Slavery and Science Fiction in Octavia Butlers Kindred - Essay Example

 Slavery and Science Fiction in Octavia Butler’s “Kindred” Introduction History has in the past associated science fiction with Anglo white male writers. Nonetheless, in her first science fiction book Kindred, Octavia E. Butler not only studies the features and physiognomies of conventional science fiction, but in addition, she provides a reproach of racism during the times of slavery as well as in the modern American era. Butler uses the element of time travel as an aspect for revisiting racism and racist activities. Through Kevin and Dana, a “mix couple”, the writer goes back in time to demonstrate the terrors and disgusts of the society both in the present period as well as in the past (Steinberg, 2004). Butler’s Choice for Science Fiction Butler’s novel Kindred is one among very few books that use science fiction with regard to the issue of slavery. Octavia Butler was the first African American woman to use science fiction in any form of writing, from short stories, collections or novels. The use of first-person narrative writing style has rendered the book a unique “masterpiece” among common written slavery works. Asked about her choice for science fiction by Rowell in an interview (1997), and what prompted her to combine the two elements. Butler asserted that the idea for the book came to her while she was listening to a male peer protest how his guardians stopped him from doing what he wanted and how he wanted to obliterate the African-Americans of older times. Octavia Butler therefore resolved to narrate a story in reaction, a story that would exemplify the history of African Americans in a visceral manner. According to Hua (2011), Butler uses the aspect of time travel in her novel to integrate the aspect of science fiction in Kindred. She uses this aspect for two purposes. First, she intends the readers to have a preview of what is to come (future) and understand the elements that await the human race in the future as well as helping her audience understand historical events in a better way. Even though lacking the technical scientific aspect of time travels as seen in other literary works, Butler has used the aspect of time travel where Dana goes back in time to Maryland back in the nineteenth century, which gives her audience the opportunity to see the development of history. Octavia Butler additionally uses the aspect of alternate history, where parallel universes have been employed. In addition, the novel includes narratives of past changes, which are vital in the development of a new history. Distinctive narratives of alternate histories begin with killings of prominent individuals, who are said to have a significant contribution to changing the world’s course, for instance, Benito Musolini or Adolf Hitler. Kindred, to some extent can be said to combine space and time travel with the style of alternate history, even though Dana does not alter the path of universal history, she interposes in plantations history and through recurrently saving Rufus, takes part of own in the process. Slavery In American history, the acts of enslaving others were despicably shameful and the American society seems to be treating slavery wounds that will not just heal because it still affects them more than 200 years later. A number of films have been created towards this effect, but the majority tends to dwell so much on the brutality endured by black men at the hands of whites. Nonetheless, Kindred concentrate on women (both white and black) and their societal functions (Yaszek, 2003). In addition, the novel validates the statements stated before: that the American society seems to be treating slavery wounds that will not just heal, and with science fiction, Octavia has managed to focus on its present day relevance. Octavia’s slavery treatment in the book varies in a big way from slavery representations in many other mainstream “white dominated” science fiction narratives because she openly places the topic within the historical accounts of North American people off African origin. Butler manages this by basing her book in very specific experiences of the African American people. For instance, Kindred narrates about the struggles of a young woman of the African American descent, in comprehending the violence and slavery’s history from which she obtains her roots. Nonetheless, Kindred not only narrate the history of Dana but also give the account of African Americans in North America. To many people, the history of African Americans was rather insignificant since the black society was also inconsequential to the US reality. Many blacks hated the slavery period, and it was a period that did not stand the merit of being reminisced. This was the case because African Americans were harshly and inhumanely treated as well as suffering humiliating acts aimed at making them understand their skin color made them inferior to white Americans. Prior to the era of the Middle Passage, African Americans were eager to return to their lands of origin – Africa – where Africa meant being closer to nature, the societal myths, the musical rhythm and most importantly, their personal self-respect (Donaldson, 2014). Nonetheless, choosing to ignore such a huge historical period was never going to obliterate the past. Octavia therefore, masterfully introduces the aspect of neo-slave narrative, purposed to revisit slavery and to additionally seek out reconciliation with past historical injustices as well as dignifying the slaves. Kindred provides a historical account that is far different from our expectations. Octavia has managed to bring together the two historical sides: the neo-slave account and the white-based slavery perspective currently being taught in American institutions of learning. This aspect is demonstrated by Dana’s previous awareness of knowledge and her consequent slavery experiences. It illustrates to what levels the victors are responsible for writing history and the individuals responsible for deciding the facts that need to be removed. Dana personally acknowledges that her understanding of the world did not prepare her adequately as compared to what she was witnessing in the nineteenth century. References Butler, O. E., & Rowell, C. H. (1997). An Interview with Octavia E. Butler. Callaloo, 20(1), 47-66. Donaldson, E. (2014). A contested freedom: The fragile future of Octavia Butler's Kindred. English Academy Review, 31(2), 94-107. Steinberg, M. (2004). Inverting history in Octavia Butler's postmodern slave narrative. African American Review, 467-476. Yaszek, L. (2003). “A Grim Fantasy”: Remaking American History in Octavia Butler’s Kindred. Signs: Journal Of Women In Culture And Society, 28(4), 1053-1066. Read More