Redefining Norms: A Study of Margaret Atwood's The Year of The Flood

,


LITERATURE REVIEW 1. Literature
Literary work exists as a creative, imaginative manifestation of a writer with different processes between one author and another, especially in creating fictional stories (Meirysa,2021)-something that society can enjoy, understand, and use.Literature is a means of social expression, a mirror of life, and aids in interpreting human expression.We know how to live.Literature is mainly divided into two categories.There are fiction and non-fiction.Fiction is a literary work that is not based on actual events.Nonfiction is an academic work based on natural history.Some examples of fiction works are Novels, short stories, poems, dramas, movies, etc.Some examples of non-fiction works are personal essays, histories, biographies, and autobiographies.
Literature is based on experts; according to Klarer (2004:1), "Literature is referred to as the entirety of written expression, with the restriction that not every written document can be categorized as literature in the more exact sense of the word'.Franz Kafka (1920) also says, "The literature has its roots in the movements of expressionism and surrealism, as well as in the fiction."Jeffrey D(1981) says, "Literature is a uniquely human activity, born of man's timeless desire to understand, express, and finally share experiences."Literature is everything written and printed.In that sense, people can understand.Literature is not limited to texts of high aesthetic value and comprehensive details.Literary works from social aspects can be interpreted with specific characteristics.Society can be seen in literary works because life reflects literature.
From the viewpoint above, it is clear that reading literary works indicates that life and culture are prevalent in a society.Literary works are the product of the author's imagination and appreciation of society.The fact that an author always lives in a social environment is one thing that cannot be disputed.The works inadvertently mirror what they see and feel.It is not impossible for these works to instantly represent the social and cultural circumstances of the neighborhood at a particular time.
Reading works of literature means that life and culture prevail in a society.Besides being the result of imagination, literary works also show the author's appreciation of society.One thing that cannot be denied is that an author always lives in a social environment.What he sees and feels is indirectly reflected in his works.It is not impossible for these works to immediately become a picture (reflection) of the social and cultural conditions of the community at a particular time.

Social life
Social stability is necessary for a strong society, and adequate socialization and social integration are required to achieve social stability (Collins,1994).Literary sociology examines issues in literature as they relate to aspects of the economy, politics, traditions, morals, ethics, love, and other interpersonal connections.It can be shown that sociology and literature genuinely have an everyday basis since different sorts of life intimately tied to one human being are described in the literature (Ali & Tatipang, 2023).All literary facts presuppose the presence of authors, books, and readers, or, more generally, authors, works, and the broader public.Based on the explanation of literature and the sociology of literature, the social situation is the main topic to be discussed.Sugiono (2010: 297) stated that "Social Situation consists of three elements, namely: place, actors, and activities that interact synergistically." Compared to literary works in the form of poetry, literary works in the form of novels are typically more accurate in their descriptions of social life.A novel's conflicts depict the clash between individuals, their social environments, and the natural world (Ali, 2024).These conflicts are frequently considered a mirror of how people live, including the historical context and spirit of the time.
One kind of literature that is fascinating to explore is the novel.In addition to highlighting the aesthetic worth of the connections between the literary work's structural elements, this study will also highlight the positive values.A novel's author can impart essential lessons to readers through messages woven into a collection of interconnected tales that make up a lovely narrative.Values fundamental to human existence, such as educational, religious, moral, social, and so forth, can be used to communicate these messages.As a result, after reading a novel, readers can gain aesthetic and didactic benefits.
The social life of The Year of The Flood was carried out with the following considerations: First, the novel The Year of the Flood by Margareth Atwood is excellent and contains a complete story (Ali & Tatipang, 2023).This novel is not only a literary novel and story novel but also a life journey novel.The Year of The Flood by Atwood voices moral, social life, economic problems, and relations between the characters, places, and events that can potentially enlighten the reader's conscience.This novel is expected to be able to contribute to social change or the process of moral enlightenment in a better direction.

Mimetic Approach
Mimetic or mimesis comes from the Greek word meaning imitation.In literary criticism, mimesis is defined as an approach that examines literary works and always tries to associate literary works with reality.Ravertz (2007) stated that the mimetic approach views prose fiction as a result of human creation written based on materials of life experiences experienced by a writer both directly and indirectly.
