Writing Style
The contents of The Year of the Flood are broken up into a few distinct sections: the Gardener's Hymns, the Adam One speeches, and the standard chapters that switch between two points of view. Each sections lends itself to revealing more details about the novel's futuristic society and provides a larger background for the reader. In A Handmaid's Tale, Atwood does not deviate from the regular chapter approach save for giving titles to groups for chapters (for example, the section titled The Salvaging refers to chapters 41 -46). Both stories however, rely on flashbacks of the main characters to explain how the situation evolved to where it was in the novel. The Year of the Flood has two main characters from completely different, but still intermingled, backgrounds while A Handmaid's Tale only has one. Also, it it worth noting the amount of each story that takes place in the past. A Handmaid's Tale has only brief flashbacks that serve mostly to satisfy reader curiosity. The majority of The Year of the Flood is memories from the two main characters and only a small portion takes place during the Flood and the events of the present.
Themes
Environmentalism- This is the most prominent and obvious theme in the novel because of characters such as the Gardeners and the supposed enviromental disaster that is the frame for the whole story. Both of the main characters, Ren and Toby, are members of the radical environmental sect known as God's Gardeners who believe it is their duty to survive God's Waterless Flood (a refer to the second coming of Noah's flood) and repopulate the human race in a more pure, earth-loving form. This group condemns the killing of any sort of animal (even squashing a fly requires praying for forgiveness) as well as material .attachment and the use of non-recycled materials. They plan meticulously for the Flood, learning survival skills that won't endanger the planet At the end of the story, after the Flood of a deadly virus kills nearly everyone, the only survivors that the reader can see are indeed Gardeners. Atwood, however, does not permit all Gardeners to live which may suggest that nature can even trump extensive human knowledge and preparation.
Corporate Control- In the novel, there are only two social classes: those who live in the corporate compounds and those who live in the Pleeblands, or slums. Public police have long since vanished and the laws are upheld by Corporate controlled police known as the CorpSeCorps. The CorpSeCorp have similar mortal structure to a drug cartel. They act in the interests of the Corporations alone and if a person were to cross a Corporation, that person would most likely "mysteriously" vanish and turn up dead in a vacant lot somewhere. Corporations control nearly all jobs, including those in the now-legal sex industry, as well as all the supposed laws. The term "laws" is used very loosely because the rules change in accordance to what Corporations desire at the time. The character Toby is constantly running from the Corporations and it is partially through her that the reader gains a negative view of all things Corporate. She sees the corruption in the Corporations better than most people and she realizes that this Government-Corporate hybrid of society is beneficial to only a few people(those that know how to milk the system) and harmful to the average person. By voicing a rebellious character, Atwood sends a powerful testament to the might of corporations (even today) and the consequences that could be should they rise to this level.
Corporate Control- In the novel, there are only two social classes: those who live in the corporate compounds and those who live in the Pleeblands, or slums. Public police have long since vanished and the laws are upheld by Corporate controlled police known as the CorpSeCorps. The CorpSeCorp have similar mortal structure to a drug cartel. They act in the interests of the Corporations alone and if a person were to cross a Corporation, that person would most likely "mysteriously" vanish and turn up dead in a vacant lot somewhere. Corporations control nearly all jobs, including those in the now-legal sex industry, as well as all the supposed laws. The term "laws" is used very loosely because the rules change in accordance to what Corporations desire at the time. The character Toby is constantly running from the Corporations and it is partially through her that the reader gains a negative view of all things Corporate. She sees the corruption in the Corporations better than most people and she realizes that this Government-Corporate hybrid of society is beneficial to only a few people(those that know how to milk the system) and harmful to the average person. By voicing a rebellious character, Atwood sends a powerful testament to the might of corporations (even today) and the consequences that could be should they rise to this level.
