The entanglement of climate change, capitalism and oppression in The Broken Earth trilogy by N.K. Jemisin

Abstract

In this thesis, I will argue that the science fiction/fantasy literature series The Broken Earth trilogy by N.K. Jemisin (2015-2017) portrays the entanglement of exploitative capitalism, colonialism, and its relation to the natural world and natural disaster. I will argue that through this entanglement a cycle of inheritance of oppression and dehumanization is shown, and that ultimately, the trilogy as a whole makes an intervention in how we see the past, and how we might reconcile with it in hope to make a better future. In the first chapter of the analysis, I will show the entanglement of exploitative capitalism and colonialism and its oppressive and dehumanizing forces as portrayed in these novels. In the second chapter I will argue that this entanglement is intrinsically linked to the natural world through the concept of magic as portrayed in these novels, and that this leads to the dehumanization of nature as a whole, with natural disasters as a consequence. In the last chapter I will argue that this entanglement of capitalism, colonialism and the natural world is inherited by those who are marginalized and dehumanized through their cyborgian transgressions. I will argue that this cycle of inheritance as shown in these novels shows us the importance of reconciliation with the past, if we wish to make a better future.