The Implication of Technology in a Profound Loss of Self
By Macy Gordon
I was thoroughly captivated by Manjula Padmananbhan's play Harvest. This piece captured the ideas of becoming so entangled within tech to the point of losing oneself, and the corruption of human values through the advancement of technology. I found the basis of the play in illegal trade of human organs in India was a fascinating angle to work off with. From a science fiction standpoint, this play incorporates all of the important facets: futuristic technology, a dystopian society with a well established society hierarchy, and the loss of basic human values as individuals become more obsessed with tech.
A key point that I found intriguing within this play was when the Guards came to actually take Om away to have his organs harvested for his Receiver, Ginni. At that moment in time, Om is a coward, and he exclaims, "I always hoped, you see, that it would never actually come to this..." while he runs and hides throughout the room. The guards actually took his brother, Jeetu, instead of Om because he was hiding. After Jeetu comes back from the transplant with his eyes removed, he is able to see an image of Ginni that is enticing. Immediately, Om becomes jealous of what Jeetu has "done for his family" and exclaims, "Not him- take me! I'm Om Prakash! Check your records... Nooo! He's [Jeetu] lying! A lying, scheming swine! He's my brother, I tell you- my younger brother." As soon as the call comes for Om to make the actual sacrifice, he become riddled with fear, but as soon as he sees the upside to the result and what Jeetu is experiencing, he is immediately jealous and tries to claim his "honor" back. I love the emphasis that Padmanabhan places of the human quality of pride throughout the book and how it really comes to fruition in this scene. Pride is a major cloud of judgment that human beings experience, and it often leads us astray. It is also seen through Om's mother. He takes pride in what her son has done for the family but ends up becoming too invested in her new, lavish life with technology that she becomes a legit vegetable in her television couch. She does not even care that the Receivers take her son, Jeetu. It seems that pride leads people to volunteer for this "job position," which then endangers their lives and their families. Perhaps Padmanabhan is underlining the power of the vice and suggesting that it will lead to our inevitable demise.
I also find Jaya's character fascinating because, while her values and morals are not all perfectly aligned as seen through her affair with Jeetu, she is the only person that manages to keep her head on straight and think for herself. Perhaps through this, Padmanabhan is highlighting the ability to withstand external pressures and to be able to think and behave according to one's own values, morals, and beliefs. I admire that fact that our "strongest" character is a female and that she also discovers the valuable nature of her own dignity. At the end of the play, she tells the Receiver, Virgil, "I'll die knowing that you... will have lost to a poor, weak and helpless woman. And I'll get more pleasure out of that first moment of death than I've had in my entire life so far!" The triumph can be felt as Jaya holds her own ground, stays true to what she knows is right, and continues to fight for humanity. This is also particularly evident when she demands that Virgil come to actually see her: "I don't want your make-believe travels! I want real hands touching me..." The emphasis on actual human contact underscores our highly virtual world we have today. Often times, I find that physical contact is limited with how we have technology to stay in touch. I love how Jaya demands to feel human.