Leviathan

I became immersed in Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan, but as I read, I felt it increasingly difficult to suppress the analytic, literary theory I have learned throughout my undergraduate studies. The issues of gender and class power struggles are present throughout the text. Further, the stories follow archetypes present throughout various fantasy works.

My experience with fantasy and sci-fi novels is somewhat limited. However, the “orphan protagonist who, either through fate or ambition, finds him/herself integral to a greater struggle he/she was unaware of when they set out on his/her journey, and the protagonist contributes to the struggle in a major way through his/her skillset and courage” seems to apply to both Deryn and Alek, but also Harry Potter, Frodo Baggins, Luke Skywalker, Clark Kent, and many more. Though the ending differed from the usual conclusion of the hero saving the known world (though I have not read the sequels), as I read, I couldn't help but feel as though I had read this particular story several times before.

Gender played a significant role in the text. As readers, we were shown a society in which women were prevented from taking on certain roles. Yet, Deryn desires to be a pilot in the service, and she takes on a male persona, “Dylan,” in order to accomplish this task. As the book progresses, Deryn discovers the VIP boffin who the service is escorting is in fact female. These elements of gender within the power system present in Leviathan are challenged throughout the text. I believe that this would serve as empowering to the young reader.

Not dissimilarly, Alek encounters limitations due to the circumstances of his birth as well. Though he is clearly advantaged in being male, his position in the royal lineage places him in a situation where his is unable to inherit the throne, but is continually taunted by its closeness. Alek too, in a way, challenges this limitation in his desire for power.

Beyond gender, the novel addresses the issue of class. Alek, brought up in privilege and with significant private education, was raised in a household that valued education. His father thought that all the citizens should be educated. Yet despite this, Alek is plagued by a degree of elitism as he makes his escape from possible persecution, viewing the common people with contempt during his first interactions with them, despite the fact that he is the one who is unable to function in society, failing to purchase parts from a shop or even acquire a newspaper without drawing conflict and unnecessary attention. Yet through the text, Alek appears to learn some humility as his situation has made it advantageous to present himself as a commoner.

The two protagonists predicaments disempower the notion of class and condemn gender discrimination while simultaneously creating a sense of encouragement towards challenging the situation of one's birth. While the purpose of introducing texts to students should not be to foster a particular morality, Leviathan is a medium for the author to critique society through what seems to be a familiar story.