`` Kindred, By Octavia Butler

“Bloodchild” is a story that pushes the limits of humankind, creating blurry interpretations of good and evil that challenges everyday societal norms. Octavia Butler takes a traditional action-filled story and twists it into an unexpected and intensified tale. Through this heightened piece of work, the most compelling argument can be found from the structure of the narrative itself. From the first-person narrative, readers are able to receive first hand perspective in which no omniscience of any sort can be detected. Readers can acquire the character’s actions, thoughts, and interpretation of the things that happen to them. “Bloodchild” is a story of an alien planet where the Terrans are enslaved by an alien race called the Tlic. Gan, the protagonist, has been promised as a host for the alien embryos in which the story will later reveal a deeper meaning underlining the sacrifice.

In the Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler, the main character, Lauren Olamina, leaves behind Christianity, a religion that she identified with her whole life and creates a new religion known as Earthseed. Earthseed is a naturalistic way of faith, based on the idea that God is changeable, therefore life, too, could change. Lauren Olamina creates Earthseed because she believes that it is what her people need in order to not only alter their chaotic and misguided ways, but to live a pro-active and positive life.

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

Rufus Weylin; a character first perceived as a young, curious and innocent boy, turns in to an over-obsessive and miserable tyrant. In Octavia Butler 's novel _Kindred_, the book revolves around the horrors of slavery in the United States in the early eighteen hundreds. White characters are given absolute power and control over black characters, and treat them like animals, making them live a long life of misery and unhappiness. As _Kindred_ unfolds, it becomes clear that Rufus turns in to a stereotypical slave owner and abuser. With every trip that Dana makes back to Rufus, there is a clear distinction of changes in his personality. He becomes more evil, over-obsessive and cruel as he gets older. In fact, he becomes very much like his

Throughout their lifetimes, individuals encounter a variety of challenges that test their resilience. Sometimes it targets a person’s personality, beliefs, race or culture. It can follow an individual throughout their life or stay in it for a period of time. However, with a strong personality and a determined goal, these obstacles can be conquered. An example of an obstacle that can be a battle in everyday life is prejudice, mostly against the different types of race. Racism is the false conviction that one race is more unrivaled than the other which isolated the world to what it is today. It is a part of human nature, and unfortunately, many people don’t know their limits when it comes to it. Some other individuals, however, have internal conflicts with themselves which, in some situations, limits them from the world.

Lastly, violence in Kindred was used to show how the treatment of slaves was used to dehumanize and put down blacks. In a society where a slave owner had absolute power over its “property”, the importance of a slave’s life was greatly disregarded. Butler used this notion and violence to show how in the eyes of whites, slaves were subhuman. Thusly, they had no rights, and received extremely unlucky treatment. When traveling to the 1800’s as a black women, Dana stated that in that time “there was no shame in raping a black woman,

A Mercy by Toni Morrison is a story of a sixteen year old slave girl named Florens. The story takes place in the late seventeenth century and explores the experiences of African American through slavery and freedom. The novel includes characters if mixed race; Portuguese, Dutch, English, Native American and African American who are trying to settle down in the new world. Morrison focuses on the ravages of slavery, both physical and emotional, that plagued the time. More specifically, she writes about the complications that arise from slavery: strained relationships between mother and daughter, the blurred lines of community ties. The story revolves around the main character Florens who is grieved by the thought that her mother had

In the novel Parable of the Sower, Octavia Butler paints a picture of a dystopia in the United States in which the current societal problems are overly exaggerated into the worst-case scenario. Butler describes a world plagued with high unemployment rates, violence, homelessness, a flawed police system, and a crumbling education system. Butler focuses the story on the poor and the homeless by only giving characters with this background a voice in order to show the reader that society’s views and stereotypes of these groups are flawed. Butler shows the lack of attention they receive and over exaggerates the problem in order to show the extreme consequences if it is not properly addressed.

