Essay Questions

How do Spike and Billie go against the laid down rules that regulate the relationships between the species?

Billie is madly in love with Spike, and their affection is eccentric. Billie and Spike know very well that they are not supposed to be in a relationship because that contradicts the current laws that govern all species. Relationships between human beings and sapiens are outlawed, and those who go against this rule are killed. However, Billie and Spike believe that they are meant for each other, ready to be killed. The reader finds this satirical that someone is prepared to be punished by death simply because of affection.

How does the theme of same-sex unions emerge in the novel 'The Stone Gods'?

Winterson's fictional novel explores the realities of modern relationships by using imaginative characters. For instance, Billie is a human female who is deeply in love with a sapiens' female called Spike. Same-sex (lesbianism) is a controversial topic in the contemporary world. Lesbianism is widely accepted in civilized societies such as the United States of America. In the novel, the relationship between humans and sapiens is prohibited, which symbolizes same sex marriages.

Why does Billie say, ‘She needs like bedbugs’?

Billie's sentiments are metaphorical because she means that Planet Blue needs humanity as much as society needs it. For instance, Billie warns humanity that they should not dare destroy Planet Blue because there is a mutual reliance between them. Without Planet Blue, there would be no humanity and vice versa. The moral lesson to the reader is that people must respect others, especially those they relied on.