54 pages • 1-hour read
Contact: A Novel
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Symbols & Motifs
The Message as a Palimpsest
The recurring motif of the Message as a palimpsest structures the novel’s entire narrative of discovery and illustrates the complexities of The Search for Meaningful Contact. In its simplest form, a palimpsest is a manuscript with layers of writing, one superimposed upon the next. The alien signal is revealed to have a similar structure because it contains multiple levels of meaning. As Ellie explains, “In classical times […] when parchment was in short supply, people would write over an old parchment, making what’s called a palimpsest. There was writing under writing under writing” (87). This concept forces the characters to engage in a process of continuous reinterpretation, moving from one layer of understanding to the next.
As each layer of the signal is decrypted, each successive layer demands scientific and social engagement, illustrating the idea that the search for meaning is an arduous process of peeling back assumptions and uncovering intricate truths. This layered revelation mirrors the difficult process of scientific inquiry, as initial findings are often forced to yield to the discovery of deeper, more challenging realities.
The Machine
The arduous process of building the Machine stands as the novel’s symbol of humanity’s collective struggle to overcome its inherent provincialism. As the physical manifestation of the decoded alien blueprint, the Machine’s construction requires a level of global cooperation that most people previously believed to be impossible. The immensity of the task forces rival nations to rise above their nationalistic and ideological conflicts and combine their efforts to achieve a common purpose. This new planetary perspective becomes known as “Machindo,” the Way of the Machine, signifying a fundamental shift in human consciousness. The Machine represents a monumental leap of faith into an unknown future and a tangible commitment to the belief that humanity’s destiny lies in joining a larger galactic community. As the Chinese delegate Xi Qiaomu states, “We have received an invitation. A very unusual invitation. The Earth has never been invited to a banquet before. It would be impolite to refuse” (168). His words capture the sense that the Machine is a crucial test of humanity’s readiness to engage with the cosmos.
However, the failures that abound amid the efforts to construct the Machine also function as symbols of humanity’s deepest anxieties and flaws. As construction progresses, the Machine becomes a focal point for global fears of destruction, subjugation, and the unknown. As some factions become obsessed with the conviction that it is a “Doomsday Machine” or a “Trojan Horse,” the intense political maneuvering, sabotage, and public hysteria surrounding the project show that the path to transcendence is hampered by suspicion and fear. The Machine thus serves as a mirror, reflecting humanity’s noblest aspirations and its basest tendencies toward division and self-destruction.
Pi (π) and Transcendental Numbers
In the world of the novel, Pi (π) is the ultimate symbol for the endeavor of Reconciling Faith and Reason; it represents a divine order that is embedded within the rational structure of the universe itself. Introduced early in the novel, Pi (π) is a source of childhood wonder for Ellie, serving as an entry point into the majestic and infinite nature of mathematics. It represents a hidden truth that can only be accessed through intellectual inquiry, and these early endeavors set the stage for her lifelong quest for cosmic truth. The novel frames this search as a spiritual search, with Ellie describing the awe of discovery as a “numinous” feeling, a term borrowed from theology.
The symbol’s full significance is revealed in the novel’s climax, when Ellie’s computer program discovers a message—a perfect circle formed by ones and zeroes—encoded deep within the seemingly random digits of Pi (π). This discovery is framed as an “artist’s signature” (372), a form of communication that is simultaneously mathematical and miraculous. With this decisive conclusion, Sagan implies that a true creator does not communicate through ambiguous ancient texts or dogmatic revelations, but through the universal and verifiable language of mathematics. In this way, Pi (π) symbolizes Sagan’s vision of a universe where the deepest spiritual truths are revealed by the rigors of science.
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