Fiction Writers Research Articles

Colonial Elements in Krishnachandra's Short Stories

Krishan Chandar is renowned short story fictional writer. He has woven his stories from the society and depicted the bitter realities in impressive style. In colonial era, Krishan observed its harsh impacts on layman’s life with the help of satitical realism and social consciousness, he becomes the writer of departion unaccomplished dreams and poverty of common masses due to imperialism and capitalisim. Having core affinity to progressive movement he wrote masterpiece with his artist mind. Mostly his characters are from bottom of society who are being crushed under the heavy boots of colonisess and imperialists. Consciousness, affinity, imperialism, depitration, capitalisim

Translating Difference: Reflections on the Interface between Novelistic Discourse and World Literature

The present essay examines two moments from the evolution of the modern Malayalam novel, in relation to the reception of two classics in world literature, namely Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables translated into Malayalam between 1925 and 1927 and García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude translated in 1984. The translation of Hugo’s novel energized the scene of Malayalam fiction by infusing new modes of representation and widening the intellectual horizons of writers in general, and novelists in particular. The echoes of Les Misérables could be heard in Malayalam fiction well into the 1950s. The struggles against colonial and feudal authorities in Kerala, provided a fertile context for the imaginative interpretation of Hugo’s humanist vision. The paper illustrates this point through close readings of critical essays, autobiographical narratives and debates on the nature of translation. The fascination of Malayali readers with García Márquez has resulted in the translation of his entire corpus into Malayalam. Magic realism as pioneered by García Márquez liberated the Malayalam novelistic narrative from social realist and modernist dogmas. The colonial disruption of oral narratives, the consequent cultural amnesia and the struggle to reclaim one’s forgotten past are themes that struck a chord in Malayalam writers of fiction. Through a detailed discussion of the novel, Moustache by S. Hareesh, the interface between novelistic discourse and world literature is mapped in the latter part of the essay.

Environmental Crisis and Images of Desire in Paolo Bacigalupi’s The Windup Girl and Pump Six and Other Stories

In the wake of mounting warnings from ecologists and other scientists, contemporary fiction writers have been alerting their readers to the environmental crisis as manifested in droughts, floods, wildfires, polar ice cap melting, rising sea levels, air, water, and soil pollution, species extinction, and a host of other ills. Within the realm of contemporary science fiction, Paolo Bacigalupi, a highly acclaimed American author, describes a world in the throes of catastrophic ecological change. Through his meticulously crafted narratives, Bacigalupi delivers a prophetic message, delineating environmental crises within the context of a posthuman world.Employing pertinent concepts derived from object-oriented ecological theory, this paper employs Jane Bennett’s notion of “vibrant matter”, Timothy Morton’s concept of “hyperobjects”, Stacy Alaimo’s theory of “trans-corporeality”, and Rob Nixon’s idea of “slow violence” to see how Bacigalupi engages in current discourses on the environmental crisis and images of desire in The Windup Girl and Pump Six and Other Stories. Bacigalupi presents grotesqueries against a background of multiple, post-apocalyptic disasters. While societal elites indulge in hedonistic experimentation, mega-corporations engage in genetic manipulation on humans, plants, and animals in pursuit of progress, aesthetic trends, profit, or survival. Humanity’s ongoing destruction of the planet in service to a consumer culture, along with the disastrous results of attempting scientific “fixes” without understanding the interconnecting causes or the scale of the phenomenon they are trying to “fix”, beg the question of whether science and technology will be able to prevent or ameliorate future ecological crises, or inadvertently precipitate even graver predicaments. Bacigalupi’s critique, illustrated through grim narratives replete with macabre examples, serves as a poignant exhortation, urging humans to meditate on and then prevent or mitigate the impending disasters of our own making.