The mimetic approach views literary works as imitations or reflections.Representation of the world and human life and the main criteria of the job A job is the "truth" of its expression to the object it expresses (Abrams: 1999).This approach reflects truth, and researchers need good data on which literary works are presented.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION
In this novel, Margaret Atwood carries many themes about the environment, beliefs, violence, and sexual harassment and does not forget to add a bit of romance.

Environment `
From the environmental change factor, Atwood made this story very interesting, starting from the characters in the novel struggling in horror against the pandemic outbreak they were facing at that time.Following are some of the changes in the environment and circumstances of several characters in the novel The Year of the Flood: 1. "She's counting on this garden: her supplies in the storeroom are getting low.Over the years, she'd stashed what she thought would be enough for an emergency like this, but she'd underestimated, and now she was running out of soy bites and soydines.Luckily, everything in the garden is doing well: the chicken peas have begun to pod, the bananas are in flower, and the polyberry bushes are covered with small brown nubbins of different shapes and sizes.She picks some spinach, flicks off the iridescent green beetles on it, steps on them" (p.17)Against the backdrop of a pandemic that once ravaged the world, Atwood tells how characters in his novels confront food crises during emergencies.Some people prepared for the crisis in advance of the reality of the pandemic.
In this quote, Toby is relying on the garden.He ran out of pantry supplies.Over the years, he has accumulated what he considered an emergency but underestimated it and now runs his supplies.Toby is one of the main characters in this novel; it turns out that long before the pandemic, Toby had accommodated many food supplies; when the pandemic happened, Toby was the one who was able to survive by living in a spa alone and staying together.Plantation produces that he made himself.But Toby began to lose confidence in his reduced food reserves.
This implies their fear of starvation situation of Toby if the food supply she has runs out.
2. "She baths in the early mornings before the sun's too hot.She keeps several pails and bowls up on the rooftop to collect the afternoon storm rainwater: the Spa has its well, but the solar system's broken, so the pumps are useless.She also does her laundry on the rooftop, spreading it out on the benches to dry.She uses the gray water to flush her toilet".(p.18)Through this quote, the main character is experiencing water shortages.To shower in the morning, he has to collect water in buckets and bowls on the roof to collect some water from the rain that fell the previous afternoon.Even though the spa has its own, a faulty solar power system causes the pumps to stop working.
Besides that, Toby has to wash his clothes on the roof and dry them on the seat.The water used to flush the toilet is gray water.This implies that the conditions at that time were a crisis of food needs and a pandemic that caused a crisis of clean water needs.
3. "This was not an ordinary pandemic: it would not be contained after several hundred thousand deaths, then obliterated with tools and bleach.This was the Waterless Flood the Gardeners so often had warned about.It had all the signs: it traveled through the air as if on wings, and it burned through cities like fire, spreading germ-ridden mobs, terror, and butchery.The lights went out everywhere; the news was sporadic: systems failed as their keepers died.It looked like a total breakdown, so she needed the rifle.Rifles were illegal, and getting caught with one would have been fatal a week earlier, but now such laws are no longer a factor".(p.20) Atwood's next explanation describes it as if the city had become a dead city; the damage and paralysis of the system and terrible death created horror afterward.All rules become useless; in the end, everyone has to have their weapon to guard against fellow human beings who want to survive by justifying violence.
A pandemic that occurred beyond people's expectations took many lives and changed the world in an instant.as happened in the quote above.The pandemic that occurred claimed thousands of victims and could not be eliminated easily.Gardeners is a cult of people who have noticed signs of an impending pandemic.This world suddenly turns horrible with terror, butchery, and shadows everywhere until the system fails because the person operating it dies.All this chaos requires Toby to be vigilant and protect himself by carrying a rifle that has been legalized under the chaos.
This quote implies that the chaos and destruction resulting from a pandemic are significant factors in increasing vigilance in protecting oneself.
4. "There was another minor epidemic, they were saying, but nothing to get alarmed about.Viruses and bacteria were always mutating, but I knew the Corporations could always invent treatments for them.Whatever this bug was, I did not have it myself because I had been in isolation with a double virus barrier protecting me.I was in the safest place I could be".(p.20)It turned out that there was still a type of virus that could endanger human life at that time.Atwood seemed to have told the horrors of a growing disease, but in this story, Ren believed that he was immune to the virus.In the quote above, Ren explained that he was trying to prevent the virus from reaching him.He was in an isolated area that he considered very safe, where he could not get infected as long as he lived, but he was already infected.Companies were able to find this virus.
