Melody Kellogg (Ortloff)

Honors English II

12 February 1998

Franko

Symbiosis or Humanity?

Symbiosis: 1. A close prolonged association between two or more different organisms of different species. 2. A relationship of mutual benefit or dependance.

Symbiosis is a common novum in science fiction literature, usually between a human and a known or unknown alien. Many times, this novum brings up questions of benefits or losses resulting from this union. The possible benefits could be an easier life, an enhanced body, or a simplified life. On the other hand, humanity could be lost through symbiosis, as it is in many science fiction tales. Of course, one has to define humanity in order to observe its loss. My definition would be this: humanity is being physically human, being self-aware, and having the range of emotions that all humans experience. Two stories that address the subject of symbiosis are "Blood Music" by Greg Bear, and "Tandy's Story" by Theodore Sturgeon. Both of these deal with the advantages and disadvantages of symbiosis. However, I believe that the negative aspect is more dominant, as we shall see from a close examination of these stories.

First of all, "Blood Music" is the story that is most obviously about symbiosis. A slightly mad scientist, Vergil, creates biological computer chips out of bacteria, then his own white blood cells. He gives them one simple command: "Go forth and multiply" (35). In doing so, they develop a simple intelligence, growing more complex as they reproduce. After his project is shut down, Vergil, in desperation, injects the blood cell biochips into his own body. He goes to the main character and narrator of the story, Edward, a gynecologist, who examines him. Vergil reveals to Edward that the biochips have been enhancing his body, as he says, "I'm being rebuilt from the inside out" (34). Later in the story, Vergil discovers that the biochips have found his brain, and are talking to him. He knows that they want to get out and explore. Edward kills Vergil because he is afraid of what might happen if the biochip civilizations were released "into the wild." After a while, Edward determines that the cell-beings have invaded his body. They take over him and his wife. Eventually, the humans are completely absorbed and overrun by the biochip civilization. Edward describes the transformation in this manner:

In hours, our legs expanded and spread out. Then extensions grew to the windows to take in sunlight, and to the kitchen to take water from the sink. Filaments soon reached to all corners of the room . . . I no longer have any clear view of what we look like . . . Already the plumbing has been invaded. People throughout the building are undergoing transformation . . . Within the old time frame of weeks, we will reach the lakes, rivers, and seas in force. (47)

Not only do the micro-civilizations transform Edward and his wife into a totally different life-forms, they also take over their minds.

Our intelligence fluctuates daily as we are absorbed into the minds within. Each day, our individuality declines . . . Our memories have been taken over by billions of them, and our personalities have been spread through the transformed blood. Soon there will be no need for civilization. (47)

At first, this story might seem to be focusing on the negative aspect of symbiosis. The story certainly is about a parasitic symbiotic relationship. Because of the symbiosis, the humans are completely dissolved, and their intelligence and individuality is dissipated. This is certainly negative, from one point of view. And yet, this could be positive. As Edward says, "Every square inch of the planet will teem with thought . . . New creatures will come then. The immensity of their capacity for thought will be inconceivable. All my hatred and fear is gone now" (48). Life has become much simpler. All that the new civilization has to do is take in light and water for survival, and think. Imagine what great ideas could be conceived! These new beings could unearth the great secrets of the universe. Also, there will be no war or conflict, since all hatred and fear is eradicated. But at what price? These people are no longer physically human, and also have no self-awareness. Simply having the ability to think does not mean that the person is human. Essentially, these people have lost their humanity. Is this loss a fair exchange for a worry-free existence? I think not. Individuality is a key element in humanity. In the story, all sense of self is being lost. To me, this would be one of the worst fates imaginable. To no longer realize who you are, or that you exist, would be a certain hell for any human. Loss of humanity is also discussed in "Tandy's Story"

"Tandy's Story" is another tale that deals with symbiosis, and the positive and negative aspects of it. Five-year-old, Tandy builds a portal in which beings from another dimension enter the earth. She calls these aliens "brownies" because her whole adventure started when she found an old doll in the woods, and called it a brownie. She builds a house for this doll, and spends all of her free time with it. Eventually, she comes in contact with the alien, although this is not expressly stated in the story. She then builds a "factory" out of stone, which burns a certain plant to get the element selenium. This allows the other alien "brownies" to come through. After Tandy and the alien form their symbiotic relationship, Tandy begins to act strangely. She does things that are not normal for her, like setting the table every night and bringing home a perfect report card. This astonishes her parents, but seems to make Tandy happy. As we see in the following passage, this is the purpose of the symbiosis: to make the host joyful.