Characters
Toby- Born into the Helthwyzer Corporate Compound. Mother fell ill when she was a child and died with an exorbitant amount of debt that Toby's father had taken out two loans to pay. Toby's father lost his job while caring for his wife and committed suicide out of stress and depression. Orphaned Toby quit college and erased her identity to escape her family's debt. Later, Toby becomes the target of the rapist/sadist/murderer Blanco and to escape her impending death she joins the Gardeners who offer her asylum. Toby later becomes one of the core members of the Gardeners and learns all their tricks of survival. Toby is one of the few who survive the Flood by being secluded in the health spa Anooyoo. When the story is told from her point of view it is third person.
Ren- Born into a high ranking Corporate family to a self absorbed mother and passive father. Her father is killed in a business deal and she and her mother Lucerne are demoted. Ren joins the Gardeners with Lucerne and is educated in their ways. Ren runs away and is employed at Scales and Tails, a high end sex club, as a trapeze artist. She escaped the Flood by being locked in quarantine. Ren proves to be very adaptive and deals with stressful situations well. Whenever the story switches to her point of view, it switches to first person.
Adam One- The highest ranking member of the Gardeners. He insists to everyone that the Gardeners have no leader and are all equal but it is clear his word is the most valued. He preaches the values of sustainability, harmony, and respect for animals and it is his voice that gives the sermon-like speeches on each of the Saint days at the beginning of each section.
Zeb- Another high ranking member of the Gardeners who is also involved in its inner circle of Adams and Eves. Zeb is one of the seedier Gardeners whose role is never quite brought fully to light. He takes on the less desirable jobs required for the Gardener's survival, many times dealing with local gangs. Toby falls in love with him at the end of the novel.
Amanda- A friend of Ren who is described as being fearless and headstrong. She becomes a member of the Gardeners after Ren convinces her. She is manipulative in the fact that she deceives the Adams and Eves into believing she is a pure girl who is utterly smitten with the Gardener philosophy, when in reality, she buys very little of it. Amanda and Ren leave the Gardeners for a time and Amanda escapes the Flood by being in the remote wilderness. She is later captured, tortured, and raped by Blanco and his buddies and later rescued by Ren.
Ren- Born into a high ranking Corporate family to a self absorbed mother and passive father. Her father is killed in a business deal and she and her mother Lucerne are demoted. Ren joins the Gardeners with Lucerne and is educated in their ways. Ren runs away and is employed at Scales and Tails, a high end sex club, as a trapeze artist. She escaped the Flood by being locked in quarantine. Ren proves to be very adaptive and deals with stressful situations well. Whenever the story switches to her point of view, it switches to first person.
Adam One- The highest ranking member of the Gardeners. He insists to everyone that the Gardeners have no leader and are all equal but it is clear his word is the most valued. He preaches the values of sustainability, harmony, and respect for animals and it is his voice that gives the sermon-like speeches on each of the Saint days at the beginning of each section.
Zeb- Another high ranking member of the Gardeners who is also involved in its inner circle of Adams and Eves. Zeb is one of the seedier Gardeners whose role is never quite brought fully to light. He takes on the less desirable jobs required for the Gardener's survival, many times dealing with local gangs. Toby falls in love with him at the end of the novel.
Amanda- A friend of Ren who is described as being fearless and headstrong. She becomes a member of the Gardeners after Ren convinces her. She is manipulative in the fact that she deceives the Adams and Eves into believing she is a pure girl who is utterly smitten with the Gardener philosophy, when in reality, she buys very little of it. Amanda and Ren leave the Gardeners for a time and Amanda escapes the Flood by being in the remote wilderness. She is later captured, tortured, and raped by Blanco and his buddies and later rescued by Ren.
Passage Analysis
This poem comes from the beginning of chapter three and is the second hymn the reader is exposed to. The poem is considerably one of the more prominent and useful hymns introduced in the book because of its connection with the rest of the Gardener’s philosophy. Because it is so early on in the story, the reader isn’t aware of this immediately, but this single hymn contains the majority of Gardener beliefs. The main focus of their beliefs is that man was created by God to life in peace with animals, forming a sort of species friendship. Over the course of time this relationship deteriorated as humans became more corrupt and greedy, even going so far as to kill other species. Gardeners reason that this divine treason has weakened us and will result in our downfall. That is the entire philosophy that guides their actions throughout the book.
