David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas and Gabrielle Zevin’s Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow are masterpieces of contemporary literature that weave together profound meditations on human connection, creativity, and the inescapable cycles of human behavior. While these novels differ in scope and structure, both delve deeply into how relationships and stories transcend time, defy barriers, and reflect the indomitable complexity of human nature.
The Interconnected Tapestry of Stories
In Cloud Atlas, Mitchell presents a narrative that spans centuries, showcasing six interwoven stories that explore the cyclical nature of history and human behavior. Each narrative reflects humanity’s propensity for exploitation and power dynamics: “How and why do human beings prey on others? The colonizers on the colonized; one generation on another; business on society; the rich on the poor; psychopaths on the trusting; men on women”. The novel’s structure, with each story nesting within another, emphasizes the interconnectedness of lives across time and space.
Similarly, Zevin’s Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow explores interwoven narratives through the lens of game design, creativity, and friendship. Though focused on a smaller temporal and thematic scale, the novel highlights how stories and games become a means of connection and catharsis. Sam and Sadie, the protagonists, collaborate to create worlds within games, mirroring Mitchell’s broader idea of storytelling as a connective force. Both works suggest that storytelling, whether in books or games, allows humanity to grapple with its darker impulses and imagine better futures.
Traps, Opportunities, and the Human Spirit
Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas reflects on the delicate balance between opportunity and exploitation: “It’s a wise soul, thinks Luisa, who can distinguish traps from opportunities”. This observation resonates deeply in Zevin’s exploration of creative partnerships. In Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Sam and Sadie navigate the thin line between mutual support and competitive jealousy. Their partnership, while often a source of creation, also becomes a trap of miscommunication and unspoken expectations. Both novels illuminate the challenges of distinguishing genuine opportunity from pitfalls within relationships.
Cycles of Violence and Redemption
Mitchell’s portrayal of cyclical violence—“ignorance of the Other engenders fear; fear engenders hatred; hatred engenders violence”—resonates with Zevin’s portrayal of generational trauma and systemic inequities. In Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow, the characters are shaped by personal losses and societal prejudices, mirroring the cycles of harm seen in Cloud Atlas. However, both novels also emphasize the possibility of breaking these cycles through creativity and empathy. For Mitchell, this hope is encapsulated in the belief that humanity can transcend its base instincts: “If we believe leaders must be just, violence muzzled, power accountable… such a world will come to pass”. Zevin’s characters achieve redemption through their collaborative acts of creation, suggesting that art and storytelling can serve as pathways to understanding and healing.
Happiness, Joy, and the Fluidity of Human Experience
Cloud Atlas draws a striking distinction between happiness and joy: “The singular difference between happiness and joy is that happiness is a solid and joy a liquid”. This metaphor encapsulates the fleeting, dynamic nature of human emotions and experiences. In Zevin’s novel, the joy of creation and collaboration often contrasts with the more static achievements of success and recognition. Sam and Sadie’s journey underscores the fluidity of joy in their shared passion for game design, even as personal happiness eludes them. Both novels suggest that joy, as a liquid, flows through the cracks of human struggle, offering moments of transcendence.
Utopia and the Hazy Distance
Mitchell’s reflection on utopia—“the actual future + the actual past exist only in the hazy distance”—parallels Zevin’s exploration of the idealized visions of friendship and partnership. In both novels, utopia is not a tangible destination but a motivating force. Mitchell’s characters strive for a better world, even as they face insurmountable odds. Similarly, Sam and Sadie’s collaborations, while imperfect, represent an aspirational vision of human connection through shared creativity.
Conclusion: The Enduring Power of Stories
At their cores, Cloud Atlas and Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow remind readers that stories are the threads connecting past, present, and future. Whether through Mitchell’s grand temporal scope or Zevin’s intimate portrayals of relationships, these novels celebrate the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of creativity. Both works challenge us to confront cycles of violence and exploitation while offering hope that, through storytelling, humanity can imagine and create a better world.