The Obelisk Gate
Chapter 9: Nassun, needed
by Jemisin, N.K.The chapter focuses on Nassun, the daughter of Essun, as she and her father, Jija, settle into Found Moon, a repurposed section of the declining comm of Jekity. Once a thriving city, Jekity was nearly destroyed a century earlier by a combination of natural disaster and human error, leaving it a shadow of its former self. Nassun finds a sense of belonging in Found Moon, which becomes her first true home. The community, though small and struggling, accepts Jija due to his skills as a stoneknapper, and he is formally inducted into the comm after proving his worth. Nassun, however, remains an outsider in some ways, though she is embraced by the other orogene children.
Found Moon is revealed to be a Guardian-run facility within Jekity, established by Schaffa to train young orogenes. The compound, built from repurposed structures, includes living quarters, a practice area, and storage sheds. Nassun is introduced to the other orogene children, who come from diverse backgrounds and regions, each with unique traits and struggles. Among them is Eitz, an older boy who welcomes Nassun and explains that Found Moon is a safe space for orogenes, much like the Fulcrum in Yumenes. The children’s camaraderie helps Nassun feel accepted, though tensions occasionally arise due to differences in upbringing and personality.
The chapter highlights the dynamics among the orogene children, emphasizing their shared experiences despite their varied origins. Nassun forms quick bonds with some, like the Westcoaster sisters Oegin and Ynegen, while others, like Lashar, remain distant or hostile. The children’s interactions reveal the complexities of their identities, shaped by both their orogeny and their pre-Guardian lives. Deshati, for instance, relates to Nassun’s father’s profession, while Wudeh’s frailty contrasts with his strong orogenic abilities. These relationships underscore the theme of found family and the struggle for acceptance in a world that fears orogenes.
The chapter concludes with Nassun’s integration into Found Moon, where she begins to find her place among the other children. While Jija is celebrated for his contributions to Jekity, Nassun’s identity remains tied to her orogeny, which both isolates and connects her. The Guardians, particularly Schaffa, play a pivotal role in shaping this new community, offering protection and purpose. The chapter sets the stage for Nassun’s growth and the challenges she will face as she navigates her abilities and relationships in this unconventional home.
FAQs
1. How did the city of Jekity originally decline, and what does its current state reveal about the challenges faced by smaller communities in this world?
Answer:
Jekity’s decline began during the Choking Season a century prior, when a series of human errors—a fire caused by a spilled lantern, political infighting delaying wall repairs, and a tibbit-run destroying food stores—led to mass starvation. Only 5,000 survivors remained from an original population of 100,000. The current Jekity reflects lingering superstition and neglect: its walls are poorly repaired, store rotation is mismanaged, and young people leave for better opportunities. This illustrates how communities in this world struggle with resource management, leadership, and the psychological weight of past disasters, making recovery difficult even generations later.2. Analyze Nassun’s relationship with the other orogene children at Found Moon. What does their dynamic reveal about the role of community among orogenes?
Answer:
Nassun’s instant bond with the other orogene children—such as sharing curiosity about each other’s appearances (e.g., touching hair) or comforting Paido about his sun sensitivity—highlights how Found Moon provides a rare space for orogenes to embrace their identities without fear. The children’s diverse backgrounds (Coasters, Somidlatters, etc.) and shared marginalization foster solidarity, contrasting with the guarded acceptance Nassun receives from non-orogenes in Jekity. This underscores that orogenes, often ostracized elsewhere, rely on intentional communities like Found Moon for belonging and mutual understanding, mirroring the Fulcrum’s role but with more organic camaraderie.3. Why does Schaffa’s Guardian facility represent both hope and tension for Jekity? Discuss the dual perspectives of Maite and the broader community.
Answer:
Maite views the Guardians as a catalyst for Jekity’s revival, believing their presence signals stability and attracts resources. However, the broader community’s wariness is evident in their guarded treatment of Nassun and their silence about the vanished orogene child. Guardians enforce control (e.g., disappearing a child for causing an earthshake), which Maite accepts as “doing their job,” but others likely see as ominous. This duality reflects the trade-off between security and autonomy: Guardians offer protection and prestige but also embody the Empire’s oppressive oversight, leaving communities like Jekity caught between survival and subjugation.4. How does the chapter contrast Jija’s integration into Jekity with Nassun’s experience? What broader societal attitudes does this reveal?
Answer:
Jija is celebrated for his resilience and skills (e.g., stoneknapping), earning a formal comm name and ceremony, while Nassun remains “just Nassun,” tolerated but marked by her orogeny. This disparity reveals a societal hierarchy: non-orogenes like Jija can assimilate through utility and conformity, but orogenes—even well-behaved ones like Nassun—are perpetually “other.” The community’s guarded friendliness toward her reflects ingrained prejudice, contrasting with their warmth toward Jija. It underscores how orogeny overshadows all other identities, reinforcing systemic discrimination even in “welcoming” spaces.5. Critical Thinking: Found Moon’s walls are described as “uniformly sized and perfectly even,” shaped by orogeny. How might this physical symbolism reflect the chapter’s themes of belonging and control?
Answer:
The geometrically perfect walls, crafted by orogeny, symbolize both empowerment and constraint. They represent orogenes’ ability to create safe spaces for themselves (belonging), yet also echo the Fulcrum’s engineered structures, hinting at institutional control. Unlike Jekity’s patchy walls, Found Moon’s precision showcases orogenic skill—but its existence within Jekity’s borders mirrors how marginalized groups must carve out autonomy within dominant systems. The duality reflects the broader tension: orogenes can build refuge, but their power is always channeled within limits set by societal (or Guardian) oversight.
Quotes
1. “Found Moon becomes something she never believed she had before: a true home.”
This quote captures Nassun’s emotional transformation as she finds stability in Found Moon after the trauma of her journey. It contrasts sharply with her previous life in Tirimo and on the ash-covered road, highlighting the chapter’s theme of belonging.
2. “Jekity the city died because of human errors, compounded: A child lighting a lantern spilled oil, which set off a fire that swept the western end of the comm…”
This passage exemplifies the book’s recurring theme of how small human failures cascade into catastrophic consequences during Seasons. The detailed account of Jekity’s downfall serves as a microcosm of the world’s fragility.
3. “Found Moon is our community… A place where you can be yourself, and always be safe.”
Eitz’s explanation to Nassun introduces the crucial concept of Found Moon as a sanctuary for orogenes. This represents a turning point for Nassun, offering her first experience of acceptance and safety in her identity.
4. “The other orogene children who unashamedly embrace Nassun for everything she is.”
This simple statement marks a profound shift in Nassun’s life - her first experience of unconditional acceptance. It contrasts with the guarded acceptance from Jekity’s general population and foreshadows her growing connection to the orogene community.
5. “Lashar looks at Nassun coldly and sneers at her accent… Lashar is an orogene, so none of that matters anymore… but her upbringing tells.”
This complex interaction reveals the lingering social hierarchies even within the orogene community, showing how pre-orogene identities continue to influence relationships. It adds nuance to the chapter’s exploration of identity and belonging.