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Kindred

164). This mentality was typical among the antebellum characters, both black and white, which supported the side of the argument that Kindred does indeed have "feminist didactic" approach because Dana's literacy was viewed negatively. Her ability to read placed tension on her relationships with the antebellum characters. Their thoughts were that she was dangerous or rebelling because she was not willing to accept her destiny as a slave. Among both blacks and whites she was definitely a feminist. She could not do "normal" slave things such as cooking or sewing. She was not accustomed to serving anyone but herself and because she was mentally strong and knew how to do "white" things, this title was placed upon her. Contrastingly, a reader of the twenty first century would think nothing of Dana's literacy. It is normal for a black woman to be educated and literacy is not looked upon as a rebellion against society. In this respect Kindred cannot be viewed as a "feminist didactic". .
             Another point that makes the novel debatable is the fact that Dana is married to a white man, which during modern times is acceptable but throughout her "missions" is hazardous for both of them. It is dangerous for Kevin because he has established a relationship with a slave. The idea of an interracial relationship can categorize the novel as a "feminist didactic" piece because many women were intrigued by the idea of interracial marriages. They committed to claiming their rightful power in society and felt that the only way that could be achieved was through the white population. In the nineteenth century slave masters forced this union of the races. Carrie exhibited the result of these unions. She was treated differently than the other slaves due to her coloring. Dreams of wealth and pretty babies with light skin and good hair were among the incentives. In this way Dana was a feminist because the slaves thought that Dana was using Kevin as a crutch to help her move up in life.


Essays Related to Kindred

1. Human Rights "Kindred"

... Today, freedom and equality are two virtues that Americans overlook and take for granted. However, examples from the past point out that Americans were not always this fortunate. Octavia Butler's "Kindred" takes us on a time-traveling journey through the antebellum south. In order to save her ancestry, a black woman named Dana is sent back into time repeatedly to save her great ... to profound depression and occasionally to self destruction"(Joyner, 175). Butler does an excellent job of recreating the life of slavery in the pre-Civil War era. Not only did Kindred illustrate the lack of ...

  • Word Count: 1258
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Has Bibliography
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2. Kindred

Response to Kindred Dana Franklin, living in 1976 Los Angeles, unexpectedly gets whisked through time back into the nineteenth century. As soon as she realizes what has happened, she notices a young boy, face ... ...

  • Word Count: 576
  • Approx Pages: 2
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3. Kindred Secondary Characters

Most works of literature have main characters, and many have secondary characters as well. The secondary characters in the novel Kindred play a very important role and have a big impact on the main characters. Some of the secondary characters that played a key part in this novel were Kevin, Mr. Weylin, and Sarah. ... ...

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4. Kindred - Violence, a Learned Behavior

... to perfect each recipe. Everything in life takes time to learn and do well including things frowned upon by the general population such as beatings and killings. In the book Kindred by Octavia Butler, Rufus and others who have violent personalities by the end of the novel were not naturally so. Violence is a learned behavior, first observed, then enforced by others ... ...

  • Word Count: 854
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5. Everyman

... a return, he changes his mind and does not want to go with Everyman. After that Everyman remembers Kindred. He considers Kindred as a stronger tie than friendship because it is a tie of blood. He thinks that Kindred helps him anyway but unfortunately he is wrong again. When Kindred learns that Everyman must account for his good and bad deeds, he refuses to accompany him. Everyman ... , there are several themes such as the role of spiritual life in the lives of earthly men, correction of moral, the inevitability of death and also men's relationship with family, kindred, material possessio...

  • Word Count: 1134
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6. Perceptions of Death in Everyman

... life. Everyman tries all attempts to postpone the journey pleading for more time and even trying to bribe Death. Unfortunately, he cannot delay the trip. The characters such as Fellowship, Kindred and Cousin and Goods refuse to accompany him (Everyman, 2010). Good Deeds is too weak to accompany Everyman but offers him solace as he introduces him to Knowledge. Knowledge later ... experience of the medieval people. Through depicting death as a servant of God, he makes the readers gain a deeper understanding of the Christian faith. All the acquaintances of Everyman including Fellowship, Ki...

  • Word Count: 1849
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7. Research Project - Snowboards

... a research and developing project. For the project I am looking up how to make a snowboard and then putting one together with the data I find off the Internet and reliable sources like Kindred snowboards and Burton snowboards. The reason I have chosen this idea is due to I wanted to buy a custom made one. But then my English teacher, Mrs.Henning, gave me a idea of ... test it out. After the season is over around February I then plan to analyze the data and put it into written words. I plan on getting my information from emails from kindred snowboards located in Vancouver Canada and from...

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8. Slaves in the South

... the United States, American Slavery consisted of African Americans who were brought into America for property and violently forced to work in large or small plantations. In her novel "Kindred", Octavia E Butler, writes about a modern black woman who's snatched unexpectedly from her home in 1979 Pasadena, California and transported back in time to the Antebellum South. Dana, the modern ... are considered property because they were black and labeled as subhuman. To enforce the status of blacks being property, white owners would use inhumane violence as a form of punishment. In Kindred, Da...

  • Word Count: 1077
  • Approx Pages: 4
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9. Culture

... exchange of goods on the spot, but more often A gives something to B who gives A a gift at a later date. All this takes place in the network of rights and obligations among kindred; one has both an obligation to give and a right to receive on certain occasions and in certain contexts. The whole process is one of mutual aid and cooperation. The consequence ... the rights and obligations of kinship qualified possession and right. One had an obligation both to give and to receive within the body of kindred, according to specific rules. In a sense, things belonged to the body of kindred; ri...

  • Word Count: 4734
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