Babel
By R.F. Kuang
““The poet runs untrammeled across the meadows. The translator dances in shackles.””
Thoughts
No other book I have read has reflected the invisible truths about colonialism and its lasting effects on human perspective today. Babel is a daring story that opens the discussion on the deep-seated effects of colonialism and human desire and values that caused it. It is a difficult and controversial conversation to have, explore, write, and digest, so I applaud the author for writing such a brutal and dark story. This book brings forth a racial divide in such a typical setting - university - that is reflective of a reality which I’ve never seen depicted in fiction.
Admittedly, this Dark Academia novel is not for everyone. It’s not for those looking for a quick, satisfying, poetic, magical or action-packed read. But, it is for those who are open to understanding the complexities of colonialism, translation, social and racial conflicts, forgotten truths, and a main character with an insane identity crisis. It is heavy-hitting if it is read meticulously and could change many people’s understanding of history, identity, language, society and human nature. Babel is not a typical fantasy book. It stands in its own category that borders academic essays, dark academia, fantasy, and historical fiction.
What I realized through Babel is that colonial brutality involves the rape of language and culture in a way. As the story unfolds, it is clear that historically, the commodification of language exists - and through it, the erasure of culture and tradition. Words cannot simply be translated literally, to do so would be butchery. Babel makes it clear: language is heritage, and violence is not the answer.
Plot
I do not gravitate towards Dark Academia books, but Babel’s plot truly interested me. As I read, I discovered that I was a fan of the multiple conflicts weaved into the story as it made for a complex plot. While Robin (our Asian main character) experiences internal conflict in regards to his identity, beliefs, and values, there were many external conflicts going on. For instance, he and Ramy struggle to amalgamate into a traditional (sometimes discriminatory) society as a migrants or ethnic minorities. The issue of silver (soft magic system I won’t spoil) is also an interesting “technological advancement” in the book. It is essentially another conflict that at first seems advantageous for the Empire, but negatively impacts its people and other countries. There is also the issue of student rebellion, which Robin and his friends are inevitably exposed to yet unsure about. Social class disparities, colonised vs. colonisers, violence, and even the Opium War, are just some other examples of topics & themes found throughout Babel. These invisible cruelties and bypassed realities are what make the book an exemplar of Dark Academia - not just the melancholy aesthetic, focus on elite higher education or insane professors.
I can imagine that some readers will feel that nothing exciting or extraordinary happens within the story. Of course there are shocking events here and there, but personally I feel that the impact of the plot lies in subtle thoughts and decisions of the characters against a high-stakes uncontrollable backdrop that is 1830s England. Is global supremacy well-founded? Does the end justify the means? Is violence necessary? These are some of the questions that Babel makes it’s reader ponder even after completing the book.
Characters
I must say that I did not particularly like any character (though I don’t think they are meant to be liked). Every character in the book is incredibly human and broken, yet the stark differences and honesty between their stories make them realistic and worthy to be written about. Robin, Ramy, Letty and Victoire are all complex and fleshed out and I loved reading how their friendship blossomed. What I appreciated more was understanding how they all had varied backgrounds and priorities yet still loved each other. I liked how the author painted truthful dynamics that exist within friend groups over a couple of months and eventually over longer periods. I also have to mention that the Oxford professors were so well-characterized that I understood their selfish perspectives. The author wrote the intellectuals as convincing and stern, allowing me to empathize with Robin’s confused and self-destructive nature. As for the student rebels, they are quite mysterious and were my least favourite members of the cast. Yet, they were important to the development of the story.
Writing
Babel is a slow-burn book that requires its reader to be ready for some dark themes and, honestly, a bit of academic-style reading. The author is an incredible researcher who used historical events and accurate translations to create an extraordinary piece of literature. There are footnotes in the book, and reading them adds magic to the story, so if you’re not a fan of these, you should mentally prepare before reading.
***Note: The author takes creative liberties to make her story work, but she states all the intentional changes she made at the beginning of the book.
Related books
The Secret History, The Poppy War Trilogy