Emerging Realities: A dialectic inquiry of posthuman vision in Margaret Atwood’s the heart goes last

The rapid strides in science and technology have ushered 21st century society into the posthuman age. The overt use of machines in all aspects of life is a defining feature of this new century. Furthermore, the fusion of human and non-human has come to define this era, bringing new concepts that are deeply woven into the dynamics, structures, and meanings of society. As digital realities develop, the traditional division is challenged by a conflict between traditional beliefs and avant-garde humanism. In this changing environment, Braidotti and Hayles support the ‘posthuman dialectic’, a notion that challenges human exceptionalism and emphasizes the interconnectedness of all beings. These philosophers advocate for a fresh perspective on how humans interact with non-human elements. Their ideology views the human as being complementary to technology rather than completely at odds with it.
In contemporary society, Margaret Atwood’s novel The Heart Goes Last (2015) deftly navigates this posthuman dialectic’s fabric, delving deeply into the multidimensional human interaction. It further questions the human autonomy in the digital era. This study aims to explore the complex nature of the posthuman identity and determine the limits of biological being. Further, Atwood’s narrative of the ‘Positron project’ within the story ventures into posthuman realities, provoking a consideration of techno-politics, which directly impacts identity, agency, and power. Using dialectic posthumanism as a tool, this paper seeks to define the complex phenomenon to find one’s individuality in contemporary society.