Robinson's Voice in Personified Subjects

The Ministry for the Future is Kim Stanley Robinson’s letter to society. Robinson’s objective is to spur his readers into action, but some chapters are written as a direct order. This authorial voice is most seen in Robinson’s chapters dedicated to personifying subjects and forces a perspective that compels the reader to feel they are being told an action. Robinson uses personification in The Ministry for the Future because he believes the actions he orders his readers to take, are keys to improving our earthly problem called climate change.

Often, Robinson does not tell the reader the subject he personifies, but expects the reader to know it by the context of the second person point-of-view. For example in chapter two, the narrator is the sun because it identifies itself as something that “keep[s] [us] alive” and “spin[s] outside the sky” (13). As the sun, Robinson warns his readers that although the sun now “feed[s] [us]”, it will “someday… eat [us]” (13) which if anything, is an allusion to the effect of the sun’s heat to earth’s ever-growing climate change. 

Like a letter to society, each personified narrative is catered towards certain readers so the degree of imminent danger is clearly reciprocated. For example, there is the market that claims it is “so large that [it] ate the world” (192), a warning targeting specifically those readers in a capitalist society. Then there is the voice of the photon who has a lighter tone that is more approachable for certain types of readers. However, it still has the dire effect because it states topics as very matter-of-fact. The narrator, a photon, relates itself as immortal and immutable and unable to control its course as it “bang[s]” (236) across earth and atmosphere and inevitably affects climate change. With these subjects, Robinson tells his readers to watch for these things because they are the key players to earth’s growing disaster.

Robinson is demanding in his novel. As he personifies history in chapter seventy-seven, he declares, “now make me good” (385), his direct order to society to save the earth. The biggest key to Robinson’s vision is in the last chapter where he creates a second point-of-view personification of an unrevealed subject. It is “a thing” (491) which means inadvertently, it could also be just about anything. The biggest question is the identity of Robinson’s last subject which is neither alive nor dead, conscious or unconscious, not a mother but also many mothers (491). Robinson’s order, “now find me out” (491) reveals that the subject prompted in this chapter is what society might call the “cure” to climate change. This order orbits Robinson’s claim to the perpetual demise of the world as society knows it, but also submits to hope of a resolution or a subject that combats all the other personified forces.

A lack of motivation when fighting climate change

 The Ministry for the Future, Blog Post 3 

The failure of combative action against the climate crisis is explored all throughout the novel The Ministry for the Future, and why people lack the ‘motivation’ to prevent environmental disaster. Countries are willing to turn a blind eye to disasters that happen in other parts of the world, for example, the deadly heat wave that massacred India (pages 1-12) at the start of this novel. Nations will offer ‘thoughts and prayers’ or some may send supplies to help the survivors, but they will not stop the actions that allow disasters like this to happen. These types of natural disasters linger over every nation and continent, but the powerful nations will not stop their production of pollution because the impact has yet to affect them. This ideology is present in every country and when individuals are asked why they do not believe climate change will be combated they state, “The narcissism of small differences… Means more regard for yourself than for your allies or the problems you both face” (page 505). This is the mindset that can be seen within the ‘rich and powerful’ nations, who in turn are the largest producers of pollution. The pollution they produce is from a life of comfort that they are used to. These nations do not want to give up the comforts they have grown accustomed to. It is the comforts of daily life that destroy the earth and environment the most. It creates large amounts of damage to the environment and natural elements in the world. 

In addition, part of the answer lies within the national identity of each given citizen and nation. When one focuses on the American mentality, one can find an individualist motivation. Americans tend to be self-motivated and self-concerned focusing on the ‘me’ rather than the ‘we’. It is a mindset built into their society and perpetuated throughout history. This mindset is on full display at the beginning of the novel. Also, Americans are used to a form of geographical and ideological isolation from the rest of the world. From major conflicts, such as World Wars, territorial disputes, and other pressures America is always far removed from a given conflict. Until a conflict directly impacts or occurs within America the nation tends to watch from afar. When a massive flood hits the city of Los Angeles a local woman remarks on the impact of how the natural disaster has destroyed the city saying, “So as we were paddling in our kayaks, people were saying to each other, This whole f*****g  place is gone! Everything is going to have to be torn out! The entire city of Los Angeles will have to be replaced” (page 279). A major American city is completely destroyed and damaged all because humans cannot give up parts of their polluting lifestyle. Not only have Americans lost a historically important city, but now they must face the financial cost of climate change too. This moment forces the American people to wake up to the reality around them. The message that climate change is here and happening has finally occurred on American soil. The issue has become real to Americans at this point, and now they can no longer ignore the problem. Climate change is a universal issue and if it is not treated as such there is no way to fight against it.

