Gestell and Nihilism in An Orison of Sonmi-451
Martin Heidegger asserts that gestell is the essence of technology, that denotes a way a being whereby humans see the world as a homogenous supply of standing reserves that’s purpose is to be used up and consumed indefinitely (Steele). In the sway of gestell, Leach describes nihilism as the “omission” of aspects of the world “it regards as nothing, of no account” (94). As such, gestell and nihilism form an interdependent relationship, as upon developing aspects of society to function as bestand, much of the world deemed valueless falls into perpetual obscurity. In the highly technical world described in Mitchell’s An Orison of Sonmi-451, the fabricants, whose sole purpose is to serve the corporations …show more content…
Moreover, by changing the spelling of extra to xtra, exactly to xactly, and through to thru, Mitchell is exemplifying the basic tenant of nihilism: everything deemed worthless goes underdeveloped (Leach 94) Accordingly, traffic jams are called ‘fordjams’, ‘nikes’ are shoes, and ‘disneys’ are movies. Due to the fact that speech is not overtly productive, nor an act of consumption, words are shortened and simplified in order to increase their efficiency. Words in Nea So Corpros are essentially a standing reserve, as their only purpose is to facilitate conversation that will subsequently lead to consumer interactions. As such, parts of speech deemed unimportant, such as the “e” in extra, are removed, thus demonstrating how nihilism is what happens when a world is seen only for its purpose as an exploited standing …show more content…
For Heidegger, developing a free relationship means thinking in a new, currently unimaginable way. Sonmi-451 demonstrates the prospect of transferring from a nihilistic life structured by the concept of gestell, as when she is provided the opportunity to escape Papa Song, she begins to think and learn about Neo So Corpros from an alternative perspective. With growing compassion, thought, and desire for revolution, Sonmi begins to see aspects of the world, such as the ocean, not as a resource to be exploited, but as a beautiful, memorizing and peaceful landscape (Mitchell 339). Though, despite her successful ascension, it is made evident that Sonmi was a ploy in the Union’s plan whose final execution represents the inability for fabricants to revolt. Her demise is thus an example of her function as bestand, as her failed revolt acted as a means to warn the civilians of Neo So Copros of the Copocracy’s power and the inability to up rise. While Sonmi may not be considered a revolutionary, her ability to acquire the aspects of her being suppressed by nihilism and enframing demonstrates how elements that fall back into perpetual absurdity do not vanish. Rather, Sonmi represents the prospect of