Whatever it was that bubbled up out of that blue orifice had been designed simply and solely to adapt a host fully to its environment, in order to induce that cardinal harmony called-joy . . . A surge of joy within the host created that special substance on which the symbiote fed, and it was as simple as that. (91)

This seems to be positive at first glance. The symbiotic relationship between Tandy and the brownie appears to be mutually beneficial. Tandy is happy, and the alien gets what it needs to survive. No one would dispute the fact that a life with nothing but joy would be good. But what happens to a person when they are happy all the time? Here enters the negativity of this symbiosis. What makes us human is the broad range of our emotions. As John W. Campbell, Jr. suggested, "Man is the only known entity that laughs, weeps, grieves, and yearns" (219). When someone has no emotions whatsoever, we think of him or her as inhuman. The same could be said of a person who only feels one emotion, like the children in "Tandy's Story." In a sense, these children can no longer control what they do. The symbiote makes all the decisions for Tandy and her siblings, taking away their freedom to make choices for themselves. Like robots, they simply follow what the symbiote tells them it is right to do. All the good things that Tandy had been doing-setting the table, excelling in school-had not been her choice, but the symbiote's. As Tandy explains to her parents, ". . . when I think of the right way [to do something] something inside here goes bwoop-eee . . . and I know that's what I should do" (90). A human needs to make mistakes, and learn from them. It is the learning process, in fact, that helps to define our humanity. Since the children seem to be growing mentally at an incredible rate, what will happen to them as they get older? Will they be super-beings, out of touch with normal humans? Already, they are acting as if they are older than their biological age. This lack of a natural growth process is made clear at the end of the story, when the children's father shudders as the youngest girl, a two-year-old, asks him to play "chest" (chess) with her. Afraid of what is happening, he realizes that his children are no longer human; that they will not have the experience of growing up like all other human beings. Because the symbiote is basically running their lives, they will never be able to discover things on their own, and never make mistakes and learn from them. I think the point of the story is best depicted in the mother's reaction, "happy, silent, and frightened" (91). Although the mother is glad that the children are joyful, she is frightened of what they are becoming.

In short, both "Blood Music" and "Tandy's Story" contain positive and negative aspects of

a human-alien symbiotic relationship. It all depends on the reader's perspective as to what would be more acceptable. Would the benefits outweigh the losses? It is a difficult question to answer. To some, a life with no cares, ambitions, or individuality might be appealing, as in "Blood Music." All that the person/symbiote would have to do would be to sit around and contemplate the mysteries of the universe. For others, this would be a certain torture. Some readers might think that a perfect, joyful life, as in "Tandy's Story," would be ideal. With few exceptions, everyone wants to be happy! Yet, others might argue that it is our mistakes and sorrows that help us learn, and make us more human.

According to my definition, in both of these stories the humans in the relationship have their humanity taken away. Apparently, it cannot co-exist with symbiosis. A person can only have one or the other, not both. Herein lies the underlying question in the conflict: Would you trade your humanity for the rewards offered by symbiosis with an alien being? Each person would have a different answer, and also a different definition of humanity. Some might not even think that humanity is lost through this symbiosis. I suppose it is as Obi-Wan Kenobi said in Return of the Jedi: "Many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view."

In my opinion, however, the subject of symbiosis is a negative one. To me, losing one's humanity is appalling. What purpose would one have in life? If we are not human, then what are we? Large cell-beings like in "Blood Music," with no sense of self or purpose? Automatons controlled by an alien intelligence, feeling only one emotion as in "Tandy's Story?" Neither of these options is appealing to me. I would rather be human, and accept the experiences, both good and bad, that go along with that state, than to accept whatever dubious rewards might be offered by symbiosis with an alien being. Although it is a fascinating subject, I would never want to experience symbiosis like the humans encountered in "Blood Music" and "Tandy's Story." Although others might disagree with me, I think that the loss of humanity would be too great a price for me to pay.

Comments? E-mail me! I love feedback!
Back to my writings page!