PEMETAAN BIBLIOMETRIK: PENGGUNAAN TEKNOLOGI ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) PADA RENTANG WAKTU 2011-2023 DALAM DUNIA PENDIDIKAN

Artificial Intelligence technology is artificial intelligence which is then associated with the ability of machines or computers to do things that humans do. Artificial Intelligence originally started in 1942 when the American science fiction writer Isaac Asimov then included AI in his book entitled Runaround which then told about robots. Then, in 1956 MarvinMinsky and John McCarthy began conducting research on artificial intelligence. Artificial Intelligence technology has become increasingly popular among the wider community, in all circles, including in the world of education. One of the products from AI which is quite popular at the moment is GPT chat which is often used in the world of education. This is because Artificial Intelligence technology makes it very easy to do work or assignments. This article will then examine using bibliometric analysis the trends in the use of Artificial Intelligence technology in the world of education. This article analyzes using the bibliometric analysis method using a database from Scopus with a research range from 2011 to 2023, with the keywords artificial intelligence, impact, and education, which then produces 1565 articles. These articles were analyzed using bibliometric methods with biblioshiny. The aim of this article is to analyze trends in the use of artificial intelligence technology in the world of education based on bibliometric analysis by observing the number of publications on this topic from year to year. It was found that from year to year research on the use of artificial intelligence in the world of education, the graph continues to increase and shows a percentage of 43.71% for the development of publications from year to year. This article is divided into several parts (1) introduction which explains each research component starting from scopus bibliometrics and biblioshiny as well as the topics studied; (2) research methods carried out using bibliometric analysis; (3) results and discussion of the bibliometric analysis; and (4) conclusions.

A Comparative Study of Hunger and Satiation of Hunger in the Literary Works of M.T. Vasudevan Nair and Perumal Murugan

The ‘presence’ and ‘absence’ of food, has been an oft-deliberated topic right from the Palaeolithic Age in India. Starting from the Bhimbetka Rock paintings to the famous Raja Ravi Varma’s paintings to Nandlal’s artworks depicting the famine and drain of economy due to the imperial greed in Bengal - all of which depict the creative artist’s and writer’s colossal engagement with hunger and satiation of hunger. Likewise, several fiction writers have explored the idea of hunger, especially in Malayalam and Tamil language. The idea of hunger has been used as a trope by several indigenous writers to explore multiple social turmoils and transformations. For example, writers like M.T. Vasudevan Nair use memories of hunger by child narrators to depict the fall of the feudal system, collapse of matrilineal structures, social neglect and gender marginalisation. In the present essay, we focus on two aspects of hunger a) the representation of memories of hunger amongst the rural agrarian communities b) the role that mothers play and the methods that they incorporate in mitigating hunger and creating a feeling of illusory self sufficiency (of food) amongst children. The essay argues that memories of hunger, dearth, and abundance of food are forged not just by the physical lack of it but by the experiences of lack of social security, denial of identity and the rupture of familial ties. To substantiate our arguments we draw upon the literary works of M.T. Vasudevan Nair, and Perumal Murugan and use the theoretical framework of memory studies.

Erased and Displaced Identities in S.J. Watson’s Before I Go to Sleep

Steve J. Watson was born in England in 1971. Watson, who worked as an audiologist in the NHS before starting his writing career, had the opportunity to closely observe the characters’ lives, which would be the subject of his works in the hospital where he worked. Based on the lives of Henry Gustav Molaison and Clive Wearing, both of whom have long-term memory problems Before I Go to Sleep was published in 2011. Molaison and Wearing’s years of illness had a profound effect on Watson. Similarly, Christine, the novel’s protagonist, also suffers from Molaison and Wearing syndrome. Waking up every morning with a new identity, Christine tries to make sense of what is happening around her until she falls asleep again. The forgetfulness she experiences alienates her from everything. Given that similar circumstances exist in real life, Watson aims to show the reader the effect of memory on identity through Christine. Studies on memory always play an essential role in fiction. Many literary texts concentrate on how characters remember their past and how this memory triggers the construction of their identity. In other words, many texts serve as representations of individual memories. While memories form one’s identity, amnesia leads to a new identity, life, personality and darkness. Therefore, for fiction writers, amnesia is a tool that emphasizes the relationship between identity and memory. Based on these facts, this study will focus on Christine, who wakes up every morning as a new person and will seek the answer to whether identity can be constructed without memory.

