How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
The earliest [Moriori] transgressors were executed in gruesome ways [by the Maori] & the survivors lived in that state of lethargy engendered by relentless subjugation. (1.10.21)
Slavery isn't easy to break out of. While slaves are far from comfortable, there's a sort of complacency in them that comes with the status quo, no matter what it is. Change takes action, and that's almost impossible when you're uneducated, poor, and worked to the bone.
Quote #2
Only purebloods are entitled to "rests," Archivist. For fabricants, "rests" would be an act of time theft. (5.1.8)
The fabricant labor force is institutionalized slavery. Don't want to pay your workers for government-mandated breaks? Create your own workers who don't have rights and don't need breaks. The perfect solution. Gag.
Quote #3
"If, by happiness, you mean the absence of adversity, I and all fabricants are the happiest stratum in corpocracy, as genomicists insist. However, if happiness means the conquest of adversity, or a sense of purpose, or the xercise of one's will to power, then of all Nea So Copros's slaves we surely are the most miserable." (5.1.30)
Sonmi is about as happy as a slave who isn't being whipped. Sure, your master is treating you nicely (in a manner of speaking), but you still have to answer to a master. How happy can you be without freedom?
Quote #4
Corpocracy is built on slavery, whether or not the word is sanctioned. (5.1.32)
The Archivist wants to play with semantics, saying that slavery doesn't exist. Just because a word is banned from use, that doesn't mean the concept is eliminated. If everyone stopped saying the word "orange," it doesn't mean we wouldn't be able to eat delicious citrus fruit with our breakfast. You can play with language and meaning, but you can only take it so far.
Quote #5
[Wing-027] warned me never to let a pureblood catch me gathering knowledge, for the sight scares them. (5.1.163)
The purebloods' fear of fabricants gaining knowledge echoes the fears of slave owners in the United States during the 19th century. White masters did not want their slaves to learn to read or write. With knowledge comes power, and masters certainly didn't want their slaves to figure out how they could change their situation.
Quote #6
I would raise big dollars for my masters. (5.1.240)
Even when Sonmi is "freed" from indentured servitude at Papa Song's, her "job" is still to make money for people above her. Yeesh. Here's something that doesn't need sarcastic air quotes: that stinks.
Quote #7
"Democratize your own fabricants!" a man glowered as [Sonmi] pushed by with [her] tray. "Abolitionist." (5.1.341)
Oh, heaven forbid someone inconvenience this man while he's trying to get his fast food. Sonmi should have the decency to fight for fabricant rights in private, where it won't interfere with anyone's day. Oops, sorry, we rolled our eyes so hard they got stuck.
Quote #8
All good masters kill a bad or idlin' slave now'n'then to mem'ry the others what happens to slackers. (6.1.260)
Yikes, is that what a good master does? You know, we're not sure there is such thing as a "good" master.
Quote #9
An underworld sweatshop clattering with five hundred sewing machines. [...] Limp Donald Ducks and crucified Scooby-Doos have their innards stitched, one by one, row by row, pallet by pallet. (9.64.11)
Oh, but the stuffed animals are so cute! They can't be bad, can they? When they're made by sweatshop labor, they're bad. Slavery is not cute. This novel really messes with what we think we know of the world.
Quote #10
"[Slave-maker ants] raid the colonies of common ants, steal eggs back to their own nests & after they hatch, why, the stolen slaves become workers of the greater empire & never even dream they were once stolen!" (11.2.50)
And here is the secret to slavery—make sure your slaves never know that they're slaves. There won't be a rebellion if the slaves don't know they have something to rebel against.