After finishing Octavia Butler's novel Kindred and discussing various scholars take on the book through different articles in the panel presentations, there is one quote that stuck out to me the most. During one of the presentations, a group quoted Butler reflecting on her own work, stating something along the lines of, "I would like to kill all the white people that contributed to our oppression, but I would have to start with my own relatives." I think this point really gets to the heart of the novel through all of the complex relationships, such as Dana's constant struggle between trying to make Rufus a better person vs. insuring the future of her family lineage through rape. Butler's point especially highlights why Americans are so uncomfortable talking about slavery, that whether you agree it was right or not, it directly effects most all American's history.
In the panel presentation, the speakers also brought up an interesting point on how today it is popular to view all people through a "colorblind" lens. That is that slavery doesn't exist anymore, therefore all people are treated as equals regardless of their skin color. While times have definitely changed regarding racial equality since the time of the Antebellum South, racism is still a very prominent issue in our modern day society. Not only among blacks vs. whites, but from prejudices and stereotypes involving numerous other races as well. In addition, viewing all people through a colorblind lens would deny people the right to racial pride within a given culture. One aspect of Kindred I would have liked to learn more about, is Dana's experience with the unique aspects of African- American culture of the time. I think adding this would have made Dana's ties to the slave community stronger, as well as more realistic for the reader.
One thing I really learned by reflecting on this novel, is that although there can be a hazard in looking back in time, there is so much forgotten history to be shared. One reason I think Butler had Dana return back to the plantation in the 20th century time in the very end of the novel, is to show how much of a hidden history there can be in the most unlikely of places. This point is solidified by Dana loosing her arm, symbolizing her literally and figuratively leaving a piece of herself behind, lost forever in the forgotten history.
I agree with you, especially on your last point about the hazards of looking back into history. Not only do we suffer the possibility of "leaving a piece of ourselves behind" as Dana does. But we could also fall into the trap that Kevin does, where we begin to subconsciously become influenced by the ideas of the past and can be disoriented. I really liked how Kindred put us right in the thick of the conflict at a very "ground level" kind of setting, especially since that's not usually the depiction of historical events that we get.
ReplyDeleteYes that quote stuck out to me as well, and Butler apparently claims that it was part of her inspiration in writing "Kindred." (the quote is "I’d like to kill all these old people who have been holding us back for so long. But I can’t because I’d have to start with my own parents." from “A Grim Fantasy”: Remaking American History in Octavia Butler’s "Kindred").
ReplyDeleteRegarding your last point, sometimes it may not be forgotten history as in a passive accidental sense, but rather facts that have been concealed (but are later released to the public). Like what you said, I think Butler emphasizes how it's important to understand what the individuals at that time in history were going through to make sense of their decisions.
I definitely agree with your point that we still have to treat racial prejudice as a major issue, and acknowledge that sometimes a person's life maybe harder solely because of their race. I think Butler challenges those who say that since slavery is over, we should treat everyone as equals who have equal opportunity, by showing the connection between Dana's past and her present, and showing how intertwined the world of slavery and the modern world are.
ReplyDeleteThat final scene, in the epilogue, where Dana and Kevin find the location of the Weylin plantation and there's no trace, always strikes me as profound--and somehow more profound than if they'd found the house itself (or a new house standing on the old property), or some visible relic of the past.
ReplyDeleteThere are very few monuments to slavery on the American landscape, reflecting our nation's desire to simply forget about this period as much as possible. So it's appropriate that there's no *visible* trace of these lives Dana has inhabited and interacted with left in the 20th century. But as you say, her missing arm reminds readers that the bucolic cornfield that stands in the place of the Weylin plantation is, symbolically, an illusion, covering over some bloodstained, bone-ridden ground. Just because the legacy of violence and oppression isn't visible (immediately) doesn't mean it isn't real, or that the wound isn't still "open" in the 20th (and 21st) century.