First published in 1979, Octavia E. Butler’s Kindred is a unique novel, which can be categorized both as a modern-day slave narrative, and as a science fiction time-travel tale. In the novel, Butler uses time-travel as a way to convey W.E.B. Du Bois’ theory of double-consciousness. Dubois’ theory is based on the idea that people of color have two identities, both struggling to reconcile in one being. His theory about the complex nature of the African-American experience directly relates to Butler’s use of Kindred’s protagonist, Dana, and her experience time travelling as a modern-day African-American woman, and her experience of a pre-abolition, nineteenth-century slave.

Walker introduces the audience to new white characters at the turn of the Civil War. The general human fear and resentment that these white antagonists have towards the newly freed slaves is demonstrated through the different way that Walker portrays the characters. The readers are introduced to a plethora of cruel white characters who were

“What have you been judging from?” asks Henry Tilney after Catherine Morland supposes his father to be his mother’s murderer (Austen 197). When confronted with a critic who asserts that the same Henry is not only an imposter pretending to act as the narrator’s mouthpiece, but also the antagonist in Catherine’s story, the reader may ask the same question. To answer, Northanger Abbey critic Tara Ghoshal Wallace argues that Henry’s relationship with Catherine, and with women in general, is akin to the narrator’s oppressive relationship with the reader. More specifically, Wallace reveals how the narrator and Henry both tend to reduce and manipulate the target of their oppression. However, Wallace pollutes her analysis with her own propensity to dismiss readers who view Henry’s character differently, to assume that all readers begin the novel with the same expectations of Henry, and to baselessly allege that the psychological effects of oppression she finds in Catherine also exist in the readers.

Hi. My name is Martha and I'll be talking about Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice and how the Vampires in the book are different from the other vampires from the genre. So we can spend hours discussing the many differences in Rice's Vampires but I'll concentrate on the biggest points as I only have few minutes.

Toni Morrison, in her book called, A Mercy, takes a unique approach to the concept of slavery by separating race from it. This is due to her belief that all the civilizations on this planet rest on some form of enslavement, thus it does not have to be explicitly related to Blacks. However, by no means she is neglecting the struggle of the Black slaves. In fact, on many occasions she reveals the unimaginable adversities faced by the slaves especially women slaves. In this paper, I argue that Marx’s theory of Alienation is most applicable to describe the existing discrepancies as well as interdependencies in the structure of the society presented by Morrison. In the Alienation theory, Marx criticizes the capitalistic modes of productions

Although romantic comedies are made purely for their entertainment value, the ridiculous nature and message that is presented in them can have a significant effect on our culture. One film specifically, which was released in 2009, displays many particular stereotypes and gender issues which can be found within American society. Gender is made up of socially constructed ideas which are reinforced by society in regards to what it means to be masculine or feminine. Within American society, the media takes on a large role in creating these gender norms and stereotypes. This can be very damaging to many individuals, because placing stereotypes within the multi-billion dollar media outlet of films can cause them to be widely accepted within our society. The Ugly Truth, although a seemingly funny lighthearted film, perpetuates gender stereotypes in our culture and simplifies what it means to be a man or a woman in a very negative way.

]Basil also has the power of a Southern gentleman on his side. His physical description includes his, “… superior forehead…” (James 4) in his line-up of the “Southern charm” qualities. Even though this book was published in 1886, the modern reader still must remember that the Civil War relevance is included in this novel, as is the imagery of slavery. Basil’s image was not for want of relevant details of slavery, but the troubling resonance constitutes a strong critique of a system within which humans could be “whipped, shackled, bought and sold”. Olive Chancellor thinks Basil is someone who “’no doubt, desired to treat women with the lash and manacles, as he and his people had formerly treated the whole wretched colored race’ (164)” (Hochman 274-275). Olive and Verena are not the only women that Basil influences under his power. Mrs. Luna also sees it, and believes it. Mrs. Luna may not be the most influenced by his power, but, “She appealed to his Southern chivalry, and not in vain; practically at least, he admitted the rights of women,” (James 90). He may admit them, but does not believe them. He is afraid it threatens his power. Outside of Boston, across the river to Connecticut, there is another man who has a force of power to his name, even though he is not in Connecticut.