The Intersection of Transhumanism, Prognosis, and AI in Dan Brown’s Origin

The intersection of Transhumanism, Prognosis, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a topic that has captured the imagination of science fiction writers for years. In Dan Brown’s novel, Origin, he explores the idea that as AI evolves to the point of self-learning, the prospect of a posthuman world becomes increasingly plausible. Artificial intelligence has become ubiquitous, not only in technology but also in the way people think about the world. Machines are learning, and evolving, and are soon expected to surpass human intelligence. However, this pursuit of creating the ultimate AI raises ethical and moral concerns. The idea of a machine achieving sentience and surpassing human intelligence is a nightmare scenario for some who fear the rise of artificial intelligence. In his quest to create the ultimate AI, the protagonist in “Origin” has plunged into dangerous territory, pushing the limits of what is acceptable. The defining technology of the modern era is artificial intelligence, a force that is transforming every aspect of society from finance to healthcare to transportation. As AI continues to advance, people are becoming increasingly concerned about the ethical implications of creating machines that can think and reason like humans. Transhumanism, which aims to enhance human capabilities through the use of technology, is closely linked with the development of AI. The coalescence of man and machine is becoming a real possibility, and the future belongs to those who can control it. In conclusion, the intersection of transhumanism, prognosis, and AI raises important ethical and moral questions about the future of humanity. As we continue to develop AI, it is essential to consider the potential consequences of creating machines that can think and reason like humans. The quest for the ultimate AI is a double-edged sword, and we must be careful not to plunge too far into dangerous territory.

FORESIGHT PROJECTS AS A FACTOR IN THE FORMATION OF STUDENTS' LEGAL BEHAVIOUR IN AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION IN THE CONTEXT OF THE HUMANISATION OF THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS

The article highlights the issues related to the use of foresight projects for the formation of students' legal behaviour in an educational institution in the context of the humanisation of the educational process. The article analyses scientific and methodological works on the peculiarities of using the project method in educational institutions. It is established that students' work on projects contributes to the development of independence, activity, research skills, a sense of belonging to the world community, awareness of professional choice, creative and social development, and the formation of critical thinking skills. Working on a project in an educational institution, regardless of its didactic purpose, shapes the student's future behavior in personal and professional terms, and therefore a trajectory that can be predicted. It is believed that the term «foresight» was first used by science fiction writer H.G. Wells in 1930 in one of his public speeches. The writer proposed to introduce the profession of a «professor of foresight», who, like a historian, would analyze and propose options for the practical implementation of future discoveries. The use of foresight projects in the educational process of an educational institution allows to shape the legal behavior of students, implementing the strategy of humanization of education. At the same time, such behavior is regulated by the content of the relevant legal acts. According to the research of domestic scholars, the implementation of the main provisions of humanization of education requires the use of modern pedagogical methods of humanistic educational activities, ensures the development of the student's personality, and is a guarantee of improving the quality of education and increasing its competitiveness at the international level. It is believed that the degree of humanization of the educational process depends on the extent to which this process creates the preconditions for self-development of the individual, his/her self-realization and creativity. The article deals with the foresight project «I am a future teacher». «I am a future teacher of accounting and economic disciplines», «The path to academic integrity». It is noted that traditional information-oriented, social, creative and other types of projects can also serve as foresight projects.

History, Fiction, and Trauma

Abstract Post independent India has witnessed several horrific incidents of communal violence. The largest communal riot happened in the year 1984, in the capital city New Delhi. The Anti- Sikh Riots of 1984, happened after the assassination of Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India. But for a long time, there was silence surrounding the incident in which thousands lost their lives. The silence was primarily caused from the trauma inflicted from the incident. There are reasons to believe that the silence was politically motivated too. But the role fictional writings have played in communicating the traumatic memory of the incident was significant. This paper studies the novel Amu written by Shonali Bose to understand representation of traumatic memory of the community. The paper attempts to problematize the decades long silence surrounding the incident and the novel’s role along with other similar fictional accounts’ in unraveling the truth of the incident. The concept of unspeakability in trauma is examined alongside the forced silencing of the incident. Keywords: History, Unspeakability, trauma, 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots, Fiction, Silencing

Best and Other Friends: A Creative Essay

With Éilís Ní Dhuibhne’s bildungsroman, The Dancers Dancing, as a point of departure, this creative essay opens with the protagonist Orla, who is somewhat plump and awkward, and her close friendship with the more sophisticated Aisling. They are in their early teens in the novel, which is set in the Donegal Gaeltacht, where they are a part of a group of girls and boys spending a month learning the Irish language and culture including dancing at a céilí. The essay moves on to imagine Orla and her changing friendships as an adult, both briefly as a Masters student in Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia and then as an assistant professor at Trinity College. The focus is on Orla’s friendships as an acclaimed writer of fiction. This entails making new friends and colleagues in Ireland’s literary world, but also includes intrigue, inspired by Ní Dhuibhne’s novel Fox, Swallow, Scarecrow and short story ‘A Literary Lunch’. With Orla’s success – and her prominence as a literary critic – comes envy and loss of a friend who used to support her. As an antidote against such intrigue, Orla appreciates her close friendship with Emily, even as she moves abroad, and they are left to communicate online via Skype. Eventually, Orla finds Aisling on Facebook and they reunite in the shelter of old friends from the past.

