Kindred Time_Warping
Throughout Kindred by Octavia Butler, a common mechanic used in this novel is time travel. This largely is used to fit the purpose of driving the plot along, giving Butler her own voice in the flow of the novel. However, it also fits to better situate the reader among the deeper mannerisms of the book. Personally, I found most impressive the differences (and SIMILARITIES) that Butler attempted to draw between the slavery of old and the more modern 1970s life. Butler was able to compare a wide range of societal subjects by using this time travel, and, because of the way it was implemented, she was able to drive the plot in an immersive way that did not seem beyond out of place for a 21st century reader.
Butler was able to sufficiently implicate her beliefs that society has not fully reformed itself from the time of slavery, likely hinting that she believes that our modern society is not the utopia it is oft made out to be. Power dynamics, sexism, and racism are all themes that she implies have not fully changed as much as we wish they could have. If the novel were to be set entirely from the perspective of a slave born into the life, Dana's story would have still carried emotional weight, but not the enormous burden the reader is able to experience. By framing Dana as a modern character, it dares the reader to picture themselves as Dana, questioning how they themselves would react to such an event in their life. Butler wants the reader to ask these questions, because it is the only way the audience's minds may drift to comparison.
But what is it that Butler wants us to compare? The primary topic of the novel is the systemic power imbalance brought about in our society, and Butler prompts the reader to question whether or not this abuse carries on to the day. She almost certainly seems to believe so. Dana, who turns into a slave when she goes back in history, is herself directly compared to a modern slave, referred to as working in a slave market (Butler 53). In this market, you were entirely at the mercy of those with any shred of authority, as they determined whether or not you went home at the end of the day with a half-full stomach or an empty stomach.
Kevin and Rufus' direct comparison was quite interesting to me. The way that Dana was able to escape this 'slave market' was by getting the help of an older white man with money (Butler 54). When Dana is sent back in time, she is able to escape the full brunt of slavery by befriending Rufus (Butler 87). In both cases, a black woman is saved from the totality of harshness other poor black people were exposed to on a daily basis by gaining the favorable viewing of a white man.
Butler wants the reader to think of these comparisons, and the framing of the chapter helps the reader to do so. Each chapter is structured so that Dana starts in modernity, returns to the past, but inevitably comes back home. The reader can now view these 'different' societies side-by-side, driving their brain to work as intended. I think Butler masterfully does this so that you subliminally question our modern society without being bluntly told to.
I hope you enjoyed reading this!
Collins
I agree with how Kindred uses time travel powerfully to show the legacy of racism. In particular, I like your observation on how Butler drives the plot with science fiction in a way to connect better with a 21st century reader. I think its a key point because it shows how science fiction can also help us understand historical fiction in a more immersive way. I also think that the observation of working at a slave market in modern day is important, showing how everything in the modern day is not perfect and all is well. Good post.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post. I think the structure of the chapters (present day -> 1800s -> present day) also serves to parallel how the reader is experiencing the book. Dana represents the reader in Kindred in a lot of ways, but in this case Dana travels back to the past the same way the reader might immerse themself in a history textbook. The difference is, Dana is able to pull out the human reactions in the reader in a way a textbook cannot.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I didn't think much about the the section of the book where Dana met Kevin and was working a normal job. I kind of just thought of it as framing for the rest of the novel that was just establishing the present. Looking at again though, I can definitely see the parallels between the past and present that Butler sets up.
ReplyDeleteI agree with a lot of what you're saying- there are many very obvious parallels. I think the one that stuck out to me the most was when Dana was fighting off the white patrolman, got transported back to the present, and mistook Kevin for the guy she was fighting off. Kindred does make us question the foundation of the reality we live in, and the parallels that Butler draws align very closely with the core values of the 1619 project. Great post!
ReplyDeleteSalutations, Collins. I think you make a good point in saying that modern society is not this racism and sexism-free model. Oppressive systems have had a long-term impact on how we currently live, and Butler alludes to this fact with the modern-day slave market analogy and the sexism Dana receives in present day. I think Kindred serves a role to make people not detach themselves from the past, and realize the origin of many of America's flaws. This way, we can sort of fight back against modern-day ignorance.
ReplyDeleteThe use of time travel is definitely one of the things that makes Kindred the great read that it is. Ultimately, we can attribute Butler's inclusion of time travel into her story to many different reasons but the point you make about sending a message is a very valuable one. Butler is in a way making us realize that the world as we know it today isn't as good as it could be and there is still lots of work to be done.
ReplyDeleteWow, that is a striking parallel between the two time-frames in this novel that I haven't specifically considered before--the way that Dana depends on Kevin and his increased economic stability to "escape" the "slave market" (even if his motive is to enable her to pursue her writing and not have to waste her life doing this mindless labor, she still resents the implication of her dependency, and she *especially* resents it when he jokes that she can works as his secretary) is mirrored to some extent in her dependence on Rufus to enable her to endure a somewhat less extreme version of slavery. This connection is made explicit when Rufus employs Dana as his secretary, writing letters to creditors on his behalf, while also enabling her to do "her own" writing when he gives her paper. Like the moments where Kevin's face flickers with that of the patroller or with Rufus himself, this is a pretty troubling parallel to contemplate.
ReplyDeleteI really like your idea that Butler uses this juxtaposition not just to show the problems of the 19th century, but also to show the problems of the 20th century... I definitely agree that we can't imagine our present as any rosy world that has completely moved on from the past. Certainly, this point is driven even further by virtue of Rufus' time being only a few generations beyond Dana's.
ReplyDeleteI never drew the connection between Kevin, Dana, and Rufus. I didn't even consider that butler was commentating on 1976 through her depiction of the 1800s I more so though Butler was using the 1976 perspective to provide the reader with a deeper and more intimate understanding of slavery. But now that you've made that connection I completely see it especially between Kevin and Rufus and how they act as saviors to Dana throughout the novel. Even in the 1800s Kevin protects Dana from the harsh conditions of the time. But although Rufus protects Dana to some degree I think that their relationship was profoundly toxic. Due to Rufus's protection Dana often turned a blind eye or forgave him when he abused his power. If Kevin and Rufus were meant to mirror each other I think Kevin having some of Rufus's more toxic tendencies (but mellowed) would truly create a genuine connection between the 1820s and 1976. Great Post!
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