This quote shows that the epidemic is still under control, so there is nothing to worry about as long as Ren keeps herself in a safe place.
5. "The next day, two bad things happened.First, I turned on the news.The minor epidemic they had discussed earlier was not behaving as usual -a local outbreak they could contain.Now, it was an emergency.They showed a world map, with the hotspots lighting up in red -Brazil, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, Bombay, Paris, Berlin -it was like watching the planet being spray gunned.They said it was an eruptive plague, and the thing was spreading fast -no, not even spreading, breaking out simultaneously in cities far apart, which was not the normal pattern.Ordinarily, the Corps would have called for lies and cover-ups, and we would hear something like the real story only in rumors, so the fact that all this was right out there on the news showed how serious it was -the Corps could not keep the lid on".(p.20) Atwood finally discussed how it turned out that the epidemic could turn into a pandemic in an instant.News about the virus travels fast; the media can cover up the facts.However, reality at that time was more potent than the power of the press.Everything was openly revealed about how the virus spread so quickly.
Nor is it a quote about the female character Ren.Ren, alone watching the news and feeling that yesterday's localized outbreak was still under control, quickly became a state of emergency this morning.It is intended for Brazil, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, Bombay, Paris, and Berlin as if spreading like fire in a faraway city.
From these words, we can see that at that time, the epidemic, which was supposed to be under control, suddenly became an emergency, and the situation changed.

Feelings
Atwood creates a lot of anxiety, fear, anxiety, and many kinds of emotions in this novel; she can convey these feelings to readers by describing the condition of the characters and situations.As some of the sentiments in these quotes : 1.I took a shower -I felt dirty, as if those Painballers had got in, or as if I had the blood of Mordis all over me.(p.50) Ren, who at that time was threatened because robbers attacked the bar where he worked.His friend has been killed.Ren was worried and tried to calm himself down by cleaning himself up.Then she realized what would happen.The Sticky Zone was a fortress.No one could get in without the door code, and nobody but Mordis knew that code.That is what he always said.Moreover, he had not told it: Ren found that he had saved his life.By trying to control herself, Ren must survive in the sticky zone.Moreover, start doing other things that can reduce the panic.Pray.
This quote shows that loss is natural; Ren is so grateful when she realizes that Modri has sacrificed his life to protect her.We can find some emotion, anxiety, fear, and especially the feeling of loss of a friend of Ren.In that condition, Atwood wants the readers to imagine what happened then.
2. "Now I was terrified.However, I told myself that although I could not get out, nobody else could, and I would be okay if the solar did not break down.It would keep the water flowing, the mini fridge running, the freezer, and the air filters.
Air filtering was a plus because it would soon smell bad out there.Moreover, I would take it one day at a time and see what came".(p.50) Atwood explains that it is clear that the feeling of security can be created by yourself.On how the way you think.When people can master fear, a sense of optimism is created.
We can see from Ren`s statement from the quote above that even though dire circumstances were happening to her, the death of a friend in front of her eyes and the conditions that were still very dangerous at that time, Ren would still be safe because the door where she was isolated would not be accessible to other people.Behind the chaos, he was saved by the solar system, which was still working, so there was still a food supply in the refrigerator, freezer, and air filtration, which still saved him from the stench of blood outside.
This part shows that self-control can make everything feel better.As long as people can control their minds, they also can maintain their feelings of fear.
3. The worst thing about it was that I could not get interested in anyone else.
There was a hole in my heart that only Jimmy could fill.I know that is a countryand-western thing to say -I had heard enough of that kind of worldly music on my Sea/H/Ear Candy by then -but it is the only way I can explain it.Moreover, it is not that I was not aware of Jimmy's faults because I was.(p.52)From Ren, who was disappointed with Jimmy, Atwood also described the romance between the two people, which eventually ran aground.However, Ren still could not replace another person in his heart.
Ren and Jimmy had a romantic story back in high school, but Ren felt that his world had been destroyed because of Jimmy.Ren thinks that his true love has stopped at Jimmy, who still often meets him, but recently, he found out that it was not only himself who felt devastated but Jimmy too.
This quote illustrates the disappointment in Ren's love story, who still hopes that his high school girlfriend, Jimmy, will come into his life.