Now, let’s look at how the poem is structured. The first three stanzas are speaking of a time of great prosperity and joy between species. Then, in the fourth stanza, a tone shift occurs and suddenly everything is withered and dismal. To make this more visual, highlighted on green are the positive words in the first few stanzas and highlighted in red are the more negatively connotated words of man’s Fall. The contrast is blatant, with no grey area. The Gardeners are stressing that fact that absolutely nothing good has come from this animal betrayal and that the only way to live well is to live peaceably with them is to live like man did in the first three stanzas.
Also notable is the length of time and the length of the poem’s content. In line 12, the hymn even says that that era of peace was only in the “early days”, meaning that they didn’t last very long, yet the majority of the poem is about them. In contrast, man has lived in its sinful state far longer yet fewer lines are devoted to this period. The last two lines speak of a reconciliation with animals despite man’s long history of failures. Perhaps, the inclusion of these last two lines and the short remembrance of man’ flaws are the Gardeners way of being hopeful that the short period of peace will one day become the dominant one.
Now, let’s look at how the poem is structured. The first three stanzas are speaking of a time of great prosperity and joy between species. Then, in the fourth stanza, a tone shift occurs and suddenly everything is withered and dismal. To make this more visual, highlighted on green are the positive words in the first few stanzas and highlighted in red are the more negatively connotated words of man’s Fall. The contrast is blatant, with no grey area. The Gardeners are stressing that fact that absolutely nothing good has come from this animal betrayal and that the only way to live well is to live peaceably with them is to live like man did in the first three stanzas.
Also notable is the length of time and the length of the poem’s content. In line 12, the hymn even says that that era of peace was only in the “early days”, meaning that they didn’t last very long, yet the majority of the poem is about them. In contrast, man has lived in its sinful state far longer yet fewer lines are devoted to this period. The last two lines speak of a reconciliation with animals despite man’s long history of failures. Perhaps, the inclusion of these last two lines and the short remembrance of man’ flaws are the Gardeners way of being hopeful that the short period of peace will one day become the dominant one.
Point of View
The Year of the Flood is told from a few varying yet distinct points of view. First introduced is Toby, whose view is told in third person. The reader is only able to see her actions and memories; her feelings are very rarely spoken outright. This void of emotions leads to a more objective portrayal of the story that doesn’t ever really come across as emotionally moving. When Toby’s father commits suicide, a normally traumatizing event, Toby states that she was sad but the words themselves are very matter-of-fact. Toby’s point of view, being that it is objective, contains most of the story’s plain facts, including details about the Corporations and the Gardeners. Her memories aren’t spiced up to make them more exciting; they tell the reader what they need to know to understand the background setting. Another notable feature of this third person point of view is the way characterization occurs. Since personal thoughts aren’t often available in Toby’s viewpoint, the characters’ actions are the only way for a reader to analyze a character. This sometimes leads to a question of motive when considering why a character would do a particular thing. Shadier characters such as Zeb are often the subject of this confusion.
The second point of view that is expressed is Ren’s, which is told in first person. The simple use of the word “I” adds a layer of compassion to the reader’s relationship with Ren that was nonexistent with Toby. Using “I” adds a personal depth to Ren that the reader becomes attached too. When Ren mentions the sexually perverse acts she has to perform with customers, it is not “she had to” it is “I had to”, which evokes stronger emotion. Ren's viewpoint also provides a contrast with Toby's as the story progresses. Both characters are members of the Gardeners at one point or another and each of them appears in the other’s sections. When the Flood occurs, Toby secludes herself in Anooyoo Spa and rides out the wave of death. She describes the horrors of watching the disease progress, but from her safe zone where she is more detached. At the same time, Ren is locked in quarantine in Scales and Tails watching the same fate befall her coworkers and boss just steps away from her chamber. Her fear and revulsion is tangible to the reader, whereas Toby reacts more passively to the same terrors.
