Parable Of The Sower By Octavia Butler

Literary Analysis: Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
Throughout the Parable of the Sower, we follow Lauren Olamina; a young, strong-willed, black women living amongst others within her gated community, Robledo. The story begins in post-apocalyptic year 2024, hearing firsthand experiences of the times, on account of Lauren’s journal entries. These entries allow us to further analyze how these experiences shaped both Lauren; before and after the raid, and the community she builds moving North. In this analysis, I will be looking at key events within the story that provide detail on the theme of inclusion and exclusion and how this inevitably coincides with the theme community and the importance of it throughout the story.
In the first couple

They decide to band together and head North, offering trust amongst the three of them. This is one of the first inclusive events Lauren encounters outside the safety of the wall. Lauren’s exclusiveness is seen heavily in the early travels North, staying on high alert trying to adjust to her new way of life. After some time, Lauren’s strong sense of self and maturity leads to her having some potentially difficult, yet essential conversations within her new group. We see a very vulnerable side of Lauren surface; stating, “I’m going to tell you about myself,’ I said, ‘I don’t know whether it will help you to understand me, but I have to tell you. You have the right to know.’ And in low whispers, I told them about my mother- my biological mother- and about my sharing” (Butler, 191). This scene is met with mixed emotions, both acceptance and anger. Inclusivity and exclusivity are highlighted here in different ways. Although Lauren is being extremely inclusive, by sharing such personal information with her new friends. Zhara embraces this news further creating a safe place for Lauren to feel included; whereas Harry, a former neighbor who has known Lauren his whole life, is left feeling lied to and

The importance of community is highlighted first when the group of three stop at a water station, stating, “Three is the smallest comfortable number at a water station. Two to watch and one to fill up. And it’s good to have three ready for trouble on the way to and from the station. Three would not stop determined thugs, but it would stop opportunists- and most predators are opportunist” (Butler, 202). This is the first acknowledgment of strength in numbers in this environment. Lauren will also go on to help and connect with those who are seen as potential outcasts. The first example of this is when she picks out a mixed family to help and attempt to convert; knowing that mixed couples struggle beyond the wall and feeling empathy for the child they are taking along the voyage North, Lauren extended an invitation pointing out that, “in a pinch, five is better than two” (Butler, 208). It's shown once again when the group stumbles upon a burning house, they struggle with the decision to help or flee, but decide to once again extend an invitation to Allie and Jill, former sex slaves, who were caught up in the house fire. Lauren knew helping the two girls would put a target on her the groups back, but she also knew that they would be safer within the newly formed group, creating larger numbers to travel with. The group also acquires Bankole, an instant