Foreword

As technology advances, there are growing arguments about artificial intelligence, which is still controversial, with both welcome and pessimistic views regarding its role in the future of human life. What was revealed about the development of artificial intelligence is considered very simple in the eyes of specialists and observers, especially in areas that have not been explored, and this constitutes a source of fear for many. The vast leaps witnessed in recent years in the field of artificial intelligence have become a source of anxiety for most people, especially those working in institutions and industrial facilities, even though this anxiety stems from losing their jobs and replacing them with robots. This concern came from statements that the next two decades will witness the introduction of vast quantities of robots to the market. OpenAI was initially established in 2015 by Sam Altman, Elon Musk, and others to advance digital intelligence. On November 30, 2022, OpenAI released ChatGPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer. ChatGPT uses a large language model to provide users with quick and reliable answers and give enough information about most of the topics. Furthermore, ChatGPT allows users to have more in-depth conversations. The concern about the impact role of ChatGPT on educational and social institutions has led to some reactions from academic institutions, and school districts were hasty and took action to block artificial intelligence platforms from schools, which they quickly retracted in the aftermath. On the other hand, some scholarly academic journals, including our Arab World English Journal, have announced guidelines for article authors. Authors must disclose the use of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process. While we are editing the final draft of this volume (April 2024), OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced in a statement that OpenAI has opened its first office in Asia, Japan, and is providing a GPT-4 custom for the Japanese language; it is three times faster its predecessor. OpenAI aims to expand ChatGPT’s global presence. After releasing ChatGPT, which is backed by Microsoft, OpenAI has emerged as a leading company in the history of computing. In this special issue, we addressed the impact of ChatGPT and AI-assisted technologies, an essential topic that will constitute the main features of education and publications in the twenty-first century. The issue contains 21 articles from eight countries (China, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman, Malaysia, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and Ukraine). It covers a broad spectrum of related topics: Academic writing, the pedagogical potential of infinigoChatIC, Grammar Teaching and Learning in EFL Classes, English Language Proficiency in EFL Classrooms, Grammar Teaching and Learning in EFL Classes, EFL Essay Writing, Distance Learning Environment, Evaluation of the Translation, Improve the Research Writing Process, Role of Artificial Intelligence in Education, Language Learners’ Critical Thinking, Naruto Fan Fiction Writing, and the Impact of ChatGPT on Future Academics. We seize this opportunity to extend our heartfelt thanks to the authors who have shared their research with our Arab World English journal. We anticipate that the articles in this volume will attract a diverse readership and deepen our understanding of ChatGPT’s role in learning and teaching and its associated challenges. We also hope these papers will provide a thought-provoking perspective for faculty members and students to consider ChatGPT’s impact on writing and related assignments.

Концепции герметизма и гностицизма в современной научно-фантастической литературе

The aim of the research is to clarify the features of the interpretation of the concepts of hermeticism and gnosticism in science fiction in the late 20th and 21st centuries devoted to the problems of trans- and posthumanism. The paper examines the features of the integration of gnostic and hermetic ideas into modern English-language science fiction. The scientific novelty of the research lies in considering the works of contemporary science fiction writers (G. Egan, R. Sawyer, N. Stephenson, W. Gibson, Ch. Stross) and in identifying the main variants of how gnostic and hermetic themes are developed in the writings of these writers. The author sees the influence of gnostic and hermetic ideas in science fiction works devoted to the topic of transhumanist changes in the form of interventions in the human body at the biochemical level, the themes of mind scanning and digital immortality, and the rational observer of the Universe. As a result, it is proved that gnostic and hermetic elements in contemporary science fiction devoted to the problems of trans- and posthumanism allow writers to include the problematic of hypothetical technologies for improving human nature into the context of a centuries-old religious tradition.

