Nabeel Utopias Blog

Fire has been used as a symbol of destruction by Butler throughout the novel. Arsonists rage throughout the cities addicted to pyro, a drug that makes people want to burn everything in sight. This is a powerful symbol that I believe Butler uses because it is a natural element being used by humans for demolition and destruction. Lauren's neighborhood has just been burned down, leading to her fleeing with Zahra and Harry. Do you guys find any other meanings behind this use of fire in the novel?

I found the issues regarding Bianca Montoya at beginning of chapter 8 to be quite intriguing. As more dynamics of the neighborhoods inside the walls, we see an issue of women's inclusion in society arise. Bianca Montoya has become pregnant at 17 and due to the fact that she is not married to the baby's father, there is a feud between the two families. Lauren once again thinks differently than the rest of her neighborhood, as she narrates her doubts about having a baby given the current state of their society. This is an interesting take for Lauren, as she tends to have a more positive outlook on the future than her peers. Because of the difficulty of life, she is uncertain about having children and seems more sure that Bianca is being "stupid" rather than "brave.

Lauren tends to have different views on life and the future than those in her neighborhood. After Amy's death and the cremation of her body, Lauren spends more time with Joanne who seems to be exactly what the rich want her to be: she doesn't believe they can escape their situation and simply hopes for a better life after death. Lauren is much more involved in her future and won't settle for less which I admire her for. It seems that many people agree with Lauren about the government's incompetence, but seem to be accepting and content with the fact that nothing will change. Lauren's imaginative approach sets her apart from Joanne, and so far she is alone in that approach.  

As the novel progresses, we are learning more and more about Lauren's neighborhood. Certain social dynamics are revealed that were previously hidden, which I find very interesting. There are outcasts of the neighborhood in the Dunn family, who Lauren claims are commonly known as crazy. We learn this because of the fire that Amy Dunn causes, highlighting her destructive presence. Elsewhere, Mrs. Sims' cousins have inherited her house after her suicide. They are suspicious that people robbed the house when it was empty and generally don't trust anyone despite Lauren's father's claims. This leads to Lauren disliking them, which I'm sure will lead to problems in the future. The moment anyone remotely malicious entered the neighborhood, tense conflicts arise.