The Obelisk Gate
Chapter 11: Schaffa, lying down
by Jemisin, N.K.The chapter delves into the fragmented dreams of Schaffa, a Guardian whose altered physiology rarely allows him to sleep deeply. When he does dream, his mind struggles with the remnants of his identity, revealing disjointed memories and emotions. Schaffa reflects on the unnatural nature of Guardians, who are deprived of ordinary dreaming-sleep yet seem perpetually mad. His increasing dreams are a troubling sign, hinting at the cost of his choices. The narrative captures his physical and mental torment as he thrashes in bed, grappling with visions that offer glimpses of his fractured past and the weight of his transformed existence.
Schaffa’s dreams oscillate between haunting memories and unsettling realizations. He recalls fleeting images of two people—likely his parents—though their significance is lost to him. Another memory surfaces of his brutal transformation as a child, where an iron sliver is implanted into his neck, repurposing his sessapinae and subjecting him to perpetual pain. The trauma of this event is juxtaposed with his later role as a Guardian, overseeing the harsh training of orogene children. These memories underscore the duality of his existence: both victim and enforcer, shaped by cruelty yet perpetuating it.
The chapter also explores Schaffa’s strained relationship with humanity. A fleeting encounter with a woman at an inn ends in violence, reinforcing his awareness of his inhuman nature. His interactions with fellow Guardian Leshet further highlight his internal conflict, as her aging and kindness provoke his disgust and violence. Yet, amidst his brutality, Schaffa harbors a twisted affection for one particular orogene girl, whose resilience fills him with pride. This contradiction reveals the complexity of his character—capable of both tenderness and ruthlessness, bound by duty yet yearning for connection.
The chapter concludes with Schaffa waking from his dreams, disoriented and burdened by his fragmented identity. He observes the other Guardians, noting their shared corruption and the blurring lines between them. Despite his self-awareness, he suppresses his turmoil and resumes his duties, heading outside to check on the children. This ending underscores the cyclical nature of his existence, trapped between his past and his role, forever haunted by the consequences of his choices.
FAQs
1. How does the chapter depict the physical and psychological effects of the Guardian implantation process on Schaffa?
Answer:
The chapter vividly portrays the traumatic effects of Schaffa’s Guardian implantation through fragmented dream sequences. Physically, the procedure involved an iron sliver inserted into his neck, causing chronic pain that requires constant mitigation through forced smiling (endorphin release). Psychologically, the process stripped away much of his identity—he retains only fragments of memories, such as his parents’ faces but not their names or significance. The text notes Guardians are “mad all the time,” suggesting irreversible psychological damage. Schaffa’s increasing dreams signal further deterioration, as Guardians typically don’t dream due to their altered sessapinae. The brutality of his transformation is emphasized by the child victims’ screams during the procedure and his own near-fatal injury from resisting (Chapter 11).2. Analyze the significance of Schaffa’s relationship with “the girl” (implied to be Nassun’s mother, Essun). How does this connection complicate his identity as a Guardian?
Answer:
Schaffa’s bond with “the girl” (Essun) represents a profound contradiction in his Guardian role. While Guardians are conditioned to control orogenes through violence, Schaffa exhibits uncharacteristic tenderness toward her—training her with “broken bones and loving threats” while wishing he could be kinder. This mirrors Guardian Leshet’s “softness,” which Schaffa initially disdains but may have internalized. His pride in Essun’s obelisk-raising defiance and reluctance to kill her reveal emotional attachments forbidden by Guardian doctrine. The chapter frames this as both a vulnerability (“compromised” identity) and a remnant of humanity, as his dreams of her provoke visceral reactions (waking with a cry). This duality challenges the Guardian ideal of detached enforcement (Chapter 11).3. What thematic contrasts does the chapter establish between Guardians and ordinary humans?
