Analysis of Octavia E. Butler's Kindred Essay

The work ethic of the slaves was much greater than that of Dana and the African Americans of the modern times. Although Dana had viewed herself as having a good work ethic, when she was put in the fields for only a short time she could not withstand the physical hardships which the slaves endured day after day. The slaves were not only more physically capable to complete the work but they were also more focused on completing their goal. You must remember that in Dana?s time money was always a strong motivation for any worker but in the slave?s time a whip could drive someone just as good. Ultimately the slaves were motivated to complete their work because they knew that their well being depended on it.

As Dana soon discovers, the reality of slavery is even more disturbing than its portrayal in books, movies, and television programs. Before her journey into the past, Dana called the temp agency where she worked a "slave market," even though "the people who ran it couldn't have cared less whether or not you showed up to do the work they offered."

Character’s relationships with power change a lot over the course of Octavia Butler’s Kindred. One of the most important character changes in the book is Kevin Franklin and Dana’s relationship, and how is changed after living in the 1800’s. Kevin is introduced in the book as Dana’s middle aged husband who she met while working in a “slave market”. Both of them are inspiring writers looking to make a life out of their passion. Before both Kevin and Dana are sent back into slavery time their relationship is very normal. Their marriage is very stable, although they go through different problems surrounding power. Kevin is very dominant towards Dana and at times believes he is better than her. Kevin constantly asks Dana to type out drafts of his

The novel under the title Kindred is a magnificent literary piece created by renowned African-American fantasy writer and novelist of contemporary times Octavia Butler. This superb piece encompasses the most burning issues and problems faced by the African-American community. The novel throws light on the pathetic condition of the black slaves and vehemently condemns domestic violence and slavery inflicted and imposed upon the black stratum of the American society. The novel also discusses atrocities and hatred exercised upon the African Americans on the basis of racial and ethnic discrimination prevailing in the society. Butler points out the communication gap between spouses and family members, which adds to the misery of the black

Only the best tactics and the quickest decisions can insure a win in a fight for survival. Dana Franklin, the main character in the novel Kindred, has what it takes to take on the cruel South and use those qualities to ensure survival. Due to a mysterious and confusing power she acquires, Dana can miraculously travel through time and reach her ancestors during the slavery period. With that power alone, she has to work hard to survive against the strongest, meanest, and craziest people she’s ever dreamed of to ensure the safety of herself and whom she cares. In addition to working hard, Dana has to witness and carry out what horrors fighting and struggling in the antebellum South was like. In Octavia Butler’s Kindred, Dana is seen fighting,

Parable of the Sower is a very well-written science fiction novel by Octavia Butler. The setting is California in the year 2025. The world is no longer prosperous and has turned into a very poor place. There are countless people homeless, jobs are scarce and hard to come by, and very few communities of homes. The few communities that are still occupied have huge walls with barbed wire and laser wire surrounding them.

The story is set in 1968 in Oakland, California three young girls Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern who leave their father in Brooklyn to go Oakland to meet their mother who abandoned them. Oakland at this time is a boiling pot with political and racial turmoil, with the Black Panthers at the head of a movement fighting for civil rights. In a historical context many readers at this age level have not been exposed to the many freedom fighter organizations like The Black Panthers, middle school students are usually only exposed to a limited number of figures in the civil rights movement like Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.

When a young author from New York City decides to take a trip to the southern city of Savannah, he finds himself falling in love with the town and ends up renting an apartment. He encounters many different characters, including Danny Hansford and Jim Williams, that gives the reader a good look into the aura of Savannah. The main conflict in the book occurs when a murder happens in an old mansion located in the town. The book follows the progression of the trial and the outcome following the court’s decision.

Octavia Butler’s novel Kindred is categorized as science fiction because of the existence of time travel. However, the novel does not center on the schematics of this type of journey. Instead, the novel deals with the relationships forged between a Los Angeles woman from the 20th century, and slaves from the 19th century. Therefore, the mechanism of time travel allows the author a sort of freedom when writing this "slavery narrative" apart from her counterparts. Butler is able to judge the slavery from the point of view of a truly "free" black woman, as opposed to an enslaved one describing memories.

“God is Power—infinite, irresistible, inexorable, indifferent. And yet, God is Pliable—trickster, teacher, chaos, clay. God exists to be shaped. God is Change.” (Butler 25). In Parable of the Sower Octavia Butler introduces the concept of religion through her characters specifically Lauren. In a society that is crumbling, religion is seemed to be the only thing striving. The idea that although society could be falling apart many of the characters either cling to their beliefs, or shy away from them. Laurens creation of “Earthseed” proves that in a failing society, the concept of religion somehow still survives.

In the play, Collins flees to Princeton to start over, but quickly realizes his race will keep setting him back. In another composition, a slave auction takes place on the Princeton campus in front of the prestigious president’s home. Before the auction, enslaved men were said to be having conversations with their sons about freedom. One more drama tells about two college roommates in a conversation with a former slave while under the influence, and the significance of people of color. Each rendition of Princeton and slavery show the impacts of how slavery impacted every facet of nineteenth century life. Emily Mann says her reasoning behind each ten-minute play is that, “All history plays are really about the present. I felt compelled to tell that story because it means something now.” Indeed, these stories have everything to do with the present, news of white supremacists’ rallies are always on the news. Most recently one in Charlottesville, further demonstrating how powerful slavery is and how it still manipulates how society operates today.

In Octavia E. Butler’s novel “Parable of the Sower”, the community was entirely collapsed, and almost everywhere was chaos and out of control. It was obviously in a dark period.

Should Octavia E. Butler’s “Bloodchild” be classified as a slave story? The author claims that “Bloodchild” is not a tale of slavery, but rather a love story and a coming-of-age tale. Does “Bloochild” conform to the conventions of the slave stories, love stories, or coming-of-age tales with which you are familiar? What other classifications—in terms of literary genre, form, or mode—apply to “Bloodchild”?

In Parable of the Sower, by Octavia Butler, the author raises intriguing possibilities about the consequences of the United States continuing its current path on issues such as global warming, poverty, and human trafficking. Butler predicts that in the future human trafficking will become a widespread norm as the nation deteriorates. Unfortunately, the reality of widespread human trafficking has already been realized both in the United States and globally. Human trafficking has become a widespread global problem where people are exploited through forced labor, slavery, organ harvesting and various forms of sexual exploitation. Preventing trafficking and rescuing victims from the trade requires a lot more than intervention from any one single government. It requires a multinational front that utilizes policies, global law enforcement, and multiple government agencies geared toward the prevention of trafficking, the prosecution of criminals and recovery of the victims.

The play takes place in the 1950’s, which was a different era. It was a time when black persecution was rampant. Lorraine Hansberry had first-hand knowledge in the aspects of being exposed to racial injustice in this era, which was an evident theme that ran throughout the play. It was not too long before the civil rights movement, which explains why the black author was writing this from her perspective.