Hatred Toward Orogenes

Though Essun stands up for the orogenes, they remain a group of people who have always been hated and mistrusted in the Stillness because of their mystical abilities. Contributing to the people’s lack of respect for orogenes is a proclamation made by the Yumenes leaders that orogenes are not people. Because Orogenes are not considered useful members of any comm, they are expected to kill themselves when a Season is declared.

According to the Yumenescene leadership:“We rule, therefore, that though they bear some resemblance to we of good and wholesome lineage, and though they must be managed with kind hand to the benefit of both bond and free, any degree of orogenic ability must be assumed to negate its corresponding personhood” (258). The wording is even detrimental to orogenes. It is insinuated that they are not “of good and wholesome lineage” (258). It is...