What Is The Allegory In Speech Sounds By Octavia Butler

Anarchy, a social state in which human actions are governed by their morals, is considered to be the most liberating template to form society around. In an anarchical society, the absence of government allows absolute freedom for any individual involved, and in a society such as this, people are able do as they please without experiencing any governmental repercussions for their actions. Where this seems to parallel the society introduced to us in the short story, “Speech Sounds”, by Octavia Butler, it in fact contrasts the society that Rye lives in. While most authoritarian governments have a strong physical presence in society, the allegory "Speech Sounds" uses a virus to demonstrate the metaphysical oppressive force that is felt by a totalitarian

Acting as a primary character, Obsidian lays the foundation for Rye’s future and guides her from her pessimistic state of mind, to an optimistic outlook on her future. As stated in the story, “Obsidian had been the protector,” meaning that he roamed the streets with an “obsolete uniform” looking to protect the population from murders driven by jealousy and frustration (Butler 579). Obsidian plays a pivotal role in the message, because he demonstrates the importance of unification in society and condemns people from doing just as an authoritarian government would encourage people to do, turn on one another. When Obsidian was first introduced, he used a glassy black rock to signify his name, and it is noteworthy that Rye initially thinks of the name Obsidian, because the conventional use for the rock-like material obsidian, is for foundation. The idea of foundation parallels the plot, because questioning Obsidian’s intent is how Rye had discovered her purpose on the earth. Obsidians death is what gives her this moment of realization, because when questioning his motivation, Rye thinks “now that there is something worth protecting, he was gone,” thus provoking her to carry on his duty of protecting these children who were considered the future (Butler 578). Here, Rye realizes that she had been living for all the wrong reasons, and just as an authoritarian government would want her to live, sedentary and only for the protection of her own well being. Without Obsidian’s groundwork, Rye would never have had the motivation for speaking out to protect the