Essay Questions

What is the significance of the novel’s title?

The novel’s title is take from a quote by Taoist philosopher Zhuangzi that was used as an epigraph for the third chapter of the novel. Every chapter has an epigraph and virtually all are written by Taoist philosophers such as Zhuangzi or Laozi. The title is a reference to the second line in the quote that speaks about the “sons of heaven” as being “constant” in the context of being emotionally stable. The novel’s protagonist George, exemplifies this characteristic and as the story progresses the readers get to see why this characteristic is crucial. Upon reading the quotation and seeing George’s personality one wouldn’t think him very heroic; his primary characteristic being emotional stability nearly to the point of stoicism he is actually depicted in the novel as ineffectual and generally lackluster, at least initially. Dr. Haber, the antagonist of the novel, is George’s complete polar opposite as he is very driven by reason, achievement, and ambition; all admirable traits. Eventually though these traits consume him and he fails to rise above these as a person and he is destroyed by it. It turns out that only a person with no ulterior motives and no all-consuming desire for power is able successfully wield the ability to reshape reality without being destroyed by the gift.

What do jellyfish symbolize in the novel?

A prominent symbol in the novel is the jellyfish and the novel opens up with a description of the creature as being generally incapable of anything else but go where the currents of the ocean take it. The last line of the opening paragraph however describes the jellyfish as having for its defense “…the violence and power of the whole ocean, to which it has entrusted its being, its going, and its will…” meaning that it is perfectly suited and designed to thrive even with what seems to be a handicap of having no bones to support it. The creature is a symbol for George, who, similar to the jellyfish looks powerless and moves along without imposing his will on anyone. This characteristic of George however of live and let live as well as his legendary stability is eventually what saves the world when he masters his dream ability. Like the jellyfish that doesn’t rely on its own power but the strength of the whole ocean George relies on the compassion of millions of people to provide him with the impetus to rise to the challenge.

How is the theme of race and race relations discussed in the novel?

Race and race relations are discussed through two means in the novel. One is through the character of Heather Lelache, George’s lawyer, who is of biracial ancestry and through one of the alternate realities created by George where he dreams up humanity as being of one uniform, grey-hued race. Via the romance that blooms between George and Heather, the novel posits that race shouldn’t be an issue in the formation of healthy and functional relationships and through that saying, in not too many words, that there is hope for humanity. When George tries to eradicate racism under the goading of Dr. Haber, he dreams up a new reality where racial variances are no more. In this new reality that George creates though he also ends up creating another unforeseen challenge: in eradicating race he also effectively eradicates culture as he knows it.