Alina's Blog

       Octavia  Butler's novel Kindred deftly examines how a person's environment shapes them through the experiences of a number of characters, including Rufus, Kevin, and protagonist Dana. In the book, Dana's first-hand account of being abruptly and frequently propelled back in time to the early 19th century - where she is forced to face the brutal reality of slavery-is explored. Repeatedly, she is transported back to the plantation where her ancestors were held as slaves. Dana must make her way through this harsh environment while trying to keep herself alive by protecting Rufus, her white ancestor.     Dana is forced to survive in an environment that is cruel and unfair, which harms her identity. She must navigate through a world where her own survival is in jeopardy. As Butler notes in an interview, "Antebellum slavery didn't leave people quite whole." The institution of slavery, which has its roots in systemic racism, leaves people like Dan...

       Mumbo Jumbo by Ishmael Reed presents an alternative viewpoint on Western society. The story centers on Jes Grew, a mysterious and infectious cultural "plague" that is sweeping through America and upending long-held Western customs and traditions. Reed illustrates the strict conventions of Western civilization though Jes Grew's spread while using humor and fictitious aspects to support his claims.      When reading the novel, one can understand Jes Grew's significance as an embodiment of African and African American culture. In Mumbo Jumbo , African and African American culture upset the norms of Western civilization, and Reed employs Jes Grew to illustrate this point.      Through humor and his non-linear writing style, Reed defies established rules of historical fiction while incorporating mythology, fiction, and history into his works. Additionally, the work has instances where Reed interjects his own views and narratives, while...

Ragtime takes place near the beginning of the Progressive Era, causing change to be a big part of the novel. Some characters accept change like Mother, while others like Father refuse to accept it. The premise of this book is social change in which characters have to adapt to a changing world in 19th century America . Racial barriers, gender roles, and immigration are some of the major themes that change through the course of the book, and how each character welcomes it varies.  Mother is ready to accept the change in the world. Before Father’s absence from the household, she was accepting of gender roles and “being in her place”. When Father leaves for his trip to the Arctic, she is required to modify her life in order to complete Father’s responsibilities and her own at home. Mother feels incompetent to complete Father’s duties. “It was an historic moment for the business and neither Father nor Younger Brother was on hand. She fled to the garden for solace” (Doctorow, 67). Witho...