The Only Way Imperialism Dies
Introduction:
R.F. Kuang is known for writing hard hitting books with in depth characters based off of real world events. Mostly centered around her roots in China. Being an expert in East Asian Languages, she not only understands the languages but also their shared history of conflict and imperialism. The first of her books that I read was her “Poppy War” series and it was devastating. (If you’d like me to share my thoughts on that series let me know). So, starting this book I wasn’t sure what to expect.
Fan Cover of Babel featuring our four MCs.
Babel follows a young Chinese boy (Later renamed Robin Swift) as he is taken away from China by an English Scholar to eventually work at Babel (or the Institute of Translation) as a Sliver Worker, the power of being truly bilingual and engraving sliver with the words from two different languages that mean similar things but whatever is lost in translation is what the Silver rejects and begins to affect the world around it. Such a cool concept for a magic system! It really does show off her skill and passion as a translator to come up with a magic system so simple yet endlessly complex and creative.
Just like the magic system the plot and themes are equally complex as it explores being bilingual and biracial in an imperialist world. As well as the harm and indoctrination that take place when abuse is turned into a system to subjugate the world at large. It is an amazing book, a historical fantasy book about a very interesting piece of world history. A time of empires and a time of cruelty.
“Robbery, butchery, and theft – they call these things empire, and where they create a desert, they call it peace.”
What’s Inspirational About “Babel”?:
First off, what is inspiring is the magic system as mentioned above. As a bilingual person myself I couldn’t help but be endlessly tickled by the idea of what spells I could cast with silver working knowing the differences between the two languages I know. Just what a great concept. Begin able to bend reality around you with the power of imperfect translations of the ideas between societies. Amazing!
Yet the book also shows that as the British Empire expands and brings more cultures under their rule; they also destroy the very languages and translations that power their magic system. The British claim they are documenting these languages and preserving them while actively killing and oppressing those who speak them. Just one of the awful things this book really drives home with elegance and true horror.
“But that’s the great contradiction of colonialism.’ Cathy uttered this like a simple matter of fact. ‘It’s built to destroy that which it prizes most.”
What is also inspiring is the dedication to ‘historical accuracy’ (As accurate as you can be in a Historical Fantasy Novel). The events depicted in the Opium war with China, to the riots over unfair wages created by the greed of rich men during the industrial revolution. R.F. Kuang lets you truly settle into this era of the world and into the perspectives of these characters. Her writing is visceral and the emotions are so real. You really do feel as trapped as the characters are by the thoughtless norms that imperialism creates.
The last thing that is really inspiring about Babel is its themes. The message that Babel teaches is how the structure of Imperialism is built to spread out suffering so that no single group or person is radicalized enough to rebel or question the system. In fact it makes it so that the system is good enough that you believe that there is no better alternative. All so that you will defend it despite the active harm, murder, and rape that it commits.
SPOLIERS
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SKIP TO FINAL THOUGHTS
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SPOLIERS = SKIP TO FINAL THOUGHTS =
This is really shown to be the case when Letty, a blonde British woman is faced with the idea of an actual revolution. Letty throughout the entire book has been our friend and ally. As a woman at the Translation Institute she has faced discrimination and harm by the same system that has oppressed Robin and our other friends. But when the true cost of violence is revealed she runs.
It is no secret that empires like the one represented in Babel are sustained through hierarchy. Letty as the daughter of a high ranking general while she faces her own mountains to climb is still closer to the top than the friends she has bonded with over their common struggle within this oppressive and violent system. So, Letty makes the choice, when presented with the choice between the system or freedom, to kill one of her friends instead of abandoning the system she was raised in. All because while she is controlled by this horrible system she can’t see a better alternative. She can’t let go of her own comfort and stability because of how far she thinks she’ll fall if she lets true equality enter into the world. She’s afraid that the crimes her father committed against others would be committed against her. It’s all fear, it’s all control. It’s a tragedy.
“What you don’t understand,” said Ramy, “is how much people like you will excuse if it just means they can get tea and coffee on their breakfast tables. They don’t care, Letty. They just don’t care.”
That is what I think Babel does best. R.F. Kuang doesn't just present the case for the destruction of the empire but also makes all of the compelling arguments to sustain it. While the message of this book is very much to let it all crumble, you can’t say that you won’t walk away with the twisted understanding of why normal people sustain and promote this kind of evil.
Beautiful Korean versions of “Babel” what shows off how the magic system works.
Final Thoughts:
Just as R.F. Kuang’s “Poppy War” trilogy broke me and changed my perception on war violence and corruption. “Babel” did the same with the sense of the systems that exist all around us. It really is a master class in narrative, character motivation, and theme. There are many points of this book where I genuinely related with Robin’s anxiety and was like. Yeah, keep your head down, don’t make a fuss, this is so much bigger than you are. Even though plot wise Robin obviously held the keys to the empire’s power the whole time.
“Victory is not assured. (...) Victory is a game of inches, of historical contingencies where everything goes right because they have made it go right....”
After all of the horrors and despicable people we meet in this book we also meet the true heroes of revolution. People who hope, who sacrifice, who are violent, who die to send a message and give others the chance to make the world a better place. The world can be a better place, be one of the people who push it in that direction. Who push Empire to die.
It takes a special author with special skills and experience to make such a heavy and pervasive topic and turn it into a message of hope. That’s what is so inspiring about this book. It teaches through narrative and emotional connection. No perspective goes unexplored and it ends so gracefully. Read R.F. Kuang’s work, you will be moved and changed by it if you listen.
Looking for more Inspiration? Continue Here:
All Aboard to explore Miriam Bonastre Tur’s Webtoon turned graphic novel series: Hooky. Where we will explore how contrast can make a story all the more impactful and emotionally resonate.