Book Review: The Power by Naomi Alderman
by Joan Starich, Contributing Writer
Listed as one of Obama’s “Best Books” of 2017, The Power uses a strong commentary on gender that ties well with the current sociopolitical climate, especially the Women’s Movement. In her fourth novel, Naomi Alderman takes us into an alternate universe where women control the world instead of men.
After a string of genetic mutation reveals that some women are born with the power to electrocute anyone with just a zap of their finger, life as it is known to be completely changes. Readers follow the lives of five characters throughout the novel—which include a wide range of different identities. As the novel progresses, each character develops their own role that stems from various purposes and motivations for their actions.
We see people transform from good to evil and back again, breaking initial stereotypes and showing that evil is not solely within a person, but rather a condition. Themes of power, religion, internal morals and friendship come alive throughout the novel and explore what it means to be “evil” or “good”.
The Power asks us to explore questions about what is good and what is evil, and if people are born innately one way or the other. Alderman brings in a historical and religious aspect to the novel to facilitate these questions, which is an unexpected but welcomed twist.
In order to explore one of the more important questions of the novel—of defining power and what people use it for—The Power uses a sense of realism, rather than light humor. Power, as a theme, develops into something physical in the novel, as Alderman creates a physical inequality through the ability for women to zap and possibly kill anyone they would like to with ease.
This physical power over men begins to cross over to gaining political and economical types of power throughout the novel—and this has readers questioning life as we know it. If men are generally “physically” stronger than women, does that explain their sense of entitlement to other types of power? The Power suggests otherwise.
As I dove deeper into the seemingly surface level subjects of the novel, I found myself second guessing my own moral values. The questions presented by Alderman are much deeper than they seem, and she asks the reader to rethink or affirm their conscious beliefs on good, evil, religion and power in its many forms.
When people gain control, how they deal with this newly appointed power can dictate whether or not they are inherently good or evil. Great people have the ability to turn wicked once they are submerged with authority. Alderman suggests that no matter how outwardly “good” someone appears, what determines them good or evil is how they use power.
Readers might infer that “God” in this novel is a woman, because she talks similarly to the female character she is talking to. She typically converses through phrases like, “It’s okay girl, you got this”, and this could suggest a new perspective of God.
This reference to religion asks the reader to navigate the idea of God being a woman, which is conventionally not the case. By playing with the idea of god through an interesting twist, Alderman is able to pose the question: Does God sound the same to everyone? How do societal pressures shape our religions and how we relate to them?
Although the themes of the novel are somewhat controversial, what might be upsetting to some readers might also be innovative ideas to others. Regardless of opinion, Alderman creates a world in which our heads begin to roll in continuous wonder. There is no other book quite like it.