4. I am lucky.I am fortunate.Count your luck, Amanda used to say.So I do.First, I was lucky to be working here at Scales when the Flood hit.Second, it was even more fortunate that I was shut up this way in the Sticky Zone because it kept me safe.(p.11)In this novel, apart from negative feelings such as disappointment, loss, and fear, it turns out that Atwood also has a sense of luck.A feeling of luckiness came over Ren, and he realized what Amanda had told her to focus on her luck.
Ren has a best friend he met when he was little; they are still ten years old together.Amanda later became his best friend.Amanda always told Ren to count his luck in his life journey.Ren realized the positive vibes that Amanda gave him when he was isolated in the sticky zone.He was lucky because he was isolated and survived the plague that spread by working there.
This quote illustrates the feeling of relief that one of the characters is finally grateful for amid the chaos.The plague is still rampant outside, where he is isolated.
5." He was a wiry guy with a shaved head and black, shiny, alert eyes like ants' heads, and he was easy as long as everything was excellent.However, he would stand up for us if the clients got violent."Nobody hurts my best girls," he would say.It was a point of honor with him.(p.2) At this point, respect arises because one respects others.In this quote, Ren explains about Mordis, a manager at Scales and Tails, where Ren works; Mordis has a charismatic temperament with his thin body and is always aware of what is happening around him.He has an easygoing character as long as everything goes according to the plot.However, Mordis is the first to defend the working girls when things go wrong.Such violence usually comes from their clients.
Through this quote, Atwood describes the feeling of security that Ren and his friends feel with the presence of Modris, who can help them when they may be harassed or receive unpleasant actions.

Economic factor
The pandemic's effects are closely related to the community's economic situation.The changing situation occurs in various lives, and without exception, the economic factor is worsening.The existence of strata in society in terms of economic factors also increases the pressure of the situation.The following are excruciating quotes about the state of the economy and their analysis: 1. "Toby was pleased to learn she had got the Secret Burgers job: she could pay the rent, she would not starve.But then she discovered the catch".(p.8) Atwood described the post-pandemic economic situation of the lower class.
In this excerpt, after the pandemic, Toby finally got a job at the secret burger shop, which the masses ran at the time.Toby no longer had to worry about food and basic needs, which he finally met when he got the job.Even though Toby finally got into the trouble she got from his restaurant manager.
The quote illustrates how Toby, who belongs to the lower class of society, must face the impact of the pandemic from economic factors.Toby's life became increasingly tricky until he finally found a way out with another problem.
2. "I will be okay," said Toby.She did not feel okay; she felt scared.However, where else could she go?She lived from pay to pay.She had no money.(p.8)An economy's needs in human life can make people willing to do anything.To earn money to continue life, I need to meet daily needs, at least for food and shelter.
As in the quote above, Toby says he will be OK with Blanco, the restaurant manager, after him.Blanco is famous for the treatment of sexual harassment against female employees who work at the restaurant.That restaurant manager became a threat to Toby, but she brushed aside the feeling of being threatened.She cannot do anything because Toby needs money to support her life.
From this quote, we can see that there is effort and sacrifice in the character's struggle to meet the economic needs of his life.
3. "She slept on top of garages whenever she could or inside abandoned buildings, though never on the main floor.Otherwise, in trees: the ones with sturdy forks.It was uncomfortable, but you got used to it, and it was best to be above ground level because there were some strange animals around.Huge pigs, those lion/lamb splices, packs of wild dogs on the prowl -one pack had almost cornered her".(p.58) the pandemic situation that changed everything forced the survivors who survived to continue their struggle to survive.Like Amanda's story in the quote above: In this quote, Amanda tells how she has to move on with life after the world has changed to Ren when they meet in the sticky zone.Amanda has been through and used to unfamiliar situations, such as sleeping in a tree because many wild animals might attack her if she is on the ground.
From this quote, it can be described that there was an economic paralysis.The Mall building and shops, where Amanda isolated herself and kept away from people as much as possible during the pandemic, are no longer operating.
4. "In the evenings, we would have a few drinks -there were still some unbroken bottles behind the bar and raid the expensive tinned foods Mordis kept for the In his novel, Atwood clearly describes the inapplicability of strata in human life after the pandemic.It turns out that the things rich people own are not taken to death by them.A pandemic that destroys humans does not choose which class of people to kill.
In the excerpt above, After a while, they finally enjoy some excellent canned food at the bar.It turns out that after the pandemic, the rich are powerless.Viruses do not look at treasure even though it was given to them by Mordis, who had died after being killed.
