The Killer Glue: Circle Blog #3 (Response Choice One)

Here's a crazy fan theory: Mae Holland dies at the end of Book I in David Egger's The Circle.  Well, maybe not physically dies, but she definitely loses what made her unique from the start.  Originally, Mae Holland constantly struggles to acclimate to the cultural revolution of the Circle company.  In addition, Mae's lack of savvy technology skills and interest regarding online interactions leads to conflict with several Circlers during her first few months of employment.  Even though Mae wishes to blend in at the company, her character rebells against the reduction of privacy that is replaced by an all-knowing society.  As Mae repeatedly tries to accept the Circle's ideology, she eventually discards her fundamental requirement for privacy and eventually becomes just another part of the machine.  The reoccurring theme of Mae's unintentional rebellions against the Circle is what holds Book I together while at the same time tearing Mae apart.

The "real" version of Mae does not like to be exploited.  In fact, she becomes extremely irritated when Francis utilizes her online profiles to mock up a perfect romantic relationship with her in front of an entire company demonstration (Eggers 124).  Feeling violated and embarrassed, it becomes blatantly obvious early on that she values her own information above society's ability to know everything.  As the storyline progresses, however, cracks begin to appear in her armor.

As Mae slowly begins to blend into the Circle's culture, she continues to react negatively when the exploitation of privacy involves her personal life.  Often the antagonist of privacy, Francis' recording of Mae's sexual acs lead her to plead "I can't believe this.  Delete that. Now," (Eggers 205).  The simple knowledge of knowing that something so intimate can be accessed by anybody drives Mae to extreme anger.  This anger solidifies the concept that Mae's character, consciously or not, cannot naturally accept a state where privacy does not exist.

Finally, Mae's tendency to reject privacy loss keeps the plot moving forward throughout the later part of Book I.  As if in a fundamental "death throe," Mae commits her final act of defiance by stealing a kayak to gain a short-lived period of privacy on the water.  Most likely aware of the possible ramifications, the discovery of her criminal acts still tears Mae down to a vulnerable state of mind.  Near the end of Book I, Eamon Bailey capitalizes on Mae's unstable mental state to teach a lesson and require her to become "transparent," (Eggers 206).  In this moment, the real Mae dies, as she finally loses the last part of herself that was holding onto privacy.  The glue for Book I is dissolved, and it can be assumed that this fundament change in values will begin to wear Mae down mentally and physically until she resembles nothing of her former self.

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Image provided by Pat Guiney