Octavia Butler's Kindred: Dramatic Decisions

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

Decisions are what direct a average person's life. Some decisions are easy some are hard. But that’s the way of life and how it works.

Sometimes the hardest decisions are the most important, and are the ones that shape and sculpt your journey through life. Whenever I am faced with a dilemma, like whether to start a new episode of The Office on Netflix or to proofread my global history essay, I remember to take a step back to better analyze the situation which, at times can change my perspective.

make many decisions and if they choose wrong, it may cost them their lives or someone else’s in

After many trips back to the 1800’s, Rufus eventually takes his father’s place when he deceases. Dana believed this would make her time in the Weylin household less taxing, but she quickly realized that Rufus made her want freedom more than Tom Weylin did. Soon after Tom Weylin passed, Rufus sent Evan Fowler, the slave overseer, to send Dana to work in the fields. He believed Dana let his father die and

Millions of people worldwide gather in front of their televisions to experience the exhilaration of watching two men fight for their freedom. Dad have made popcorn for this special occasion while the kids wrapped in their fluffy blankets wait anxiously for the fight to begin. No one objects to the slavery witnessed on the television because the idea of equality for all never occurred in this society. Similar events like slavery in America was not questioned by those who grew up in this institution and is explained in the novel Kindred by Octavia Butler. Her novel expands the idea of how people are influenced by their environment by taking characters Dana and Kevin into the past where slavery is still a bustling trade. In the time these two maintained their presence in the past, their very definition of themselves had changed while engulfed in a different institution. The Stanford Prison Experiment conducted by Philip Zimbardo resulted in similar outcomes with their subjects by placing them into a simulated prison environment. Prisoners inside the experiment played their parts until they morphed into their character and could not break free from this new persona/ Octavia Butler’s experiment in Kindred is similar to Philip Zimbardo's Stanford Prison experiment in which all subjects were influenced by their institution to play the role requested by the people with authority.

In every book, movie, television show and in the real world, people are faced with difficult decisions that alter the course of their lives. For example “The

How can you not love Tammy in the role of Elizabeth's sister, Jenna? I couldn't remember where I saw her recently, and then it dawned on me--Signed, Sealed, Delivered. How nice it is that we got to see more of her in this film as she portrays the tender, sympathetic, and almost always smiling Jenna. She is not searching for love, but it practically falls into her lap. She is kind of like the "girl-next-door," and she only has one thing on her mind--Elizabeth's happiness (it seems like that is a theme in this film, doesn't it?). But she is the loyal sister and will gladly rebuff anyone (Violet and Darcy included) who gives Elizabeth a difficult time. She has a smile that brightens the screen every time we see it, and I believe she is a perfect

“It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped.” This quote originating from American author Tony Robbins is the perfect interpretation of decision making. Each day, every human is faced with an abundance of decisions. Whether they be trivial selections like choosing which outfit to wear for the day, or critical accords such as deciding on a future career path, decisions are a constant struggle. Both Robert Frost and Dorothy Parker recognize this conflict and have implemented it into their writing. “The Road Less Traveled” and “The Choice” are poems that highlight the struggles as well as the prosperity of making an important decision.

Making decisions can be easy at times when it does not require much thought; however, it can be complicated, especially when it involves people 's lives. If, for instance, there is a boat holding seventy-five people but it should only hold fifty in order to ensure the safety of the passengers and lessen the risk of the boat sinking, who will be asked to leave the boat? There are also one hundred individuals in the water whose lives must be considered; what can be done in a tight situation such as this one where time is not in your hands? It is important to remember only fifty people can be saved while one hundred and twenty-five individuals might die. This can prove to be a strenuous and gut-wrenching challenge. There are several different

Are humans born evil or are we all manifestations of our environment. Kindred written by Octavia E. Butler is a story about a black woman named Dana, who is drawn back in time to save one of her ancestors who is a white man, Rufus is the son of a plantation owner and lives in the antebellum south. When Rufus’s life is in danger Dana is brought back to his time period to save him, this occurs throughout Rufus’s entire life. Each time Dana returns back to Rufus's timeline she must endure and try to stay alive, and each time she returns she must stay in Rufus time even longer than her previous trip before. As Rufus gets older we see his transformation from a young boy to the man that nearly sends Dana over the edge.

When it comes time to make an important decision, ones personal courage and self discipline are put to the test and what has been instilled in them from the beginning of their lives is the determining factor of how the situation will turn out.

Decisions can make lives take a turn for the better or the worse. People are usually tasked with many choices in their lives, so eventually a wrong decision will occur and people will wish they had not chosen incorrectly. While bad selections may happen, that is what living is about: making mistakes and learning from them.