You might think that a perfect future wouldn't have a war, but nope, Mattapoisett's got one. The Mattapoisettians are still fighting the remnants of rich, nasty people. And because of that war, Connie sees her own struggles as part of a war, in which violence is necessary and justified.
In Woman on the Edge of Time, poisoning the doctors' coffee is part of an all-out war against the forces of oppression. Is Connie a hero? Or are her actions a criticism of the kind of heroism that we're supposed to admire in war?
Questions About Warfare
- Without the war, would the book have much of a plot? Do you need violence in a science-fiction novel?
- What is the goal of Mattapoisett's war?
- What is the goal of Connie's war?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
The war is an imperfection in a perfect future, and it spoils Connie's present as well.
The future has a war because war is seen as necessary or good in some ways; it inspires Connie in the present to do what she has to do.