Merciless Path of Destruction

Bone-chilling. Leering. Ominous. The Mariana's Trench is a dark and mysterious part of our world, just like the unknown effects of closing the Circle. When Tom Stenton brings creatures back from the deep seas, he creates a contrast with a names, illustrates a utopia, and portrays a symbolic representation of the three wise men and Circle in general.

Mariana's Trench is the home territory of the shark, octopus, and seahorse that Stenton introduces to the Circle. The trench is relatively undiscovered and therefore is secretive, a trait against the Circle mantras.  Interestingly, Mariana is strikingly similar to the name Marion, who is the owner of the kayak rental that Mae frequents.  Kayaking for Mae is her only sense of privacy and secrecy before she becomes engulfed by the Circle. Therefore,  Mariana and Marion are similar to symbolize areas of unclosed circle and mystery within the utopia.

Credit

After bringing the creatures back, Stenton comes up with a plan to put them all in a tank together. For this to happen, he constructs an enormous aquarium filled with a "gorgeous array of live coral and seaweed...symphonic under the bright lights"(pg. 471). The water was calm and there was only a "slight current" (pg. 472). In this form, the aquarium is a direct representation of the Circle and the paradise and dreamland that it is for its members. The aquarium is portrayed as pure bliss, similar to what the Circle professes to be. Interestingly, there is a dark shadow looming over the event, the unknown outcome of all three creatures entering the tank. This dark shadow is the same as the obscure effects of closing the circle. It is a utopia with a storm cloud brewing.

One of the creatures to be introduced is the famous shark, which attracts a lot of attention from Mae's viewers. Although the shark is blind, it eats all of its meals immediately, no matter the size, depositing a pile of digested "ash" quickly after. The shark is translucent, so its digestion is easily watched. The shark is a direct symbolization of Tom Stenton. Stanton is the flashiest of the three wise men, and  a direct proponent of closing the circle. Furthermore, the shark represents the Circle as a whole and its propensity to devour defenseless beings. Once the shark is put in the tank with the other creatures, it ravages them, leaving behind nothing but a pile of ash. The watchers contemplate protecting the remaining animals, but it simply cannot be done. Nothing can get in the path of the lethal shark, and similarly nothing can stop the destructive path of the Circle. The shark and the Circle are both tornadoes, out of control, dangerous, and without mercy.

The Mariana's Trench scene is a key aspect of symbolism within the novel.  The similarity of the names Mariana and Marion point to their comparable secretive nature and dark spots in closing the Circle. The illustration of peace within the aquarium conveys the utopia of the Circle,  while a foreboding presence symbolizes the closing of the circle. Ultimately, the flashy shark is a direct representation of Stenton and closing the circle in general as they both consume the defenseless on their merciless path of destruction.

The Power of Family

Family is an underlying theme woven into the plot of The Circle. It is a dynamic aspect of many Circlers lives, particularly Annie and Mae. As the plot unfolds, Mae's relationship with her family dissolves, a contrast is developed between her work and home life, and a family failure leads to a key break in Mae's career.

For Mae, privacy and family go hand-in-hand for the first part of the novel. She escapes from the intense open world and relishes in the safety of her own home. They live a quiet life, although her father suffers from MS. The relationship with her family shifts after her parents are added to the Circle health plan. Privacy is relinquished and her parents begin to resent Mae, going so far as to cover up the SeeChange cameras in their house. All the while Mae becomes uncomfortable with her parents relying on her and fights to connect the circle within her own home.

Created with PicMonkey

Ultimately the divide within her family is only deepened as her father's condition worsens. After he has an accident on the couch, their relationship is never the same. Mae dislikes the lack of control and power that she has over her father's condition. His life and disease is a contrast to the ordered and strict life at the Circle. As time progresses she begins to live at the Circle in effort to avoid the "chaos of the unordered world" (pg. 373) and her family.  She is ashamed of her family life and longs for a family just like her best friend Annie.

Annie has a strange relationship with her family. For her, family is power. As a descendant of the good blood,  she views herself as royalty. Annie comes from money, and her position at the Circle reflects that. A key transition in the novel occurs when Annie discovers disturbing things about her ancestors. The finding that her ancestors had slaves shakes her self confidence, laying the perfect soil for Mae to grow in the company. Mae used to be jealous of Annie and her powerful family, but it is that exact family that leads to the downfall of her best friend.

Family is a driving force of change in Mae's life. Technology distances her from her family, and work ultimately replaces them as a perfect storm in Annie's family boosts Mae to new positions. In our society, technology is trending towards an eerie future. Instead of talking with our family, we sit on couches entranced by our screens. Instead of going on a family trip, we stay home to go to the movies. Instead of enjoying the moment, we live within the worlds of our screens. Since when did we prioritize our phones over our parents, siblings, grandparents, etc? The power of family is exemplified by Mae's experiences in the Circle,  and we need to take warning so that we too don't follow the same path.