Survival, Identity, and Power Dynamics: A Comparative Analysis of The Marrow Thieves and Babel

Abstract

This paper examines how Babel by R.F. Kuang and The Marrow Thieves by Métis author Cherie Dimaline explore the intertwined themes of identity, survival, and power, arguing that both novels use speculative fiction to critique colonial systems that endanger cultural heritage and human dignity. I argue that these themes are central to the characters’ individual experiences and serve as tools for broader social critique within the speculative frameworks of each narrative. Babel critiques how institutional power can elevate and erase marginalised identities, using language as both a weapon and a site of resistance. In contrast, The Marrow Thieves centres identity in Indigenous traditions and ancestral memory, presenting survival as inherently tied to cultural preservation. While Babel situates power within scholarly and magical hierarchies, The Marrow Thieves frames it as a struggle for sovereignty and survival in the face of ongoing colonial violence. By comparing these narratives, this essay demonstrates how speculative fiction can illuminate the persistent effects of colonialism on identity formation and the fight for cultural survival.