Integrating Artificial Intelligence in Naruto Fan Fiction Writing: A Case Study

The paper highlights communicative, ethical, and educational aspects of AI applications for fan fiction writing. This study is the first attempt to analyze opportunities and academic aspects of using AI for fan fiction writing. The article offers a brief overview of research aspects of AI and fan fiction and presents a case study an AI-generated fanfic based on Naruto series. The objective of the work is to study the use of artificial intelligence in the context of fan fiction writing, specifically focusing on how AI technology can assist or enhance the creative process of fan fiction authors. The research questions aim to investigate the implications and opportunities of employing AI in fan fiction writing and education, shedding light on the evolving relationship between technology and creative expression in online communities. While AI technology can offer various benefits and enhancements to the creative process of fan fiction writing, there are also some drawbacks to consider when using AI for this purpose. AI-generated fan fiction may lack the creativity, originality, and emotional depth human authors can bring to their writing. Using AI-powered fan fiction can be a creative and engaging way to assist in learning foreign languages. AI-generated fan fiction can expose learners to authentic language use, colloquial expressions, and cultural references in a fun and interactive format. Reading fan fiction in the target language can help improve vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension skills. When working with already published fan fiction, some ethical and legal issues arise, such as copyright infringement, plagiarism, and misrepresentation.

Transformation of French literature into Ho Bieu Chanh’s work from the perspective of the polysystem theory

Around the middle of the 17th century, the national language script was born and developed thanks to the merits of Western missionaries such as G.D. Amaral and A. Barbosa (Portugal); A.D. Rhodes (France). However, Catholic literature in Vietnam over the next 200 years was still mainly written in Nom, Chinese, or Latin. When the French tried to consolidate their rule in Vietnam, the Quoc Ngu script was made official throughout Vietnam in the early 20th century in order to eliminate the influence of anti-French Confucianism in Vietnam. Among the writers of this period, Ho Bieu Chanh was the most successful. Commenting on Ho Bieu Chanh’s position in Vietnamese literature, the book Vietnamese Literature from the beginning of the 20th century to 1945 by the Publishing House of the University of Pedagogy wrote: “Ho Bieu Chanh is a pioneer writer of modern fiction. Vietnam in the first steps before the period of prosperity (since 1932) and also a strong writer with many merits. Ho Bieu Chanh’s novel has contributed significantly to the preparation for the formation of critical realism in Vietnamese literature in the following decade” [1]. This article studies Ho Bieu Chanh’s work as a case of how Vietnamese intellectuals received creatively French literature in particular and Western culture in general. This research inspects Ho Bieu Chanh’s works from the perspective of the polysystem theory to find out the acquisition of French literature as well as the author’s creativity in comparison with the original ones. As a result, the contribution of Ho Bieu Chanh in modernizing Vietnamese literature and his success will be affirmed.

“This kind of life has no meaning”

“This kind of life has no meaning”

THE SCIENCE FICTION OF TRAUMA IN MATT HAIG’S THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY

This study examines the emergent literary subgenre known as The Science Fiction of Trauma which involves the distinctive combination of science fiction components and studies of the complicated effects of trauma. The study posits that science fiction narratives often address trauma more explicitly than traditional literary studies, which may shy away from grappling with its complex and chaotic nature. An analysis of speculative fiction allows the exploration of intricate symbolic depictions of symptoms related to trauma (such as flashbacks and dissociation), the influence of trauma on one’s sense of self, and the broader societal ramifications of significant traumatic incidences. Exploiting science fiction settings that incorporate futuristic technology, encounters with extraterrestrial beings, or society that have been altered greatly, enhances the ability to depict the psychological and emotional consequences of trauma. Science fiction encompasses more than just the portrayal of spaceships and robots. It can be utilised to investigate genuine human experiences such as trauma. Science fiction writers employ the extraordinary components of the genre, such as sophisticated technology, alien civilizations, and futuristic settings, as instruments. These tools serve a purpose beyond creating visually impressive action scenes or constructing fictional worlds. They are employed to enhance the emotional resonance of trauma and make it more relatable for the reader. The aim of the study is to analyse Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library conducting the elements of The Science Fiction of Trauma in which fictional portrayals can both reveal and influence the dynamic advancements in scientific comprehension and representation of trauma.

