Estraven

Estraven is a fictional drug mentioned in the novel "Cloud Atlas" by David Mitchell. It is a synthetic opioid with powerful sedative and euphoric properties, designed to control and pacify the population of Neo-Seoul in the year 2144. The drug is administered through mandatory "recreation" sessions, where citizens are dosed in a controlled environment. Estraven is presented as a tool of social engineering, used by the ruling corporations to maintain order and prevent dissent. Its effects are described as a blissful detachment from reality, making individuals compliant and easily managed. The protagonist, Sonmi~451, encounters Estraven as part of her upbringing in a fabricant cafeteria, where it is a daily component of the workers' lives. The pervasive use of Estraven highlights the dystopian themes of control and manipulation within the Neo-Seoul section of the novel. It serves as a symbol of how advanced technology can be used to suppress human agency and create a seemingly contented but ultimately enslaved society. The eventual rejection and renunciation of Estraven by Sonmi~451 mark a crucial turning point in her journey towards self-awareness and rebellion.