Essay: Kindred by Octavia Butler

The central character in the novel Kindred by Octavia Butler is Dana, an African American woman who lives in Los Angeles, California. Throughout the novel, Dana travels through time multiple times to pre-Civil War Maryland. Readers first witness Dana being transported when she is assisting a young boy in a river bank in Los Angeles. In the instance Dana is met with the re-memory of her ancestors. As she is transported back to the South, she arrives every time to save the life of a younger white boy who is named Rufus Weylin. Rufus’s survival becomes imperative because in some way it becomes the very reason why Dana’s survival also comes into account. Throughout the novel Dana realizes the cultural difference in the time in which she lives and that of her ancestors.

 

As stated previously, before Dana travels to the past she lives in Los Angeles in 1976. Dana is married to a white man named Kevin. Shockingly, in the 1970s interracial relationships were not punishable as they were in the 19th century. The time travel then defines and provides a meaningful explanation to the way Rufus and Dana interact with each other throughout the novel. Within the encounters that Dana has with Rufus she learns the correct way of communicating with Rufus in this time period so that it is not perceived as disrespect.

Consequentially, on Dana’s third return back to the 1800s, she brings her husband Kevin with her. Due to the time period, Kevin and Dana have to come up with a cover story about their relations. Kevin and Dana could no longer be spouses in this time period, but Dana could claim Kevin as her slave owner. Due to her relationship with Kevin, slaves become weary of Dan, and lose trust for her. Also, during this time, Dana returns back to Los Angeles, however, Kevin is mistakenly left behind. IN this section of the novel, the cultural difference is very apparent and ironic, being that Kevin transforms from husband to slave owner. The new founded relationship sets forth a whole new analysis.

Dana returns back to Los Angeles and it takes her eight days to return back to the past in Maryland. However, the amount of time that Dana is experiencing is much shorter than the time Kevin experiences. Back in Maryland 5 years passes by instead of the 8 days. Now Dana is faced with the concept that Kevin may not be the same Kevin that she first set out with, since 5 years have passed.

When Dana returns she finds out hat Rufus has been severely beaten by a slave named Issac. Rufus has been accused of raping Isaac’s wife. Conversely, Rufus denies the accusations of such. Moreover, Rufus claims that if Alice loved him he would not have had to rape her. Another cultural difference is brought out in the text, in regards to time periods and race relations. After this situation, Dana finds out the Kevin, had ventured to the North.

Alice and Isaac make the decision to escape because of the fight that occurred and the two hope to evade the possible consequences of the event. Unfortunately, the pair are caught and are beaten, and Issac is mutilated. Rufus buys Alice because she is being sold at the slave market due to her attempt to escape. Rufus brings Alice back and has Dana care for her. Dana continues to care for Alice but Alice has no interest in loving or being with Rufus. Alice’s feelings toward Rufus angers him because he saved her and had Dana look after her, so he believes that she should love him. Again, another cultural difference, especially in regard to the time period, how Rufus is expectant of Alice to give unrelenting love\, but he has previously raped her.

Throughout the novel, the audience witness the re-memory of tragedy, and the reliving of those events. The novel highlights the difference in regards to the time period. The author bring forth two characters who difference lie within their skin color. This text highlights the troubles of being involved with someone who is involved with another person who has that skin difference and the repercussions of such interaction.