has witnessed the impending disaster more dramatically then Mary has, yet as the head of the Ministry of the Future she has all the power and therefore the fate of Frank lies within her hands.
ReplyDeleteOne aspect of their relationship I find fascinating is Mary's uncertainty in why she chooses to visit him. In Chapter 68 she ponders why she wants to go to prison, remarking, “Possibly something in her wanted to make sure he was still locked up; maybe she was still afraid of the idea of him at large...It felt like some kind of duty” (Robinson 336). Mary’s mixed emotions reflect a certain dynamic of developed nations in response to developing previously colonized nations. Although the relationship between colonizing countries and those which were colonized are very complex, and vary depending on the circumstance, this allegory of Frank being imprisoned (because of Mary who feels guilty) directly translates to “first world” v. “third world” relationships. Developed nations have largely created the problems developing nations are facing, yet first world nations are not fixing these problems and therefore developing nations have no choice but to take radical actions like Frank did which still end up putting them in “jail”. It’s a vicious cycle.