Reality In Kindred By Octavia E. Butler

The nature of reality, at often, shapes the very being of people around the world, both in the past and the present. The nature of reality exists, as often opposed to an idealistic, notional or perceptional idea. Perception, or a way of regarding, understanding or interpreting something, is in complete contrast with physically living through that such thing. Just because one may be aware, or understands a certain situation as it may pertain to the either themselves or others around them, does not allow them the opportunity to name the situation as a reality. In the novel, Kindred, by Octavia E. Butler, one can see how the author believes that one’s environment and, or training will shape their self-image and, thus, their feelings toward their

Butler causes Dana to be the first-person narrator of the novel. By doing this, the reader understands, sympathizes and empathizes with the dilemmas of both Dana and the slaves, during that era. The constant whippings and brutalities are enhanced by Butler allowing Dana to tell of what happens Throughout the novel, Dana often tries to harmonize that of which she lives through, during the slavery period, with that of which she’s researched through books, school, and the media. Her research, prior to going to the slavery period, clouds her judgment and the perceptual reality that her ancestors had once encountered. Living through what her ancestors lived through, Dana finds herself in a difficult position of having to live Rufus’ reality, while still trying to uphold her own reality. As her time in the past increases, Dana almost falls under the influence of losing her own reality. The reality of Rufus and that of her ancestors begins to take hostage of her beliefs. Her ancestors had the reality of living inferior, with no hope, towards their white masters. Dana realizes that through her steadily acts of training and shaping, she cannot change Rufus and his ways of treating others. By him being brought up to upkeep his position as master, all while harboring racists attitudes and behaviors towards his slaves, Dana

Butler comments on the fact of one’s environment shaping the entire being of any individual. Her comment on the theme shows her great concern regarding the development, and or acceptance, of racism. Racism, prejudice, discrimination or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior, has been prevalent throughout the world. Racism is especially a problem towards the African American community, ever since the slavery period. Many deep-rooted tendencies that are predominant today are because of the personalities, ideologies, and ways of living of environments of our ancestors during the enslaving period. Although one may be brought up in one environment, another must be willing and understanding to the fact of the others' reality. Although Dana didn’t agree with the reality of Rufus, she understood him because of the period in which he lived. His reality even began to become her reality. She continuously tries to change Rufus’ reality, but because of the environment that he spends much of his time in looks inferiorly to blacks, Rufus becomes a product of his surroundings. With the constant urges to change by Dana, Rufus exemplifies how one cannot change reality simply because of a single individual. The saying it takes a village to raise a child holds true to this novel. Rufus’ village, white slave owners, raised Rufus to be the racists, slaveholder that he became.