Octavia Butler Bloodchild Sparknotes

In both the 1995 “Bloodchild” by Octavia Butler and the 2015 “Binti” by Nnedi Okorafor short stories we explore moments of estrangement and tension that arise from human encounters with an extreme ‘otherness’, otherwise presented as aliens. The human characters in these narratives respond to these complex encounters with various emotions contradicting each other. A central theme to these encounters involves the humans sacrificing something intrinsic to themselves to coexist with the aliens. These stories force the reader to reflect on the nature of these sacrifices, the mutual dependencies, and the significance of these relationships in these stories. Firstly, in “Bloodchild”, the relationship between the humans (Terrans) and the alien Tlic

The discovery of the gruesome reality of this process and the symbiotic relationship are shared among the readers and Gan, the protagonist. This experience forces him to confront his mortality and the invasive nature of the Tlic reproductive process. Despite the horrors experienced, it is clear that there is a mutual dependence between the Tlic and humans, whether it is for reproduction or protection and companionship. This mutual dependency blurs the lines between exploitation and symbiosis. Overall, the lives between the humans and Tlics are interconnected, which forces the humans to reconcile with the alien otherness of the Tlic. On the other hand, “Binti” presents a different but equally complex relationship between humans and aliens. The story is set where Binti leaves her home planet (Earth) to attend a prestigious university but encounters the Meduse, an alien species with whom humans have a history of violent conflict. This encounter is terrifying and violent, but also transformative. Initially, Binti is filled with fear, disgust, and hatred toward the Meduse because they attacked the