Why Did the Students Have to Die
A living ship that is closely related to a shrimp? Check.
A group of students from around the galaxy that are exceptional at Math, Science, etc.? Check.
If the above statements seem shocking that is because Nnedi Okorafor has taken some liberties with her 2014 novella Binti while building the world around her characters. The setting that she uses for a majority of the time during the novella is Third Fish, which is a piece of living technology that is closely related to a shrimp (19). Third Fish represents an idea place because the students can get along despite their different backgrounds. In space, the different cultures are on a more equal playing field. The students headed for Oozma University are away from societal influences contribute negative stereotypes and negative opinions about others. The ship brings the students closer together because they take the time to learn about each other. There is a moment when Heru touches Binti’s hair, and she immediately goes on alert. She doesn’t realize that Heru is trying to understand the Himba culture because it is vastly different, and he wants to understand the pattern in her hair. The moment begins to show how the students want to learn more about cultures that are different from their own. The moment even makes Binti feel more comfortable because she realizes that the other students are willing to learn about her culture. Although she is evidently different from the rest, Binti creates close relationships with the other students. She starts to realize that the other students are her people even though they have cultural differences. Binti even mentions that the “commonalities shined brighter,” and the student’s advanced interest in math and other subjects become more important than where they came from.
The atmosphere that is described on the ship leads readers to believe that Binti’s choice to leave home was not in vain. However, Okorafor throws in a twist when the ship is attacked by the Meduse. After the attack, “everyone in the dining hall was dead “(25), and Binti started to realize that she was the only survivor. The attack is sudden and can be a bit jarring for readers, but the inclusion of the Meduse attack serves a purpose in the story. The attack is necessary because it represents the reality of the world. The interactions between the students were truly pure, and the students were creating bonds with people who society would normally separate them from. The environment that is fostered on the Third ship would not work in society, so it seems that Okorafor is showing how the innocent interactions can easily be burnt out by external influences. Everyone had to die to show the harsh reality of society, and the problem that begins to emerge when people begin to learn and understand about one another. Society needs people to rely on stereotypes because it helps them create categories that keep cultures separated from one another. The students on the Third Fish are causing a disruption to this norm, so they cannot be allowed to survive in the world.
Photo Credits: Photo by Nnedi Okorafor on Amazon; Photo by Adi Rahman on Unsplash