Cloud Atlas

Content Warning: This section depicts slavery and discusses racism and death by suicide.

A fabricant, a human made in a factory using cloning technology for the purpose of working in a fast food restaurant, Sonmi~451 is a complex character. The transcription of her interrogation by a dystopian government occupies two chapters in Cloud Atlas, while the recording of her political ideas becomes the foundation for the religion of the people in the novel’s postapocalyptic middle story. The irony of Sonmi’s story is that she describes her story of liberation from inside a prison cell. Although her future reputation will be built on her teachings of freedom, she faces immediate execution and the fact that the interview with the Archivist is even taking place seems to be sheer chance. During her lifetime, Sonmi exchanges several metaphorical prisons for a real prison. While working at Papa Song’s restaurant, she’s not aware of her own imprisonment. During her time at the university, she gradually ascends to a plane of self-awareness. She enjoys her freedom only for a fleeting moment before she’s arrested and sentenced to execution. Although her story may describe the liberation of a clone in a dystopian society, Sonmi doesn’t enjoy liberty for very long.