Inside Symbol Analysis

The book repeatedly draws attention to the difference between “inside” and “outside” and the efforts to keep the two separated. The emphasis on sanitation is an indication of this: keeping the clean “in” and the dirty “out.” Many people in the compounds work to keep viruses out of human cells (Jimmy’s mom says her job is to put “locks” on the doors of cell walls) and to keep diseases out of the compound. In addition, the Compounds are “inside,” set apart by domes, gates, and doors, inhabited by wealthy families employed by large research corporations. Snowman enjoyed the privilege of the “inside” his whole life, as a “Compound brat” and as an employee working inside Crake’s airlocked “paradice.” “Inside” represents cleanliness, health, familiarity, wealth and comfort, though it is also possible to argue that it represents being closed off and therefore blind to the world.