In Margaret Atwood's novel "Oryx and Crake," fridge magnets play a small but significant role in the story. These magnets serve as a reminder of the past, a past that is no longer accessible to the protagonist, Jimmy.
The fridge magnets in "Oryx and Crake" represent the remnants of a world that has been destroyed by a deadly pandemic. Jimmy, the main character, is one of the few survivors of this pandemic and is left to navigate a world that has been fundamentally altered. In this new world, there are no more fridge magnets, no more reminders of the past, no more evidence of the life that Jimmy once knew.
Throughout the novel, Jimmy is haunted by memories of his past, memories that are triggered by the fridge magnets he finds scattered throughout the abandoned research facility where he has taken refuge. These magnets serve as a reminder of the life he once had, a life that was filled with joy and love, but that has now been lost forever.
Despite their small size, the fridge magnets in "Oryx and Crake" hold a great deal of significance. They represent the past, a past that is no longer accessible to Jimmy, and they serve as a constant reminder of the life he once knew. In this way, the fridge magnets in the novel serve as a metaphor for the human need to hold on to the past, even in the face of overwhelming loss.
Overall, the fridge magnets in "Oryx and Crake" play a small but important role in the story, serving as a reminder of the past and a symbol of the human desire to hold on to memories, even in the face of overwhelming loss.