Social consciousness in the fictional works of Prem Chand

Prem Chand is called the god of fictional stories. The aspect of social consciousness is vivid in his writings. He peeps into society with deep insight and describes the social & psychological conditions of his characters. The commonness is his central characters. He was associated with progressive movement and wrote under its agenda. His writings are a silent protest against imperialism, colonialism, feudal system and slavery of every kind. His stories pose as a unique blend of idealism & realism. His story “Kaffan” (کفن) & Jarmana (جریمانہ) are exemplary in depicting social consciousness. He was a great preacher of harmony & peace in the society. His fictional writings show great advocacy in creating love, tolerance and harmony among Muslims & Hindus. In fact he was a writer of every deprived human being.

Across time, space, and genres: measuring probabilistic grammar distances between varieties of Mandarin

Abstract This paper aims to quantify distances between varieties of Mandarin (diachronic, regional, and situational) as a function of the similarity in the choice between syntactic variants in the Mandarin theme-recipient alternation (yŭ/gěi dative alternation). We use a novel corpus-based method, Variation-Based Distance and Similarity Modeling, which draws inspiration from work in comparative sociolinguistics and quantitative dialectometry. Analysis reveals that, while there is a relatively stable probabilistic grammar across the investigated varieties, historical varieties do exhibit a relatively higher degree of heterogeneity than synchronic varieties. Despite the overall high similarity of the latter, we identify substantial probabilistic differences between fictional writings of Modern Mainland Mandarin and all other synchronic varieties. Our findings thus provide evidence in support of the hypothesis that the transition from Early Mandarin to Modern Mandarin over the past two centuries has witnessed salient grammatical shifts and also empirically demonstrate the interaction between genre variability and regional variability in Modern Mandarin.

Val McDermid's Lindsay Gordon: A Revolutionary Portrait in Tartan- Noir

Considered as one of the most influential crime fiction writers of our time, Val McDermid combines her works with Scotland’s city and town culture. Having the opportunity to closely observe the problems faced by the working class in the town of Fife where she spent her childhood, McDermid enriches her fiction with these narratives. These experiences led her to be the voice of the forgotten, oppressed, and marginalised segments of society in her later writing life. Also challenging the male-dominated structure of traditional crime fiction, McDermid brings a new atmosphere to crime fiction by creating fictional characters such as Lindsay Gordon. Classic crime fiction, which spent its golden age under the hegemony of British writers in the 1930s, presents the reader with stories in which typical male detectives are the protagonists. By the 1970s, Scottish crime fiction, or Tartan-Noir writers, produced essential works in this field. McDermid, who took the title of the Queen of crime fiction, puts women at the centre of her narrative, and in this way, she differs from male Tartan-Noir writers. In this study, McDermid, who deconstructed the male-dominated structure in traditional detective fiction and placed strong female detectives such as Lindsay Gordon into fiction, will be examined. Additionally, McDermid’s criticisms of the Margaret Thatcher period will be explained to readers with examples from her novels.

Second-Person Narration and Self-Reflectivity: The Effectivity of the Narrative Technique in Empathizing with and Identifying the “Other” in N.K. Jemisin’s The Broken Earth (2015-17) Trilogy

ABSTRACT The paper aims to disabuse the critics of their consensus regarding the strangeness and unpredictability of the second-person “you” and subsequently highlight the potential that it possesses. While exploring the ambiguous yet multi-faceted identities of the “other” has often been one of the central concerns of the black science fiction and fantasy genre, the employment of second-person narration to reconcile the dilemma posed by the ambivalent selves of the “other” is the hallmark of science fiction and fantasy writer N.K. Jemisin’s The Broken Earth trilogy (2015–17). To that end, the paper attempts to close read the alternate identification and displacement feature of “you” as an effective technique to construct the “black female identity” that is constituted of fluid and multi-dimensional representations of female selves. It also highlights the self-reflective nature, that is, the tendency of the “you” in the text to reflect on its own slippery self while concurrently negotiating with the refracted selves of Essun. The final section engages with the significance of second-person narration in the theory of mind debate and how Jemisin’s execution of it makes the story of Essun readily available to the readers by making them partake of her experience, thus triggering the readers’ empathy.