Afterlife and Rebirth
In all the three narratives there are core elements that persist throughout particularly the presence of Walt Whitman or his poetry. The poem Leaves of Grass and its themes seem to resonate in all the stories as a unit and also individually. The poem centers on the cyclical nature of life and the idea of energy is transferred and can never die off. In the first narrative, Lucas is faced with the possibility that his brother Simon could have reincarnated within the machines during the Industrial Revolution. Furthermore, he meets with Whitman who offers a concrete explanation of the idea of rebirth and the leaves of grasses as an allegory.
As a unit, the stories share characters in that beyond sharing names their essence is seen throughout the respective individuals. Thus, the setting in three different eras with contemporary plot lines demonstrates the idea of rebirth especially the death of Simon in “In the Machine” and as a cyborg in “Like Beauty”. Consequently exploring the theory of the afterlife as death is encountered by various characters and the subject of life after death is brought up. In “Like Beauty” the young boy Luke offers his religious interpretation of the afterlife and what it means for both the living and the dead.
Technophobia versus Technophilia
Technology and machines are common motifs in the three narratives though from different perspectives and time periods. The first story is introduced during the wake of the Industrial Revolution when the idea of machines was a foreign aspect for many in society. Through Lucas, the author handles the technophobia that was experienced during the 19th century as laymen had a fear about the changing world. Beyond the natural fear of a new endeavor in society, machines brought on joblessness for some and opportunities for others. Therefore those on the disadvantaged side of progress dreaded the future of machines and those fortunate were infatuated.
Moreover, the second narrative takes place in the 21st century thus focuses on the challenges and dynamics of our contemporary society. As much as technological advancement has its advantages it has its shortcomings such as the sophistication of terror weapons. The final story is set in a dystopian civilization where cyborgs are a human race, therefore, shows them pushing the limits of science even through intergalactic travel and communication. Thus, the now interconnected galaxy with space travel and cyborgs foster attitudes about what it is to be human and hence technophobia becomes ingrained in society.
Common Humanity
The spirit of the novel is in the unified lives and universe of the three stories even though separated by time. The concept of shared humanity is therefore illustrated through the three main characters Simon, Catherine, and Lucas. Their essence is transferred from story to story even though their vocations, motives, and names vary from period to period. The author extends the idea that being human transcends time, physical body, and civilizations. Furthermore, the third narrative explores two more different sentient beings the Nadian aliens and cyborgs as they navigate the human worlds. Accordingly, the concept of the human experience is shown in a philosophical approach through the interaction between Simon and Luke.
