Introduction
This dystopian novel by Louise Erdrich depicts the author’s views on the future of humanity under a religious rule. Beginning from the title of the book, the author mentions the name of the Lord, and this theme remains one of the primary topics throughout the chapters. Even the main character, who is pregnant at the beginning of the book, was named Mary before being adopted. Erdrich includes direct references to the biblical apocalypse on several billboards that Cedar encounters: “Endtime at Last! Are You Ready to Rapture?” (20). This essay focuses on the meaning of the sermons on the billboards and how this image relates to the message of the book.
Main body
The book presents a dystopian setting, which involves fictional elements that hint toward the backward evolution of humans as a species due to political and societal influences. Erdrich includes the title of the book within these billboards: “In one enormous, empty field a sign is planted that reads Future Home of the Living God” (20). The main character finds these messages distressful, as Erdrich writes that “some sermons advertised on church billboards are more alarming than usual” (20). The fact that Cedar was distressed after seeing these signs indicates one of the main topics prevalent within the novel.
Through this image and Cedar’s reaction to it, the author aims to show the potentially disastrous effects of current political tendencies, some of which take power away from women. Männik states that “these scenarios stem from a major issue, such as religious fundamentalism, and show what may happen if the issue is pushed to the extreme” (8). Cedar writes in her diary that “the world as we know it is coming to an end and nobody knows what the hell is going on” (Erdrich 26). The billboards that pronounce the coming Rapture and the end of the days are not uncommon in modern times, which is a positive event in Christian mythology. However, as Cedar describes these messages, she does not share any optimistic views that Christians put into the Rapture.
In this dystopian version of the country, women’s rights are limited due to the occurring complications during birth, which require additional control. However, the implemented regulations are met with distrust and negativity from the main character, as Cedar writes in her journal that she is not going to turn to the government for help during birth (Erdrich 71). While not stating it directly, the author shows Cedar’s attitude toward such measures in this encounter with church billboards. Before observing these messages, Cedar muses that everything around them is “physically balanced” and “nothing seems terribly unusual” (Erdrich 20). Naturalistic landscape and regular life are described as normal, while signs with sermons seem out of place, puts an emphasis on the author’s intention to create a contrast between religion and peace of mind.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the author uses this image and the reaction of the main character to it as a juxtaposition between the nature of life and the religious views on it. The setting of this book connects such elements as a heavily religious government, the backward evolution of organisms, and the effect of these notions on the life of an ordinary woman. Schenk argues that this novel uses “fiction as a magnifier of contemporary social and environmental trends” (57). Through this connection, the author shows the adverse effect that may occur if religions will heavily influence the political situation in the country and the world.
Works Cited
Erdrich, Louise. Future Home of the Living God. Harper Perennial, 2017.
Männik, Teele. Giving Women’s Bodies Back To Women: Representation Of Religion And Women’s Rights In Louise Erdrich’s Novel Future Home Of The Living God. 2019. The University of Tartu, BA Thesis. DSpace, Web.
Schenk, Meg. Another Mom Bites The Dust: Motherhood And Futurity In A Literary Post-apocalypse. 2018. The Robert D. Clark Honors College, BA Thesis. ScholarsBank, Web.