Want to rope in an exhilarating ride through the treacherous wild west populated by society's outcasts? Anna North delivers exactly that with her novel 'Outlawed'. Published in January 2021, this daring tale sets roots in an alternate 1894 on the rugged frontiers of America. When the dust settles, what remains is a world where barren women are deemed heretics and become the hunted witches of a new era. In this topsy-turvy society, protagonist Ada has a single choice after being cast out of her community: join the notorious Hole in the Wall Gang, an ensemble of, you guessed it, outlaws on a mission. But, much like today’s overly sentimental group of progressives, this novel seems to think that lifting up criminal behavior is the gold standard of social commentary.
So, saddle up for a page-turner packed with rebels. Yet, it somehow expects us to sympathize with a band of brigands under the guise of female empowerment and social justice. This story reeks of liberal sensibilities disguised as historical fiction. The novel presents Ada as a high-minded heroine caught in a man's world when she's nothing more than an anarchist with a stethoscope.
Let’s ride through seven reasons why 'Outlawed' can be seen as a thinly-veiled anti-establishment tool.
First: The Idealist Outlaw, Ada. Her journey might attempt to portray courage and rebellion, but it's just a fanciful redressing of anarchism. As you read about Ada's stint with the Hole in the Wall Gang, her transformation into a pistol-toting renegade is romanticized to the point of absurdity. Are we supposed to cheer because she arms herself against the very society that raised her?
Second: The Matriarchal Paradise. Replace ruling men with renegade women and see how quickly chaos ensues, North suggests. It’s fascinating how this self-styled Amazonian land filled with women outlaws leads not to harmony but to more crime and conflict. Yet the narrative wants you to embrace this utopia as a righteous path.
Third: A Bleak Nod to Today’s Society. The irony is harsh but spot-on. Just like in 'Outlawed', today’s society seeks ways to demonize anyone who doesn’t fit their mold. In North’s dystopia, being a childless woman earns you the witch label, similar to how those sticking with traditional values today are often branded as outcasts.
Fourth: Dangerous Narratives in a Political Climate. The timing of 'Outlawed' couldn't form a sharper tool for today’s unrelenting social warriors. The narrative shines a spotlight on the fierce rejection of an imperfect system without offering responsible solutions. It splits, radicalizes, and ultimately drives wedges instead of building bridges.
Fifth: A Lap Around Stereotypes. The novel doesn't shy away from touting predictable stereotypes—the patriarchal society, the misfit mothers, and the fairytale abolition of the norm. While it banks on our emotions, it fails to address any fundamental social intricacies or give real-world similarities or solutions the light of day.
Sixth: The False Hero’s Journey. Ada’s arc from rejected wife to outlaw doesn’t encapsulate growth, but more of a wild zigzag between misguided ambition and reckless desperation. Her leap across societal bounds raises the stakes but lowers the moral bar. Is this erratic transformation a hero's journey we ought to support?
Seventh: Conformity in Disguise as Rebellion. What the book paints as revolutionary is in fact another shade of conformity. Disguising rebellion as empowerment does nothing but reinforce a cult of unilateral thinking. North’s narrative weaves a plot where rebellion is indeed the new conformity.
Let ‘Outlawed’ be a blazing reminder that fiction can be powerful, politicized, and puzzling. It’s an exciting ride, especially if you enjoy the thrill of confronting biased narratives. This alternate history gilded in a nostalgic vision ultimately begs the question of how a world with aimless rebels thrives. But, as always, question who really reaps the benefits of these rebellious tales that serve to echo the chaotic chatter of today's pop culture insurgents.