This quote imitates the main characters Ren and Amanda feeling grateful when they can enjoy something fundamental in the everyday world reserved for upper-class people.
5. "He had been in the business ever since he was a kid, and when they outlawed the pimps and the street trade -for public health and the safety of women, they said-and rolled everything into SeksMart under CorpSeCorps control, Mordis made the jump, because of his experience."(p.2) With a background in a pandemic, it also does not rule out the possibility for Atwood to insert the experience of a businessman who has more experience and can try more in managing a business.
In this case, Mordis turned out to have been a businessman since childhood.He had run many rules before being released.Including regulations on pimps and street trading and regulations made for public health and women's safety.finallyMordis built the Scales and Tails business based on the experiences he already had.
From this quote, we can conclude that the economic condition of someone willing to try depends on his experience and desire to continue living with what he has.Especially for Mordis, who was still able to develop his business after the regulations and restrictions that came out when he was still a street pimp.

Crime
The pandemic strongly affects many aspects, not only the economy, environment, and social life but also the effect of the pandemic, which is a substantial increase in crime.On the Year of The Flood, Atwood shows it on some of the quotes : 1."The trip would be dangerous.She would have to walk to her old pleeb -no transport would be functioning -and locate the tacky little split-level that had so briefly belonged to her parents.Then she would have to dig the rifle up from where it had been buried, hoping no one would see her doing it".(p.5) The post-pandemic that Atwood describes this time comes from a lowerclass woman, Toby, who is an orphan and homeless.
In this quote, Toby, Post-Pandemic, the chaos and damage that occurred, one of which impacted the paralyzed means of transportation, Toby tried to find life and chose to walk with the weapons he had stored before for self-defense from criminals.He believes there is still life outside the isolation zone where he has taken shelter.However, also do not deny that the danger can come from evil humans.
This quote shows that a crime occurred after the pandemic when survivors liked to make friends but had to remain vigilant of their opponents.
2. "Walking that far would be no problem: she had kept herself in shape.The hazard would be other people.The rioting was everywhere, according to what fitful news she could still pick up from her phone".(p.5) Crime amid a pandemic does not make Toby afraid.Atwood creates female policymakers like Toby in her novels.
Toby's courage and the background of this quote is Toby coming out of the rooftop where he took shelter.After showering with the rainwater, he collected it in the afternoon the day before.After his troubles with wild boars trying to destroy his plantation, As long as his body is healthy, he will not be infected with the plague that still gripped his city then.The shotgun in Toby's hand is a shield for him.
From this quote, courage to fight fear is essential.Robberies that can occur at any time should not prevent us from doing something.
3. "From somewhere there were gunshots.So backyards were already being dug up, thought Toby: hers was not the only rifle".(p.5)As a result of the pandemic, the regulations in the regions did not apply immediately.The use of weapons was initially prohibited and not allowed by the local government.But it turns out that all weapons have changed, which were originally a symbol of threat in society; now, they have become helpers for selfsafety.as in the quote above.
In the quote, Toby gets the weapon he hid.Sometimes, after that, he heard gunshots.It was confirmed it was proof that he was not the only person with a gun in hand.This quote implies that good and bad circumstances can change people's character.Maybe the people who commit crimes are the ones trying to survive.
4. "The next morning, Rebecca signaled Toby over."Dora's dead," she said."Tried to run.I just heard it.I found her in a vacant lot, neck broken, cut to bits.Saying it was some crazy".(p.8)The sexual support for women raised by Atwood through this novel describes how women are helpless when they struggle with the choice of life between saving themselves from hunger or saving themselves from being defended.
As in the quote above, Dora, Rebecca, and Toby, who works at Secret's Burger, deal with threats of violence and sexual silence by the restaurant's manager, Blanco.Finally, after successive events in a row, Dora had to die a horrible death.
From this quote, women become sexual objects, helpless in the face of the realities of life.None of them could help each other while all that was happening could only remind them before terrible events came to them.Atwood includes physical violence and sexual harassment against women in this novel.Moreover, sadly, sexual violence then leads to death.The sexual harassment and humiliation that Atwood brings up are the voices of women in the real world.Women are still often used as sexual objects by men.Moreover, even physical deformities that do not correspond to what is good in the eyes of the perpetrators are women's problems.

"She had been
As in this quote, Toby lingering to make ends meet eventually becomes the manager's next victim.Toby should also feel grateful for not being sold by the manager.Atwood's point is that women have physical limitations and cannot fight colonialism alone.In addition, the factor of economic needs is also a factor for a woman who is willing to become a prisoner.
