He, She and It
Book Description
In a world where technology and humanity clash, a cyborg struggles with its identity while navigating the turbulent currents of love and rebellion. Set in a dystopian future where corporate greed threatens existence, Malkah must protect her son and find solace in the arms of Yod, a synthetic creation designed for more than just servitude. As shadows of violence loom and choices weigh heavily, loyalties are tested and boundaries blurred. Can love survive in a landscape ruled by machines, or will the very forces that bind them together tear them apart? What does it mean to truly be alive?
Quick Book Summary
Set in a near-future, ravaged world where multinational corporations control city-states called "multis," "He, She and It" explores what it means to be human through the intersecting lives of Shira, her mother Malkah, and Yod, an artificial being. Shira returns to her Jewish enclave of Tikva after losing custody of her son to her corporate employers, and soon becomes involved with the creation and protection of Yod—a cyborg designed to defend Tikva. Intertwined with their narrative is the historical tale of the golem of Prague, another artificial protector, reflecting on the timeless tension between creator, creation, and community. Against a backdrop of cybernetic intrigue, corporate oppression, and personal longing, Piercy weaves a meditation on identity, love, rebellion, technology, and the cost of autonomy.
Summary of Key Ideas
Table of Contents
The Nature of Humanity and Artificial Life
"He, She and It" is set in a bleak future where the environment has suffered greatly and society is dominated by sprawling, powerful corporations known as multis. Individuals outside the multis struggle for autonomy and survival, forming tightly-knit enclaves. Shira Shipman, a skilled cybernetician, returns to her matriarchal, Jewish hometown of Tikva after losing a custody battle for her son, Ari, to her ex-husband, Joel, who works for a multi. Shira's return triggers a journey of healing and resistance.
Feminism and Motherhood in a Dystopian World
Tikva's survival hinges on technology and secrecy, especially with the creation of Yod, a cyborg built to protect the community from corporate threats. Shira and her mother, Malkah, work together on Yod’s programming, imbibing him with ethical frameworks and emotional complexity. Through their interactions, the narrative explores questions about the boundaries between human and machine, and whether artificial life can achieve genuine consciousness and independent moral judgment. Yod’s evolution challenges societal assumptions about sentience, identity, and the rights owed to synthetic beings.
Corporate Power Versus Individual Freedom
Running parallel to the primary story is Malkah’s retelling of the legend of the golem of Prague, a living clay figure created to defend the Jewish population. This interwoven narrative draws profound connections between past and future, natural and artificial, faith and science. Both the golem and Yod stand as symbols of protection and rebellion against tyranny, yet both must also navigate the boundaries their creators impose upon them, highlighting the fraught relationship between creation and autonomy.
Love, Loyalty, and the Meaning of Connection
Amid political intrigue and mounting threats from corporate agents, Shira and Yod develop an unlikely and passionate love. Their relationship defies societal norms and compels both to examine what it means to love—and be loved by—someone who exists outside human boundaries. Shira’s struggles with motherhood, loyalty, and making peace with her past merge with her fight for Tikva’s survival, reflecting the personal stakes within broader social conflicts.
Historical Parallels and Jewish Mythology
Ultimately, the novel grapples with the costs of fighting for freedom—both personal and communal. As Tikva faces assault and Shira is forced to make impossible choices regarding Yod’s fate, Marge Piercy confronts readers with the ambiguities of technological progress and rebellion. The book closes on an uncertain future, raising questions about the persistence of love, the resilience of communities, and the enduring search for what it means to be truly alive.
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