Mirror of Our World: 

the Distorted Reality and alternative utopia in Paul Auster's In the Country of Last Things  


Author: Hangil Hong

First-year student at the University of Tsukuba

Permission granted for publication in February 2024



Introduction

In the Country of Last Things by American writer Paul Auster is widely regarded as a dystopian novel. The narrative vividly portrays the harsh living conditions in the post-apocalyptic city where the story unfolds. Anna Blume, the protagonist, is confronted with the disturbing realities of the city, namely extreme poverty, lawlessness, environmental decay, and oppression. While the hellish setting of the narrative may lead readers to assume the work is purely fiction and has little to do with our modern-day society, this is not the case. The novel, in fact, is a portrayal of our society in the eyes of the author. For instance, Kalafut argues that dystopian novels often critique existing social or political systems (10). Priyadharshini further notes that the depiction of the setting in dystopian novels typically goes against the author's personal beliefs or values (475). In light of this perspective, this analysis aims to explore the dystopian city and Auster’s suggestion for an alternative society, illustrating the reflection of our society within, in particular consumerism and gender inequality. 


Auster’s Critique of Capitalism: Reflection of Reality and Satire

Auster’s portrayal of capitalist society in the book successfully highlights neglected issues within the system while drawing inspiration from real problems and cities around the world.  For instance, Auster himself noted that the novel's waste disposal system is influenced by the garbage system in Cairo, Egypt (Fargione 131). In the book, the author points out that “[f]or those at the bottom, therefore, scavenging is the most common solution. This is the job for people with no job, and my guess is that a good ten to twenty percent of the population is engaged in it” (20). This accurately describes the lifestyle of the Zabbaleen people, the Coptic Christian minority in Egypt, who make up approximately ten percent of the population in Cairo (Klein 16). Known for making a living through the collection and recycling of garbage, they were “most active in the 1980s and 1990s,” coinciding with the time In the Country of Last Things was written (Klein 4). Moreover, Karadeniz argues that readers can easily recognize “the typicality of New York” in the book setting (27); the presence of homelessness, filthy streets, and gloomy weather represent the metropolis. Through this portrayal, the author effectively underscores capitalism's negative yet often overlooked sides since New York City is considered the epitome of a consumerist society. Also, the use of shopping carts among the homeless is a “satire on our present consumerist society”(Ng 65). The symbolism of consumerism serves as nothing more than a tool for transporting garbage in the apocalyptic city. They depend on shopping carts to collect garbage to make a living, as we rely on consuming products to survive. This analogy, comparing garbage to products,  reveals the irony of the modern lifestyle. Overall, the setting serves as a mockery of modern capitalism and implies Auster’s support for an anti-capitalistic alternative society. 


Exploring Women’s Oppression and Human Connection as a Remedy 

Throughout the novel, Anna Blume serves as a symbol for fighting gender inequality, and her interactions with various characters provide hints for creating a utopia. Auster displays women being “emotional or thematic punching bags for males” over and over again in the novel (Shirkhani 85). One such instance is Ferdinand’s interaction with Anna. She describes his behavior, saying, "He literally sabotaged my life, pestering me at every opportunity, assailing me with a thousand tiny attacks I had no way of warding off” (41). Not only did he constantly harass her emotionally, he even proceeded to rape her. Auster deliberately illustrated these disturbing scenes to shed light on women’s oppression that was rampant during the 1980s.  Unfortunately, this remains an ongoing issue all around the globe, especially in Japan, which ranks 125th in gender inequality rankings among 146 nations (NHK World). After 36 years, the novel accurately describes women’s oppression in society. On the other hand, Anna finds peace and escape from oppression in friendships and romantic relationships. To illustrate, Anna has a supportive friend in Isabel who will fight for her while Ferdinand torments her. After Isabel passes, Sam becomes a safe place for Anna, offering her “the best days” despite the harsh realities (Auster 73). Similarly, she and Victoria Woburn become “refuge…, the place where each of us could go to find comfort in” as lovers, only this time in a homosexual relationship (106). With Isabel, Victoria, and Sam, Anna experiences “practice lost in the city - mutual, sincere cooperation and support, and friendliness” that heals her wounds inflicted by a cruel society (Kula 98). These genuine and respectful human connections, perhaps, include gender oppression. 


Conclusion

In essence, In the Country of Last Things is a mirror of modern society; it is an accurate description of neglected issues such as consumerism and gender inequality, which also reveals Auster’s opposition to capitalism, as well as highlights the importance of human relations in the time of systematic adversity. As demonstrated in the second paragraph, the glimpse of New York in the apocalyptic city and the irony of the shopping cart serve as an excellent critique of consumerism. Moreover, Anna’s relations with Isabel, Sam, and Victoria remind us of how powerful positive human connection could be when dealing with unjust systematic violence. Thus, rejecting extreme consumerism while cultivating rich friendships and relationships is the secret to transforming the dystopian modern society into an “Austerian” utopia. 



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