The interpretation of this quote is that women, both in the novel and today, still need support in obtaining gender equality rights.

Faith
Faith, derived from Latin fides and Old French feed, is confidence or trust in a person, thing, or concept.One can define faith as "Belief in God or the doctrines or teachings of religion."According to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary, faith has multiple definitions.One is "a firm belief in something for which there is no proof."In this novel, Atwood puts some quotes that are content with faith.
1. "Praise the Lord and spit," said Rebecca."I am too black and ugly for him, plus he just likes the kittens, not the old cats.Maybe you should wrinkle yourself up, sweetheart.Knock out a few of your teeth."(p.179)Belief or belief in God is also raised by Atwood through characters, for example, in this quote.Rebecca believes in God; there is confidence in the creator's words, which she thinks is holy and deserves to give thanks.Apart from that, there is also a bit of racism about black people raised by Atwood.In this quote, Rebeca says that Blanco does not like her because she is black.However, instead, I am grateful because it saved him.
The interpretation of this quote says that a person's belief in something sacred to him can make them grateful and praise what he believes in.The racism raised is the voice of black people who still often feel comfortable in the real world.
From Rebbeca's presentation, Atwood raised the theme of racism towards black people who were considered less attractive than white people.
2. "Last week's bombing attacks on the Rarity restaurant chain-though perpetrated by the Wolf Isaiahists alone -gave them an excuse to unleash a sweeping crackdown on all who have sided with God's Created Earth." (p.179)There are many kinds of beliefs held by people.In the story of this novel, the characters that Atwood tells have several beliefs.Secret Gardeners believe life depends on plants; they cannot consume sinful flesh to harm other God's creations.There is also a belief raised by Atwood, namely people who purify one of the animals, namely Wolf Isaiahist.
In this quote, a restaurant is a victim of a bombing because the restaurant provides a menu of food that is a sacred animal for followers of Wolf Isaiahist.and the bomb terror they experienced was the result of the Wolf Isaiahist protests.
3." She found herself crying with relief and gratitude.It was as if a large, benevolent hand had reached down and picked her up and was holding her safe.Later, she frequently heard Adam One speak of "being flooded with the Light of God's Creation," and without knowing it yet, that was how she felt."(p.32) Belief in something symbolized and trusted as a savior brings relief and comfort.As Toby conveyed in the quote above, Toby found himself being rescued by the gardeners and found them having faith in something they believed in, namely the power or power of God.He often hears it through the leader of the faith they trust, namely Adam.
From this quote, we can interpret that a person's belief in his faith, which he often hears and is taught to believe, can give a feeling of relief or calm.
4."It would be bad for their image to eviscerate anything with God in its name," said Adam One." (p.10)In every belief embraced or trusted, it must be challenging to stick to the belief that they are inaccessible.Atwood inserts the problems that might occur in maintaining a belief in the story's characters.
According to this quote, the name of the God they believe in, the belief they embrace and profess, is a name that should not be mentioned in vain.The interpretation of this quote is respect and reverence for something or anything believed to be very high.
5. "God could have made Man out of pure Word, but He did not use this method."(p.284)Some religious people believe that belief in God must have proof; some believe that believing in God does not need proof.Through belief also, many people learn about knowledge of awareness, acceptance, and, most importantly, the growth of their faith in that holy thing.as in the quote above.
In this quote, which is a statement from a believer and a sect leader of the Secret Gardeners, Adam One gives an example of the view that, in fact, the God whom they genuinely believe is omnipotent and can create humans from whatever He wants, but further explanation He states that it can also God created them from a pile of trash, but instead of doing that God chose to create humans from a complex process of selective and natural selection.
high-roller clients and also for his best girls.Loyalty Snacks, he called them; he would dish them out when you had gone the extra mile, though you never knew in advance what that extra mile would be.That is how I got to eat my first caviar.It was like salty bubbles".(p.58) Blanco's one-and-onlyfor less than two weeks, but it felt like years.His view was that a woman with an ass as skinny as Toby's should consider herself in luck if any man wanted to stick his hole-hammer into her.She would be even luckier if he did not sell her to Scales as a temporary, which means temporarily alive.She should thank her lucky stars.Better, she should thank him: he demanded a thank you after every degrading act.He did not want her to feel pleasure, though: only submission".(p.8)