Morality

Over the course of Jazz’s character arc, and within the setting of Artemis, the novel explores the nature of morality occupying ambiguous areas. Jazz’s own moral ambiguities challenge the idea that morality is always absolute and perfectly regimented. As a settlement, Artemis has generally loose governance, and Artemis takes advantages of moral grey areas within this loose governance in the pursuit of personal gain. She runs an illegal smuggling operation, and she vandalizes corporate property in exchange for payment from Trond. However, the novel complicates and even defends Jazz’s actions by indicating the moral aspects of Jazz’s illegal actions. For example, she maintains certain scruples regarding smuggling: “Ever wonder why [drugs and guns don’t] don’t get into town? Because I don’t let it” (298). In other words, although Jazz smuggles, she exercises her position as a smuggler to keep Artemis...