The Success Story of India

     In the novel, "The Ministry for the Future" by Kim Stanley Robinson, a character named Chandra makes a very powerful statement, "Everyone knows, but no one acts" (Robinson 20). In this world created in the novel, climate change is affecting everyone, yet most countries aren't making any changes. The glaciers were melting, LA was flooding, and there were multiple deadly heatwaves. Significantly, the novel starts in India with a massive heat wave. It killed everyone but one survivor, Frank. This motivated India to start acting. They were the first country to make major changes to the government to combat climate change. Their first change was to first-hand deal with the deadly temperatures. As the Ministry of the Future discussed, "'Our geoengineering people are saying that if they do it as planned, it will equate to about the same as the Pinatubo volcanic of 1991. That lowered global temperature by about a degree Fahrenheit, for a year or two" (18). They lowered the global temperature for several years which prevented deadly heat waves from occurring for a while. India was very successful in fighting the effects of climate change. Additionally, India completely remodeled their government. They became a true democracy and nationalized the majority of their companies, as stated, "Since sweeping the elections, the National Coalition government has completed the nationalization of all the country's energy companies, and set to work decommissioning all coal-fired plants" (141). By nationalizing these companies, they were able to end the big private businesses and have control over the fossil fuels being used. India's government was able to act and fight against the capitalist system. Lastly, India restored their lands and animals. During Mary's visit to India, she saw that they went completely organic in their farming, created local tenure rights for local farmers, and gave land to the animals (141). These acts brought beauty back to the land, provided food for millions, and most importantly lowered carbon emissions. India first-hand experienced the horrors of climate change; therefore, they wanted to take action against it. They were very successful in all aspects of their plans and became a model for all countries in the novel. They were ready to act. 

The Approach Dilemma of the Climate Crisis

 In The Ministry for the Future, the imminent catastrophes of climate change dawn on humanity to very different degrees. The most vulnerable populations are the most desperate for change because of their proximity to tragedy, while the powerful heads of financial institutions fail to see the need for action. Between the two extremes lies the Ministry for the Future, a passionate moderator that empathizes with the victims of climate change but must remain patient with money-controlling figures.  

After Frank survives the horrors of environmental disaster, he feels rage at the lack of response and accountability from world leaders and corporations. They "[are] watching…, they [know] but... [don't] act" (12). To channel his desperation into an initiative for change, he reaches out to the Children of Kali. This extremist group has been a victim and witness to climate change's horrors within developing countries. Like Frank, they are tired, rageful, and desperate for action, which is why they resort to violence as their only means to enact change. Their mantra is: "they killed us, so we killed them" (133).  

 

The Children of Kali’s attacks are aimed towards those who deliriously portray themselves as  
"[p]atriotic politicians” and “hard-working corporate executives" (30) when, in reality, they are the root cause of the problem. Their narrow-mindedness makes them contemplate their capitalist, self-centered actions as well-meaning and strategic. They bat an eye during India's heat wave, and when they are held hostage in Davos to watch footage of the tragedies their own actions have caused, they unremorsefully describe it as cliché (162), exclaiming that the whole experience has zero effect on them (164). They pretend they are driven by the best interest of "their beloved nation's citizens" (30) when truthfully, they are careless about the repercussions of their money-centered actions. 

