What has been lost now that humanity is all the same and race was never an issue? Are these losses acceptable in exchange for the things like the Slavery, The Civil War and Segregation never happening?
Because everyone is gray and same, they have never had to suffer for their identity. The problem is that identical people have no identity. All the terrible things of the past allowed humanity to grow up and learn to respect each other for who they are and not for the color of their skin This what has shaped the nation, and without it world consists of dull similar copies that do not know what it is to overcome something in order to become better.
Why does George think that Heather can’t exist in this world? Based on this passage and everything you’ve read about her in the book so far, how is Heather’s identity linked to her ethnicity?
Some things are essential, even if they are not pleasant or fair. Because of differences in color, people learnt to be strong, disregard all the stereotypes and embrace who they really are. Same happens here: for George Heather is what she is, strong, warm, brown, a color of earth. She is not ordinary, she has an identity, and it is linked to her body. She could not live in a world with no individuals, where nothing could shape strong personalities, as she is one.
Why does George think that his existence is possible not only in this, but in any world?
George sees himself as a dull representation of a human being: he is weak, ordinary, not able to stand up for himself, not even able to protect his own dreams. Such people have so little value and do so little, they could practically live anywhere and no one would ever notice, even if the previous reality has crashed completely.
Why does George think that Dr. Haber’s existence is inevitable? What does he mean by “He only got bigger at every incarnation”?
Dr. Harber is a person without a personality. All his dreams about saving the world had very messed up reasons: he only wanted to save it so he would be able to walk with a nimbus over his head. With every incarnation he dreamt about more power, thus it was inevitable he would appear again, as every new dream he constructed was solidly about him, and in every new reality he wanted more of everything.
How do you interpret the ending of the novel?
In the end everyone gets what they deserve. Harber is nothing, only a compilation of unexciting lies, and he gets eaten by the nothing in his mind. George and Heather were meant to be together, and they are after all. Guess even if one changes the reality completely, there is still no escape from the true love. And good old world slowly goes back to being alright, just like it always does.