The second point of view that is expressed is Ren’s, which is told in first person. The simple use of the word “I” adds a layer of compassion to the reader’s relationship with Ren that was nonexistent with Toby. Using “I” adds a personal depth to Ren that the reader becomes attached too. When Ren mentions the sexually perverse acts she has to perform with customers, it is not “she had to” it is “I had to”, which evokes stronger emotion. Ren's viewpoint also provides a contrast with Toby's as the story progresses. Both characters are members of the Gardeners at one point or another and each of them appears in the other’s sections. When the Flood occurs, Toby secludes herself in Anooyoo Spa and rides out the wave of death. She describes the horrors of watching the disease progress, but from her safe zone where she is more detached. At the same time, Ren is locked in quarantine in Scales and Tails watching the same fate befall her coworkers and boss just steps away from her chamber. Her fear and revulsion is tangible to the reader, whereas Toby reacts more passively to the same terrors.
Plot Diagram
A- Introduction. Both Ren and Toby describe the world's new, post-Flood situation.
B- Toby's memories give background to her past. Adam One appears for the first time and Toby joins Gardeners to escape Blanco's wrath.
C- Ren officially enters the scene. She describes her experiences with the Gardeners. Amanda also introduced.
D- Toby becomes assistant to Pilar, Eve Six, and is taught about the medicinal uses of plants and their applications.
E- Burt, Adam Thirteen, is arrested for drug production by the CorpSeCorps. His husk is later found in a vacant lot missing internal organs and bearing severe freezer burn. The power of the Corporations becomes more apparent.
F- Pilar diagnosed with cancer.
G- Pilar dies and Toby replaces her as the new Eve Six. Toby discovers the hidden inter-workings of the Gardeners' Adams and Eves.
H- Ren leaves the Gardeners and begins working a Scales and Tales.
I- Blanco appears to try and kill Toby. It is decided that Toby needs to leave the Gardener's base and go into hiding under a new identity.
J- Toby is employed at Anooyoo Spa.
K- The Flood begins. Society starts dying out in mass.
L- After a massacre at Scales and Tails, Ren is the sole survivor.
M- Ren and Amanda are captured by Blanco and his buddies.
N- Toby rescues Ren, though not able to save Amanda.
O- A Gardener named Oates is found slaughtered by Blanco's men by Ren and Toby.
P- Toby and Ren discover other living Gardeners, including Zeb.
Q- A group of Gardeners rescue Amanda and put a stop to Blanco's buddies.
B- Toby's memories give background to her past. Adam One appears for the first time and Toby joins Gardeners to escape Blanco's wrath.
C- Ren officially enters the scene. She describes her experiences with the Gardeners. Amanda also introduced.
D- Toby becomes assistant to Pilar, Eve Six, and is taught about the medicinal uses of plants and their applications.
E- Burt, Adam Thirteen, is arrested for drug production by the CorpSeCorps. His husk is later found in a vacant lot missing internal organs and bearing severe freezer burn. The power of the Corporations becomes more apparent.
F- Pilar diagnosed with cancer.
G- Pilar dies and Toby replaces her as the new Eve Six. Toby discovers the hidden inter-workings of the Gardeners' Adams and Eves.
H- Ren leaves the Gardeners and begins working a Scales and Tales.
I- Blanco appears to try and kill Toby. It is decided that Toby needs to leave the Gardener's base and go into hiding under a new identity.
J- Toby is employed at Anooyoo Spa.
K- The Flood begins. Society starts dying out in mass.
L- After a massacre at Scales and Tails, Ren is the sole survivor.
M- Ren and Amanda are captured by Blanco and his buddies.
N- Toby rescues Ren, though not able to save Amanda.
O- A Gardener named Oates is found slaughtered by Blanco's men by Ren and Toby.
P- Toby and Ren discover other living Gardeners, including Zeb.
Q- A group of Gardeners rescue Amanda and put a stop to Blanco's buddies.