 

As head of the Ministry for the Future, Mary is responsible for finding realistic and enforceable solutions to the climate crisis. Yet, her dependency on world leaders and financial institutions to enact the change she is proposing creates an ineffective stalemate. To those who have been deeply affected by the effects of climate change, that stalemate seems like an act of nothingness from the Ministry for the Future. As Frank tells Mary, "stop thinking with your bourgeois values… [because] the stakes are too high to hide behind them anymore" (97). She knows what the future holds, but people like Frank have experienced its unimaginable consequences in flesh and bone. This makes her more aggressive with her commands and more radical with her strategic decisions. 

 
Robinson's The Ministry for the Future showcases battling ideologies and approaches to combat climate change. It focusses on how the strong willingness of many may be put to a halt by the inaction of a powerful few. Yet, by the end of the novel, there is hope that battling approaches can intertwine through compromise and progressively work towards a better world.   

India and its Unique Position for Change

         In Robertson’s The Ministry for the Future, the price India has to pay for a wake-up call is unimaginable. They experience a heat wave so drastic that millions suffer and then perish from hyperthermia and dehydration. Robinson describes this hellish landscape as he writes, “People murmured what should have been screams of grief; those who could still move shoved bodies out of the lake,” (12). Humanity is stripped from so many people during those weeks as they fall into zombie-like states, boiling alive in the relentless, torturous heat. Nature showed no mercy to the Indian people in that time, and out of the experience India is so scarred by the tragedy that they are willing to do absolutely anything to prevent a return of that hell. Thus, their motto, “never again,” is born (127). They consider the impacts of climate change on their country and, moving forward, refuse to perpetuate any systems that allowed the massacre to happen in the first place. 

        India is in a unique position to change in the novel because they experienced such large-scale devastation. In the United States, for example, hurricanes and wildfires happen frequently, but have yet to cause as extreme suffering as was seen in India. Speaking for the people of India, page 125 states: “We remain horrified by the memory of the heat wave, galvanized” (125). The key word is “remain,” because as long as the memory invokes suffering in the hearts of the Indian people, they will be determined to make a change. Other countries move past the incident easily and continue recklessly burning fossil fuels because they have not directly suffered from their recklessness. Even after being held hostage, many of the wealthy CEOs responsible for wide-spread environmental devastation return to their cushy jobs and extravagant lifestyles without batting an eye.

        Fueled by a desire to avenge their loved ones, India makes drastic changes to their government, agriculture, and power sources. They send the message that hope for the future is only available if countries are willing to adapt, and India has no interest in waiting to see if other nations will change first. With the BJP political party blamed for environmental destruction, a new party called the Coalition takes control. It is no surprise that such a group comes to power, as unity is a driving force in India since the heat wave. India is hopeful about their future as they transition to more localized agriculture that relies on harnessing solar power and taking advantage of the sheer size of their population for labor (126). With a unified goal, previous divisions such as the caste system are being dismantled and efforts are focused on preserving the environment. This brings even more hope to the nation because they are learning to recognize the value of each citizen and have a desire to preserve that value. A meeting notes page sums India’s new sentiment as it reads, “Aggressive pride. Don’t tread on me. No outsider gets to tell India what to do, not anymore. Never again” (142). 

        As for the question of whether India should always obey “a treaty written up by developed nations outside of tropics and their dangers,” one should consider the conditions at the time the Paris Agreement was signed (140). Nations were likely weary of future disasters and wanting to band together to prevent devastation, but no one could have anticipated the drastic suffering that the heat wave in India caused. The nations described in the quote were also further removed from the effects of these sorts of extreme natural disasters from the start, and so their policies would likely not be as catered towards countries like India. Thus, when the unimaginable heat wave hit India, India was not willing to jump through hoops and wait for approval to start saving their people. They needed to ensure that the heat wave would not continue, and the Paris Agreement simply could not be at the forefront of their decisions due to its slow processes. While the goal of the Paris Agreement was to have a united front against climate change, Robison makes clear that each country is truly focused on its own interests, and in India’s case the best course of action after the heat wave was to forgo the Agreement’s policies. 

Human Connection vs Narcissism

 

“...everything affects everyone”: Tess Gunty’s The Rabbit Hutch explores how a community of out-of-touch and seemingly distant residents can teach readers about the importance of human connection (Gunty 49).

