Kindred” written by Octavia Butler, is a science- fiction novel that depicts the life of a newly married African- American women named Dana living in the 1980’s who abruptly develops the ability to travel back to the times of slavery which dates back to 1816. Later in the novel, it is revealed to readers that Dana is being drawn back into time to save her bloodline which is repetitively being put in danger. Thus, if she does not complete the task at hand she and her ancestors will never be known to man or ever have ever existed. However, due to the color of her skin, Dana encounters many challenges and situations where she is put to the test and unfortunately puts her life danger a number of times. Yet, there is a small catch to the story which
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More specifically, the heavy use of the word “nigger” and other discriminatory terms. Some examples of this would be, “For a moment, I forgot about the whip and the niggers.” (Butler 27), “Then you could come out and ask Daddy if you could work here. He hires free niggers sometimes.” (Butler 32), and “You got no manners, nigger, I will teach you some!” (Butler 42). Apparently, throughout the novel, the term is used quite frequently especially when white characters are addressing black characters in the slave societies. An example of this would be, “Mama said she tried to stop you when she saw you doing that to me because you were just some nigger she had never seen before.”(Butler, 24). In this particular quote, the character named Rufus is telling the main character, Dana, very nonchalantly how his mother described …show more content…
Basically, one is more susceptible to let something happen if one does not know what is happening is wrong or not normal however if one knows something is wrong or not normal they will be more likely to counteract. Subsequently, even though Dana knew that all the racial slurs, beatings, rapes, abuse that she occurred was wrong she had to put up with it because it was normal in the time period she was in. For instance, “Then I looked away, remembering that I was supposed to be a slave. Slaves lowered their eyes respectfully. To stare back was insolent. Or at least, that was what my books said.” (Butler 89).Thus, Dana is doing what she thinks she is supposed to do because she has read about it in books. Additionally, there are also situations where Dana cannot understand why things work the way they do. Such as, ““And you don’t call me ‘Master’ either.” I surprised myself by laughing. “Master? “You’re supposed to.” He was very serious. “You want me to call you black.” His seriousness stopped my laughter. What was funny, anyway? He was probably right. No doubt I was supposed to give him some title of respect. But “Master”? “You have to say it,” he insisted. “Or ‘Young Master’ or … or ‘Mister’ like Alice
More specifically, the heavy use of the word “nigger” and other discriminatory terms. Some examples of this would be, “For a moment, I forgot about the whip and the niggers.” (Butler 27), “Then you could come out and ask Daddy if you could work here. He hires free niggers sometimes.” (Butler 32), and “You got no manners, nigger, I will teach you some!” (Butler 42). Apparently, throughout the novel, the term is used quite frequently especially when white characters are addressing black characters in the slave societies. An example of this would be, “Mama said she tried to stop you when she saw you doing that to me because you were just some nigger she had never seen before.”(Butler, 24). In this particular quote, the character named Rufus is telling the main character, Dana, very nonchalantly how his mother described …show more content…
Basically, one is more susceptible to let something happen if one does not know what is happening is wrong or not normal however if one knows something is wrong or not normal they will be more likely to counteract. Subsequently, even though Dana knew that all the racial slurs, beatings, rapes, abuse that she occurred was wrong she had to put up with it because it was normal in the time period she was in. For instance, “Then I looked away, remembering that I was supposed to be a slave. Slaves lowered their eyes respectfully. To stare back was insolent. Or at least, that was what my books said.” (Butler 89).Thus, Dana is doing what she thinks she is supposed to do because she has read about it in books. Additionally, there are also situations where Dana cannot understand why things work the way they do. Such as, ““And you don’t call me ‘Master’ either.” I surprised myself by laughing. “Master? “You’re supposed to.” He was very serious. “You want me to call you black.” His seriousness stopped my laughter. What was funny, anyway? He was probably right. No doubt I was supposed to give him some title of respect. But “Master”? “You have to say it,” he insisted. “Or ‘Young Master’ or … or ‘Mister’ like Alice