Resistance Versus Collaboration in The Mercy of Gods

Thematic Claim: Collaboration as a Form of Hidden Resistance

In The Mercy of Gods, the binary of resistance versus collaboration initially appears clear—fight the alien Carryx oppressors or submit. Yet the novel complicates this dichotomy by presenting collaboration not as surrender but as a calculated, long-term strategy for survival and eventual victory. The central claim of the theme is that under an overwhelmingly dominant enemy, the most effective resistance may require appearing to collaborate, preserving the group’s utility while gathering knowledge and waiting for the moment to strike. Dafyd Alkhor’s decision to betray the human rebellion and become the sole intermediary between humans and the Carryx exemplifies this moral complexity: his “collaboration” is actually a patient war of extermination hidden beneath compliance.

Three Plot Points That Trace the Theme

1. Pre-Capture: The Art of Indirection

Before the Carryx invasion, Dafyd demonstrates a preference for indirect influence over confrontation. In the opening chapter, he uses “reflective listening” to charm the jealous astronomer Llaren Morse without revealing his own thoughts. His aunt, Dorinda Alkhor, warns him against being “too fond of underestimation”—a trait that makes him appear less capable than he is. This early behavior foreshadows his later role: someone who achieves goals through quiet manipulation rather than open defiance. The theme of resistance versus collaboration is already framed as a tactical choice, not a moral one.

2. Post-Capture: The Rebellion and Its Failure

After the capture, the resistance movement led by Ostencour and Jellit rallies around the idea of a meaningful death—dying on one’s feet rather than living on one’s knees. Ostencour tells Dafyd that humans are fundamentally “not domesticable,” and he plans to “bloody their noses” even if defeat is certain. Dafyd argues against this, warning that such a rebellion will only provoke the Carryx into slaughtering more humans or even destroying Anjiin itself. The novel does not portray Ostencour as a hero: Jessyn privately calls him “an amateur” who has to paint death as noble to recruit followers. Dafyd’s refusal to join the rebellion is not cowardice but a realistic assessment—he cannot risk the annihilation of his entire species for a symbolic gesture.

3. Becoming the Intermediary: Collaboration as a Long War

In the climactic chapters, Dafyd is appointed the sole human through whom all communication with the new Carryx librarian must pass. The librarian warns that any human approaching directly “will be killed.” Dafyd realizes that this position gives him unprecedented control. He reflects that if he had held this role earlier, he could have stopped Ostencour’s rebellion “without losing anyone”—Else would still be alive. Immediately after the speech, he announces a long-term plan: learn the Carryx weaknesses and destroy them. His collaboration is a mask for a patient war of extermination. The swarm—which has been monitoring humans—also chooses to stay and work with Dafyd rather than escape, embracing “hope and longing” over its original duty. This convergence shows that the most powerful actors in the story accept apparent submission as the path to eventual victory.

Character and Symbol Connections

Characters as Strategies

Dafyd Alkhor embodies the collaborator-resister: he ingratiates himself with the Carryx while secretly planning their destruction. His ability to “understand how they think” (chapter 35) is both a survival tool and a weapon.
Ostencour and Jellit represent open resistance. Jellit declares, “I’d rather die… than live on our bellies, licking Carryx shit.” Yet their movement fails, and many die—including Else Yannin, whose death Dafyd blames on the rebellion’s futility.
Jessyn Kaul occupies a middle ground: she is qualified as a “war leader” after fighting the Night Drinkers, but she also takes a gun from Ostencour and considers using it. Her uncertainty reflects the novel’s refusal to endorse either strategy uncritically.
The Swarm (in Ameer Kindred and later Else) begins as a spy for the Carryx but evolves toward Dafyd’s logic. Its decision to stay is a direct parallel to Dafyd’s choice: both sacrifice immediate freedom for a chance at greater impact.

Symbols of the Theme

The Translator (the device that decodes Carryx speech) is a tool of understanding and manipulation. Dafyd uses it to expose the rebellion and later to gather intelligence. It symbolizes how collaboration can enable resistance—knowing the enemy’s language is a form of power.
The Two Biomes of Anjiin—incompatible trees of life—mirror the irreconcilable strategies of resistance and collaboration. Tonner’s team succeeded in translating between biomes, just as Dafyd tries to translate between human survival and Carryx expectations. The metaphor suggests that hybrid approaches are possible but require a depth of understanding that most characters lack.

Complexity and Contradiction

The novel does not resolve the theme into a simple lesson. Dafyd’s collaboration saves lives in the short term but requires him to betray his friends (Else’s death is partly because he did not prevent the rebellion earlier). The swarm’s choice to stay is motivated by love inherited from Else—a deeply human emotion that contradicts its alien design. Meanwhile, Ostencour’s rebellion, though futile, serves as a catalyst: without it, Jessyn might never have become a weapon-maker, and the Carryx might never have elevated Dafyd to his intermediary role. The thematic tension remains unresolved: are the collaborators the true resisters, or are they simply prolonging the oppression? Evidence from the text suggests that the author intends the question to be considered, not answered.

Study Questions and Answers

How does Dafyd’s conversation with Ostencour in chapter 29 reveal the fundamental disagreement between resistance and collaboration?
Dafyd argues that any rebellion will cause the Carryx to wipe out humanity, while Ostencour believes that humans cannot be domesticated and someone will fight back eventually. Ostencour admits, “We already lost” but wants to “bloody their noses on the way down.” Dafyd sees this as sacrificing “everyone” for a symbolic blow; Ostencour sees it as an inevitable, necessary act of defiance.
What does the swarm’s decision to stay and work with Dafyd (chapter 36) reveal about the theme?
The swarm was designed to escape and transmit intelligence, but it chooses to remain because of the love it inherited from Else Yannin. This choice validates Dafyd’s approach: collaboration can be a long-term form of resistance. It also shows that emotional bonds can override programmed duties, making the theme as much about personal loyalty as about strategy.
Why does Jessyn call Ostencour “an amateur” in chapter 28, and what does this imply about the novel’s view of open rebellion?
Jessyn realizes that Ostencour is trying to paint death as noble to recruit followers, but she herself has lived in darkness and knows that survival, not glory, matters. The novel implies that pure resistance is often motivated by desperation and inexperience, while true wisdom involves enduring oppression to find a way to strike later.
How does the symbol of the translator connect to the theme of collaboration?
The translator is a device that Dafyd uses to interpret Carryx speech and to expose the rebellion. It represents the necessity of understanding the enemy in order to defeat them. Collaboration—learning the enemy’s language and system—is itself a translation act that can be turned into a weapon.
In what way is Dafyd’s final plan in chapter 35 both a form of collaboration and a form of resistance?
He accepts the role of intermediary, which requires him to enforce Carryx rules and punish any human who approaches the librarian without him. This is pure collaboration. Yet he immediately declares that he will “learn their weaknesses and destroy them,” vowing a “patient war of extermination.” The plan is resistance masked as collaboration, making the two strategies inseparable.