Elsie Blitz was a celebrity much loved by one of the Rabbit Hutch residents (Hope, the mother who feared her baby’s eyes). When she died, her self-written online obituary was monitored by Joan, another resident. The relevance of connection is explored in the words written by Blitz herself. Even just regarding her and her death, the reader can see how two separate individuals are both affected by her - Joan is affected at work, and Hope is affected personally. Elsie's statement supports this idea: “...we are interconnected and interdependent, no matter how fiercely narcissism reigns” (Gunty 47). In the context of the apartment complex, this highlights that no matter how much in solitude the residents of the Rabbit Hutch are, they are still connected in some way, shape, or form. While these connections are primarily seen at the novel's end, they are developed throughout. Gunty highlights narcissism and connectedness as opposing forces, yet based on this novel, I believe one cannot exist without the other.

The Rabbit Hutch exists in the Vacca Vale community, a beat-down Indiana town depicted as desolate and rundown. This isolating environment contributes to the “fierce reign” or narcissism of certain characters, such as Joan. When Blandine is stabbed, she hears suspicious onesies but chooses to act in her self-interest and not intervene or check to see if her neighbor is all right. However, when she finds out what truly happened, she is overcome with guilt and visits Blandine, her strange teenage neighbor, in the hospital. Her narcissistic acts leading to a closer connection emphasizes the point that even in the worst situations, there is a balance between humans acting as community and activating their interest - and the setting of Vacca Vale is an ideal example to explore this idea, as the reader can see what diverse people from all walks of life can create (violent or not), after establishing mutual connections.

The Significance of Names in Ministry for the Future

  

A subtle aspect of the storytelling in The Ministry for the Future is the names of the characters. While Frank and Mary are both common names, the meaning of these names also reflects the role the characters play in the story. 

One of Frank’s major contributions to the story is his influence on Mary. His search to contribute to the fight against climate change leads him to kidnapping Mary at gunpoint and confronting her about the Ministry for the Future’s lack of real change. He's brutally honest to Mary about the Ministry’s failures. “You’re not doing everything you can, and what you are doing isn’t going to be enough” (96), he tells her. These are thoughts Mary herself has had but has attempted to confine to her “insomniac whirlpools of thought” (96). Frank doesn’t sugarcoat his words or wrap them in the layers of bureaucracy that Mary often deals with. Even after this night, Mary continues to discuss political matters with him in this fashion, referring to later conversations as “falling back again into the pattern of their first night” (397). Frank, aside from being a name, is an adjective that denotes a person's ability to freely express their opinions; to be blunt, direct and forthright. All of these describe Frank’s role in the narrative perfectly. In a novel full of politicians, he’s one of the few characters who pulls no verbal punches. 

Mary’s name isn’t as straightforward. There are many different ways of interpreting her name in relation to the narrative. The name Mary largely originates from the Virgin Mary from Christianity. The Virgin Mary is often used as a symbol of motherhood and maternal strength. As the head of the Ministry for the Future, Mary’s express purpose is to protect the people of the future. As such, she’s providing a maternal sense of protection towards entire generations of people. Additionally, the name Mary can also mean “bitter”. An article on the religious symbolism of the name writes that “[t]he meaning can refer to Mary’s bitter suffering at the cross and her many tears of sorrow” (Kosloski). Mary as a character suffers for her role, describing the worries as having “kept her awake at night, night after night” (96). She also expresses bitterness towards the bureaucracy she deals with, complaining that “[t]hey were only really doing things to try to ameliorate the situation... after it was too late” (295). Mary as a character embodies both meanings of her name; being both a protector who fights for those of the future and someone who suffers and feels bitterness because of the role she must fill. 

 

Citations 

Kosloski, Philip. "The Surprising Meaning behind the Virgin Mary’s Name." Aleteia, 12 Sept. 

 2017, aleteia.org/2017/09/12/the-spiritual-meaning-of-the-virgin-marys-name/.  

 Accessed 12 Nov. 2023.