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Symbolism In Octavia Butler's 'Kindred'

882 Words4 Pages

Prabesh Acharya
Mr.Cowell
IB English
18 May 2023
Analysis on Symbolism

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler is a novel which takes the reader through 2 different time periods while following the perspective of Dana, an African- American woman who is forced into traveling back and forth from 1979 Los Angeles, California to Antebellum Maryland. She is forced to travel accordingly to the dangers which Rufus, her ancestor faces. The complexities of racial identity are displayed as she is forced to navigate the horrors of Slavery day to day inorder to ensure her existence in the present. Octavia E. Butler's use of literary devices such as Symbolism, Foreshadowing and Irony among others help to portray a sense of suspense, anticipation, and bottomless …show more content…

The Whip which symbolizes Oppression, Control, Pain and Resistance etc. A quote that highlights such things is “His Face, His body was crisscrossed with long welts, some scabbed over, some still bleeding. There were old scars there too, many of them, some of the wounds as long as my hand.” (chapter 3) This quote describes the physical condition of Rufus after his fight with Issac. Phrases such as “ scabbed over”, “crisscrossed with long welts” indicate the use of the Whip, it signifies the physical toll of slavery on both the owners and the individual not just through the novel but throughout history. The scars on his back serve as a reminder for the violence and dehumanization during this time. It provokes empathy through the physical pain caused by the scars as well as the mental trauma it causes to the individual. Another example of this is “I knew what was in that shed. I’d already seen the whip on the wall, seen its size and shape, had had my back laid open by it. I remembered the feel of it- thick, hard and as cold as the wall it hung on” (Chapter 5) This quote shows the scars left behind by the Whip it can be seen through the phrase “ I knew what was in the shed” implying that Dana is aware of the Whip, she knows the purpose of it. It is used as a method of dehumanization, punishment and a method to establish control of the slaves throughout history as well …show more content…

The time period in which Dana and later Kevin travel back to is around 1815 Maryland before the civil war and a time where Slavery was still prevalent in the south. “The worst of my shock wore off and I realized where I was; I had returned to the past, and I was a slave.” (Chapter 3) This quote highlights the symbolic nature in which Time Travel is portrayed as Dana travels back to a time where Slavery is prevalent, it represents the past as well as the present by connecting them through time travel and highlighting the traumatic events in the era. The quote highlights the symbolism of slavery and its legacy, it also highlights the injustice, racial inequality and racism that was persistent throughout society. The realization hits Dana as she is an African American in this time period and she instantly realizes the power dynamic of the society and lack of

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