Severance wonderfully demonstrates how the lifestyles we lead now can have a great impact on our future, and not just in terms of what we buy. Toward the end of the novel, we wonder how this state of mind will affect Candace as she reaches her final, fateful decisions. from China, and others before the Shen fever destroyed their world. There seems to be the implication that nostalgia for what used to be might be putting Candace at risk, as she reminisces on times spent with her her mom, who immigrated to the U.S. Yet even as Candace becomes more independent, her past continues to haunt her at every turn. In juxtaposing her attitudes before and after the end of civilization as we know it, Ma emphasizes Candace’s diminishing attachment to the city and all it has to offer, and at the same time demonstrate her renewed growth as she takes on challenges with her fellow survivors.
Candace narrates every other chapter (with one exception), with the timeline jumping between pre- and post-apocalypse, illustrating Candace’s development as a character. Throughout her first novel, Ma alternates between multiple perspectives. As the characters’ varying levels of consumption and wealth create barriers between them, it’s easy to ask ourselves to reevaluate how healthy our level of consumerism is, and to what extent dependency on the things we buy is permissible. She presents us with characters of contrasting lifestyles, allowing us to reflect on our society’s sense of materialism and attachment. However, Ma seems to raise the question of whether even having this connection is a good thing. The story makes constant references to specific skincare brands, products, stores, and other consumer-related items, giving in-the-know readers something to connect to. Interestingly, consumerist culture is a big theme in the novel.
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