In DP l&L we are beginning a new unit with a read of the book, Kindred by Octavia E. Butler. After reading the prologue and “The River”, the first chapter of the book, my first impressions are that it seems very trippy where the timeline keeps jumping back and forth. Though it is very intriguing because of its suspense in the story and the intense scenes. In the beginning, when Dana had saved Rufus’ life, it was very intense and there was also the fear of the mother of Rufus attacking or misunderstand Dana. Because with the context of the historical period of this book, it seems like she can be framed for something she didn’t do very easily.
After reading the foreword, everything was put together. She had been travelling back and forth through time to different events and from different timelines. That’s why the connection was so far-fetched, from losing an arm to fainting in her new house on her birthday. This story seems like a movie that has been made, it is interesting that the story had begun with its endings.
Also, after listening to the intriguing interview with Octavia Butler, the author of Kindred, it was interesting how much work went on behind the scenes of this book. Not just the writing, because all books take that much effort and work. But she travels to Maryland to study geography and how a working slave plantation can work. She focuses on details like where would the slaves back then escape to, would it be the forest or somewhere else. I think it’s details like this that makes the book so surreal to read, this is one of the books that feel like a movie when reading it.
“The Fire” was nerve-wracking to read, knowing that Dana may get stuck in a place that is in history and that place is also dangerous for her to be in. It seems that the time-travelling happens every time Rufus is about to make trouble or hurt himself, she’s almost his saviour.
“The Fall” took a twist as Dana had travelled back in time with Kevin. Though, they react to certain situations differently. As soon as they travelled back to history, their social statuses have changed drastically, they experienced a culture shock. Their race has become the determining factor, Dana is in danger of being taken for slavery, while Kevin can be seen as just a man from out of town. They witnessed a group of slave children acting out the scene of a slave auction, Kevin was in a position that he knew he couldn’t relate and thought that the kids were playing a game, so he didn’t think too much. However, Dana thought the opposite, despite Kevin explaining that she should know these things with slavery has already happened and cannot be changed, Dana still feels anger and resentment in the situation.
Language and behaviour are normalized through example.
For this formative discussion, we discussed how language and behaviour can be normalized through example. Every child grows up to learn from what they see. Especially when they’re young, they see what their parents do and hear what their parents say. As they grow up, they get nurtured to become a combination of what they’ve learned. Just like in Kindred when Rufus talks to the mother in a very impolite way. And when he was asked if he “talks to her that way often?”, he said he “had to”. (Butler 111) He learned this through the examples of his father and he has grown up to think that it is the only way to interact with others at times.
Another example is when Rufus uses racial slurs to address Dana. He thinks it is normal because of his parents and the time period that they live in. It isn’t to say that he was wrong and not justified using it during that time. But it was shown in a great contrast as Dana has travelled back to that time period from the modern era. “Your mother always call black people *, Rufe?… Sure, except when she has company, why not?”. (Butler 19)
Furthermore, situations of behaviour being normalized through example are very commonly seen in the world today as well. Events like bullying and other types of behaviour can be learned and reinforced throughout one’s lifetime. A group of slave children acted out the scene of a slave auction. “Come here, gal. Let the folks see you… She’s worth plenty of money. Two hundred dollars. Who bid two hundred dollars…You shut your mouth…”(Butler 105) The slave children were acting out a scene that was initially against themselves and their own race. However, it has transformed to be what they think authority is like as well. This is a huge issue because of how it can continue down the road, also it makes it much easier for them to accept slavery. And this relates to the modern world because as this article states, “bullies are not born, they’re raised”.