The novel "The Ministry for the Future" written by Kim Stanley Robinson tells the story of the future and its devastating effects of climate change. The novel offers insight into what the future will look like if the climate change issue is not addressed before it's too late. It uses violence, science, politics and storytelling to give a depiction of a possible outcome of the world. Robinson is able to make rational claims to back up his ideas, causing readers to believe this story could one day be a reality.
Two characters in the novel are central to Robinson getting his point across. Mary is the head of the Ministry for the Future and Frank is an American who was greatly impacted by the heat wave in India and now struggles with PTSD, depression and other cognitive issues. The night when Frank kidnaps Mary is only the start of their relationship. Frank brings up his concerns with Mary about how nothing is truly working to combat climate change, he suggest doing something more such as implementing violence to get the point across. Mary, who values working within the law and avoided such acts sees his side. When Frank says this approach is not working, Mary "shrugged unhappily, looking away. "It's a process"" she says (Robinson 99). Her body language suggests that she knows what he is saying is true and her response shows her frustration of how the legal route requires time and will often not make big changes. Even though Mary rejects his ideas, she understands his point of view and goes onto inquiry about a black wing when she talks with Badim.
Throughout the novel, readers see two different approaches to solving a bigger problem; however, neither characters are successful in their endeavors. Robinson is able to show how there are two different people, taking very different actions to work towards a common goal. This is the abnormality of their relationship that seems to turn into some sort of friendship. The fact that both of them are not able to offer successful solutions to climate change suggests how serious and difficult this is and will be in the future. It also shows the complexity of the problem and allows Robinson to show that this matter cannot be handled lightly. This novel works as a warning to society that something needs to be done sooner rather than later. Additionally, Robinson views the novel as a utopia - which is interesting because it does not seem like an ideal world to live in. He goes further into his warning by suggesting that avoiding the end of the world and human population should be viewed as an ideal world as our future has the potential to be difficult and torturous.
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