But they had a money value: they represented a cash profit to others. They must have sensed that--sensed that they were worth something.
In "Oryx and Crake," Margaret Atwood explores the concept of value as it relates to individuals who are commodified in society. The characters, particularly those who are marginalized, come to understand their worth not in terms of personal significance but rather as financial assets to others. This realization highlights the transactional nature of their existence, where their lives are reduced to their economic potential.
The quote emphasizes a profound awareness among these characters about their own value, showing that they recognize how others profit from their lives and circumstances. This sense of worth, driven by financial implications rather than intrinsic qualities, raises questions about the ethics of commodification and the human experience in a society that prioritizes profit over personal dignity.
