How Society Influences Individuals in Kindred
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...