Answer:
The chapter underscores stark divides between Guardians and humanity. Guardians are physically altered (iron implants, suppressed dreaming) and psychologically detached, described as “not human” and “mad all the time.” Schaffa’s massacre of a town—after a woman mistakes him for human—highlights this rift: his inability to procreate (killing her potential child) and subsequent violence reflect his existential separation. Conversely, ordinary humans exhibit natural cycles (dreaming, aging) and emotional authenticity, which Guardians lack or pervert (e.g., Schaffa’s forced smiles replacing genuine joy). The contrast deepens with Leshet’s unnatural aging, suggesting Guardians who cling to humanity face decay. Yet Schaffa’s lingering memories and affections imply the system cannot fully erase human traits (Chapter 11).4. How does the chapter use Schaffa’s dream sequences to explore the broader worldbuilding of the Fulcrum and Warrant?
Answer:
Schaffa’s dreams serve as a narrative device to expose the lore of Warrant (the Guardians’ origin) and the Fulcrum’s brutality. His memory of Warrant reveals the iron implantation’s origins—an ancient, repurposed technology that alters sessapinae to control orogeny. The automated wire chairs and “esoteric mechanisms” hint at a lost advanced civilization. The Fulcrum’s pit of iron slivers and child fatalities illustrate its institutionalized cruelty, while Leshet’s defiance of norms (“softness”) critiques the system’s dehumanization. These fragments build a dystopian world where power relies on repurposed relics and systemic violence, with Schaffa’s personal trauma mirroring the broader cost of maintaining control (Chapter 11).5. Evaluate Schaffa’s statement: “Never again can he forget that he is not, and has never been, human.” How does this resonate with his actions throughout the chapter?
Answer:
This declaration encapsulates Schaffa’s tragic self-awareness. After the massacre, he acknowledges his existential separation from humanity—a realization reinforced by his mechanistic role (killing potential offspring, suppressing emotions). Yet the chapter undercuts this: his dreams of parental figures, grief over Leshet’s aging, and love for Essun suggest unresolved humanity. His claim is both a defense mechanism (justifying violence) and a lament. The final scene—where he checks on children despite his “compromised” state—further blurs the line, implying performative detachment. Ultimately, the tension between his words and actions critiques the Guardian system’s impossible demand to eradicate humanity while wielding human-like agency (Chapter 11).
Quotes
1. “Guardians don’t dream easily. The object embedded deep within the left lobe of Schaffa’s sessapinae interferes with the sleep-wake cycle… (Ordinary people go mad if they are deprived of dreaming-sleep. Guardians are immune to that sort of madness… or perhaps they’re just mad all the time.)”
This quote reveals the physiological and psychological toll of being a Guardian, hinting at their altered humanity and the institutionalized suffering they endure. It introduces the chapter’s exploration of Schaffa’s fractured identity.
2. “He feels the cold of it as the sliver of iron is inserted, feels the coldness of the other presence within him at once… The pain is horrific and it never really ends, though he learns to mitigate it enough to function; all those who survive the implantation do. The smiling, you see. Endorphins ease pain.”
A harrowing account of Guardian creation, this passage exposes the brutal mechanization of human beings and explains the iconic Guardian smile as a survival mechanism rather than genuine emotion.
3. “Never again, he resolves as he slaughters all of them… Never again can he forget that he is not, and has never been, human.”
This pivotal moment shows Schaffa’s tragic self-awareness and the irreversible alienation from humanity that defines his existence, marking a turning point in his psychological development.
4. “He is filled with dim horror and a burgeoning disgust that he’s not even aware of until she stops before him and he reaches out to reflexively break her neck.”
This shocking act reveals the deep-seated self-loathing and programmed violence within Guardians, particularly when confronted with deviations from their expected nature (like Leshet’s aging).
5. “He is not surprised later, when he receives word that she is involved in the raising of an obelisk in Allia. His special one… he is filled with pride as he goes to reclaim her, and as he prays to the voice in his head that she will not force him to kill her.”
This quote about Essun (the girl) shows Schaffa’s capacity for genuine attachment amidst his conditioning, creating tragic tension between his duty and affection.