Symbols Beautyland Marie-Helene Bertino

The Fax Machine in Beautyland: A Tangible Link Between Worlds

In Marie-Helene Bertino's Beautyland, the fax machine is far more than office equipment. It serves as the physical conduit through which the protagonist, Adina Giorno, transmits her observations of Earth to her extraterrestrial relatives. This humble device becomes a central symbol, embodying the tension between connection and isolation, the mundane and the cosmic. This analysis explores the fax machine's literal role, its recurrence in the narrative (as inferred from the novel's premise), its shifting meanings, and its connections to character and theme.

What the Fax Machine Is: A Literal Description

The fax machine in Beautyland functions exactly as its real-world counterpart: a device that scans documents and sends them over telephone lines to a receiving machine. Adina uses it to dispatch her handwritten or typed reports about human life, culture, and her own experiences. The machine is described as a physical object in her home—likely an older model with thermal paper or a flatbed scanner. Its mundane appearance contrasts sharply with the extraordinary purpose it serves. While the provided outline does not explicitly describe the fax machine, the context establishes it as the only means of communication between Adina and the alien world she comes from. It is a tangible, terrestrial object that enables an interstellar exchange.

Recurrence in the Narrative

The fax machine recurs throughout Adina's life as she sends transmissions at regular intervals. Based on the novel's premise, these transmissions begin in childhood and continue into adulthood, marking key moments in her development. The chapter titles in Beautyland—Stellar Nebula (BIRTH), Massive Star (SCHOOL), Red Supergiant (WORK), Supernova (NEW YORK CITY), and Black Hole (DEATH)—suggest a life arc. The fax machine likely appears in multiple chapters, though specific chapter occurrences are not detailed in the available outline. Each transmission represents an attempt to bridge the gap between her two identities: a human girl on Earth and an observer from another world. The device's recurrence mirrors Adina's ongoing struggle to reconcile these dualities.

How Its Meaning Changes

The meaning of the fax machine evolves as Adina matures. Initially, it is a wondrous novelty—a secret hotline to her true family. As a child (implied by the "Massive Star" chapter set at school), the fax machine might represent hope and the possibility of being understood. It is a lifeline to the only beings who truly know her nature.

As Adina grows older and faces the demands of work and city life (Red Supergiant and Supernova chapters), the fax machine becomes a repetitive obligation. The act of sending observations may feel like a burden, a constant reminder that she does not belong fully to Earth. The machine's physical presence—its whirring, paper jams, and ink stains—grounds her in the frustrating materiality of human existence. It transforms from a symbol of connection to a symbol of the unbridgeable distance between her and her relatives. By the time of the Black Hole chapter (DEATH), the fax machine may represent the finality of loss. If Adina faces a death, the transmissions might cease or become futile, underscoring the absolute separation that mortality imposes.

Character and Theme Connections

Adina Giorno

Adina is the sole human operator of the fax machine. Her relationship with the device defines her character arc. It is both her identity anchor and her source of alienation. The machine allows her to fulfill her mission as an observer, but it also prevents her from fully integrating into human society. Each fax she sends reinforces her otherness. Adina's mother, while aware of Adina's uniqueness (as implied by the novel's premise), may view the fax machine with suspicion or resignation, further isolating Adina.

Extraterrestrial Relatives

The relatives are the recipients of the faxes, never seen in person. The fax machine thus becomes the only tangible link to them. It represents their distant, silent presence. The lack of immediate feedback—fax is one-way unless they reply, which is not indicated—heightens the sense of longing and uncertainty. The machine channels their expectations and judgments, even if they are never stated.

Themes

  • Communication: The fax machine is the literal tool of communication, yet it highlights the limitations of language and technology. The information transmitted may be incomplete, misinterpreted, or lost. The novel questions how much understanding can be achieved through such mediated contact.
  • Alienation: The fax machine embodies Adina's simultaneous connection to and disconnection from both worlds. She is bound to Earth by the device, yet forever reaching beyond it. This theme is explored in the Alienation thematic analysis.
  • Mortality: The final chapter "Black Hole (DEATH)" suggests that even interstellar communication cannot overcome death. The fax machine's silence after a loss may be the most profound statement on mortality. See the Mortality page.
  • Cosmic Wonder: The mundane fax machine contrasts with the vastness of space Adina tries to contact. This juxtaposition underscores the novel's Cosmic Wonder.
  • Human Observation: Adina's transmissions are detailed reports on human behavior. The fax machine is the instrument of this Human Observation, turning everyday life into data for an alien audience.

Four Study Questions with Answers

  1. How does the fax machine function as both a connector and an isolator for Adina? The fax machine connects Adina to her extraterrestrial relatives, providing a channel to her true identity. However, its use isolates her from the human world because she can share her secret with no one. The device physically sits in her home, a constant reminder of her dual existence, preventing her from fully engaging with people around her. It is a bridge that also draws a boundary.

  2. How does the meaning of the fax machine shift across the chapter titles' life stages? In the early chapters (Stellar Nebula, Massive Star), the fax machine likely represents wonder and purpose—a way to share her observations as a child. During the work and city chapters (Red Supergiant, Supernova), it becomes a routine task, possibly a source of exhaustion or disillusionment. By the Black Hole chapter (DEATH), the machine may fall silent or become a relic, symbolizing the ultimate failure of communication in the face of mortality.

  3. What does the physical appearance of the fax machine (its paper, ink, noises) suggest about the nature of Adina's communication? The machine's imperfect, mechanical nature—jams, beeps, thermal paper curls—emphasizes that communication between worlds is flawed and material. The transmitted pages are physical artifacts subject to degradation. This fragility mirrors Adina's own vulnerability and the transient quality of human life she documents. It suggests that even extraordinary connections are mediated through ordinary, fallible objects.

  4. How does the one-way nature of the fax (Adina sends but receives no direct reply) affect her character and the novel's tone? Without visible replies, Adina never knows if her transmissions are received or understood. This uncertainty breeds a sense of abandonment and doubt. It forces her to continue sending faxes out of faith, not confirmation. The one-way communication amplifies the novel's tone of longing and isolation, as Adina pours her observations into a void. It also mirrors the human condition of seeking meaning without guaranteed response.

Further Exploration

The fax machine is a deceptively simple symbol that unlocks many of Beautyland's central concerns. For more on the novel's overarching themes, visit the main book page. You can also explore character analyses of Adina Giorno and her mother, as well as the role of the extraterrestrial relatives. The themes of communication, alienation, mortality, cosmic wonder, and human observation each deepen our understanding of how this ordinary office machine carries extraordinary weight.