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Symbolism In Kindred

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Recommended: Analysis on kindred by octavia butler

B) Throughout the novel, Kindred written by Olivia Butler, there are three major characters, Dana, Rufus and Kevin. With this being said, major characters are given personalities that develop throughout the book and are given a significance. But even so, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other characters with a purpose to the book. One of them being Alice Greenwood. The significance of her to be involved in this novel allows Dana to open her eyes, historically speaking, to another kind of pain that slaves go through, and also to view a new side of Rufus she was unaware of. While Dana was living in the Weylin household as a slave, she witnessed hard labor that slaves barred. She only witnessed the hard work that was put into being a slave and was already disgusted by it. But when she saved Rufus from the beating he took from Isaac, she realized a new form of pain that slaves nor she could stop the white men …show more content…

Doing so allows us as the reader to think and interpret the book, to understand it on not just blindly read it without truly understanding the depths. One of the items that Butler included as symbolism is the map. The map was mentioned as a symbol of freedom. It was mentioned more than once in the book, for two different reasons. The first time it was mentioned in the book, Kevin and Dana were talking about how if she goes back again, she’d need it to escape the Weylin house and to find her way around Maryland. Doing so, it was her escape route, her source of independence. But, Rufus claims that for her “safety” it’s best to burn it so no one sees it. Doing so, he is ripping away her fight for freedom. He even said on page 124, “You’ll be all right here. You’re home.” Saying this gives a superior tone, implying that this is her only shelter that she’ll need and there is no escape. He is in charge of her and she cannot control that at

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The roles of “protector” and “protected” in stories is often tied with implications of racism, sexism or patriarchal traditions. From the white man’s burden to chivalry to motherly protection, societal and fictional stories are colored by hegemonic forces and norms. The stories Kindred and Dark Benediction complicate and reinforce these hegemonic forces involved in their means of defining of “protector” and “protected” as their protagonist protectors move through their stories and evolve in relation to their charges. In Kindred, Dana’s begins her story as a Protector fitting into the role of motherly, caring womanhood for her ward Rufus. However, the looming tension of racial hierarchies and sexual manipulation through her and Rufus’s relationship

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In the last chapter of the story The Rope, Alice hangs herself because Rufus pretended to sell her kids, Joseph and Hagar. When Alice commits suicide, Rufus turns out to be the most miserable because he does not want to live without Alice or die alone so he sinks into a deep depression. We know this because Butler states, “ something was wrong with him. He was haggard and weary– looked as though it had been too long since he’d last slept.” (Butler, page 247) This quote informs the reader how Rufus’ feelings give Dana and Alice power over him and how Alice’s death affected his life.

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Tragic Yet Beautiful Kindred Spirits was selected as our second piece of music for CMEA on May 7, 2016, because it is a tragic ballad that symbolizes the loss of two of our own. We use a motto in band when preparing for CMEA. The motto goes as follows: Establish your Unanimous Superior in the first song, Earn your Unanimous Superior in the second song, and Don’t lose your Unanimous Superior in the final song. Through the use of a story, symbolism, and complexity, this piece will help us earn our Unanimous Superior after establishing it in the first piece of music, Overture Jubiloso. One reason Kindred Spirits was chosen was because it has a tragic background.

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Dana realizes that if she is stuck in the south she might as well be working. She was offered a tutoring job, Kevin disagrees with her decision. Dana says, “I’m here. And I am supposed to be a slave”, she is trying to fit in with the black stereotype. Dana pretends to belong to Kevin while they are in the Weylin’s house to prevent blowing her cover.

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