The Obelisk Gate
Chapter 3: Schaffa, forgotten
by Jemisin, N.K.The chapter delves into the pivotal moment when Syenite, a powerful orogene, taps into an obelisk’s energy, unleashing a catastrophic force that destroys the Clalsu ship. Schaffa, her Guardian, recognizes the danger but is powerless to stop her. As the ship collapses, he survives the initial blast due to luck, though he suffers severe injuries. Meanwhile, Syenite, consumed by grief and the obelisk’s power, becomes oblivious to Schaffa, who once held immense significance in her life. The scene underscores the tragic irony of Schaffa’s care for her, even as she inadvertently causes his near-death.
As Schaffa is thrown into the ocean, his survival instincts clash with his physical limits. Guardians are resilient, but the combination of drowning, organ failure, and blunt force trauma pushes him to the brink. Despite his desperation to live, he struggles against the sinking wreckage, fighting panic—a forbidden state for Guardians. His terror gives way to an unnatural anger, signaling the intrusion of an external force. This presence offers him survival at a terrible cost: the erosion of his identity. Schaffa resists, knowing the price is his very self, but the agony of dying weakens his resolve.
The entity seizes Schaffa’s moment of vulnerability, granting him unnatural power to heal and adapt, allowing him to breathe underwater temporarily. However, this comes at the cost of his memories and essence. As his brain cells die, he clings to his identity, swimming toward the surface with a mix of borrowed rage and personal fury. The chapter highlights the horror of his transformation—his body survives, but his mind is forever altered. The cold presence at the back of his skull symbolizes the irreversible loss of who he once was.
Emerging from the water, Schaffa vomits seawater and gasps for air, narrowly avoiding total annihilation. Though he retains his name and a shred of self, much of his former identity is lost. The chapter ends with the haunting realization that the Schaffa known thus far is gone, replaced by a fractured version of himself. This transformation underscores the novel’s themes of sacrifice, identity, and the corrupting nature of power, setting the stage for his altered role in the narrative.
FAQs
1. How does Syenite’s orogeny differ when applied to air versus earth or water, and what role does the obelisk play in this?
Answer:
Syenite’s orogeny—typically used to manipulate earth and heat—is unexpectedly applied to air in this chapter, demonstrating its versatility. While orogeny isn’t conventionally meant for air, it works because air contains dust particles (analogous to minerals in water) and possesses heat, friction, and kinetic energy. The obelisk, however, renders these technicalities “academic” by amplifying and directing her power. The obelisk’s involvement transforms her ability into something far more destructive, enabling her to shatter the Clalsu with a nearly solid wall of force. This highlights how obelisks serve as catalysts, unlocking latent potential in orogenes beyond normal limits.
2. Analyze Schaffa’s internal conflict during his near-death experience. What does his struggle reveal about Guardians’ limitations and vulnerabilities?
Answer:
Schaffa’s drowning scene exposes the paradox of Guardians: they are nearly immortal yet tragically human. Despite their enhanced resilience, they can be overwhelmed by physical trauma (e.g., organ failure, drowning) and—more critically—psychological fragility. His panic, described as the “first and worst sin” for Guardians, breaches his mental defenses, allowing an external “cold presence” to exploit his desperation. This reveals that Guardians’ greatest weakness isn’t physical but existential: their rigid control masks a vulnerability to corruption when faced with primal fears (like mortality). His eventual bargain to survive—at the cost of his identity—underscores the theme of dehumanization in the pursuit of power.
3. Why is Schaffa’s relationship with Syenite described as ironic, and how does this irony reflect broader themes in the narrative?
Answer:
The irony lies in Schaffa’s genuine care for Syenite juxtaposed with his role in her suffering. He views her as “his little one” and seeks to protect her from the agony of obelisk-induced death, yet he’s also complicit in the system that oppresses orogenes. His grief over her transformation—which renders him “beneath her notice”—mirrors the broader irony of Guardians: they believe they nurture orogenes while actually stifling their potential. This reflects themes of control vs. liberation and the tragic consequences of hierarchical power structures, where even “benevolent” authority figures perpetuate harm.
4. What symbolic significance does water hold in Schaffa’s transformation, and how does it contrast with Syenite’s earlier use of orogeny on water at Allia?
Answer:
Water serves as a dual symbol of destruction and rebirth. For Syenite at Allia, manipulating water (a fluid, adaptable element) foreshadowed her ability to defy rigid expectations of orogeny. For Schaffa, water becomes a medium of existential crisis—it nearly kills him, then becomes the conduit for his corruption as he “breathes” it unnaturally. Unlike Syenite, who harnesses water’s potential, Schaffa is consumed by it, emphasizing his loss of agency. The contrast underscores their divergent paths: Syenite transcends limits, while Schaffa’s survival comes at the cost of his humanity.
5. Critical Thinking: Evaluate the chapter’s portrayal of power dynamics through Schaffa’s bargain. How does this moment challenge traditional notions of survival and morality?
Answer:
Schaffa’s bargain deconstructs the trope of survival at any cost. His choice to accept power from the “cold presence”—knowing it erodes his identity—reveals the moral ambiguity of self-preservation. The narrative challenges the idea that survival is inherently noble; instead, it frames his decision as a tragic compromise that mirrors the compromises of oppressive systems. By prioritizing physical survival over integrity, Schaffa becomes a metaphor for institutional corruption, where “doing what one must” justifies ethical erosion. This invites readers to question whether survival without autonomy is truly living.
Quotes
1. “He knows what stone eaters do to powerful orogenes whenever they get the chance, and he knows why it is crucial to keep orogenes’ eyes on the ground and not the sky.”
This quote reveals Schaffa’s deep understanding of the dangers posed by obelisks and the strategic importance of controlling orogenes. It foreshadows the catastrophic events that follow when Syenite connects with an obelisk, defying this control.
2. “She is part of something vast and globally powerful now, and Schaffa, once the most important person in her world, is beneath her notice.”
This moment captures the tragic shift in power dynamics as Syenite transcends human limitations through the obelisk. Schaffa’s emotional devastation underscores the personal costs of this transformation.
3. “He panics. Guardians must never panic. He knows this; there are good reasons why. He does it anyway, flailing and screaming as he is dragged into the cold dark.”
This pivotal moment shows Schaffa’s fatal weakness - his human desire to live - which makes him vulnerable to the very forces he’s meant to control. The breach of Guardian discipline has dire consequences.
4. “We all do what we have to do, comes the seducer’s whisper, and this is the same reasoning Schaffa has used on himself too many times, over the centuries.”
This chilling reflection reveals how Schaffa’s own justifications for atrocities now become the tool of his corruption. The quote highlights the moral ambiguity and cyclical nature of power’s compromises.
5. “Fire-under-Earth, he’s still Schaffa, and he will not let himself forget this. (He loses so much else, though.)”
This desperate declaration of identity contrasts painfully with the parenthetical truth of his transformation. It encapsulates the chapter’s central tragedy - Schaffa’s survival comes at the cost of his essential self.