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The Greenlanders Jane Smiley's The Greenlanders has a theme of decline throughout its story. The decline of a society is something that has happened before, something that will probably happen again, and something that some people would argue is happening right now. This book describes it happening in Greenland during the 14th century, during the lives of the two main characters, Gunnar Asgeirsson and Margret Asgeirsdottir. The decline of a society is usually equal parts …

…them from the start. But if we all put our noses to the grindstone and support democracy, we'll be able to get through anything. The fact is that in thousands of years of civilization, there has yet to be an enduring society. Like so many things in life, the rise and fall of groups of people is cyclic. Even the most successful empire will eventually bottom out, whether through its own fault or dumb luck.