Octavia Butler's Kindred: An Analysis

Octavia E. Butler wrote Kindred with the intention of making her readers feel and recognize the effect of slavery through a new, creative lens and address societal gender roles that still remain today. In order to differentiate it from other novels, she added science fiction through time travel. This element allowed her to fit into Achebe’s description of a writer’s role in society; A writer “must remain free to disagree with his/her society and go into rebellion against it if need be. But I am for choosing my cause very carefully.” Unlike most science fictions authors, Butler drifted away from using out of this world scenarios and applied science fiction concepts to real, tragic events in our history. With these ideas, she was able to transform

“I was beginning to realize that he loved the woman- to her misfortune. There was no shame in raping a black woman, but there could be shame in loving one” (124). Dana and Alice have the most toxic relationship by far in the novel. Butler explicitly portrays what’s unfortunately the most common interracial relationship in 1815, which doesn’t allow equality between the male and female. Rufus rapes Alice and controls her by threatening their children but in his mind, he’s showing his affection while also asserting what he believes to be his right, dominance. Similarly, but not anywhere near the extent of Rufus and Alice’s relationship, is Dana and Kevin. “Will you type those pages for me now?” (109). An example of Kevin’s attempts at superiority over Dana is the fact that he persistently asks Dana to type his manuscripts for him as if she’s his assistant. Dana always says no but the fact that he asked the question in the first place shows the disconnect in their relationship. In addition, Dana and Kevin are an interracial couple and the difficulty of this doesn’t emerge until they travel to 1815 together. Kevin quickly integrates into the common racism and position of power that being a white man provides him, but thankfully he returns to 1976 and realizes the destruction of racism, which fulfills Butler’s goal as a writer. Lastly, there’s the relationship between Dana and Rufus, which is the most developed and complicated. “He has already found the way to control me- by threatening others” (169). Dana goes back in time to save Rufus and he’s family. As a result, she instinctually protects and defends him against everyone, and this causes her to gain enemies. She’s labeled as too white by other slaves and no one understands why she constantly protects him, not even she.