Analysis of Octavia Butler's "Kindred"
Analysis of Octavia Butler's "Kindred"
In Octavia Butler's Kindred, Dana unfortunately discovers the significant similarities between her trusted husband, Kevin, and her corrupted ancestor, Rufus. Both Rufus and Kevin have the privilege of being white males, which is to their advantage in slave times. Also, both Kevin and Rufus appear to share a bond with Dana. Both men care for her and want the best for her.
Both Rufus and Kevin were white males. This worked to their advantage because white males have the most power in slavery times. This also helps Dana because Kevin acts as her master and she is safe. The downfall of this was that, in acting as her master, Kevin is sometimes forced to treat Dana in ways he would not normally treat her so that the arrangement will be believable. A second negetive thing about Dana's and Kevin's races was that it was illegal for them to be married in the slavery times. They usually have to hide this from most of the whites.
Although Rufus and Kevin both loved Dana, they expressed their love in quite opposite ways. "…." Explains rufus's love for Dana after Alice's death. Despite this quote, Rufus's actions do not represent, so to say, actual love. He expresses his "love" by attempting to satisfy his urges by force. In other words, he rapes his objects of affection without guilt. On the other hand, Kevin, Dana's husband, would never attempt to force Dana into anything of this sort. This is shown in the quote,"…" when Dana offers, but Kevin refuses because he is scared Dana will be hurt more than she already is. Because of the times and how he was brought up, Rufus always considers Dana to be lower class than himself. Despite the times, Kevin always considers Dana an equal to himself.
Nearing the novel's closing, both Rufus and Kevin appear to be "at home" in slavery times. Both men speak with strong southern accents evident of the times. Rufus, and even Kevin, has become accustomed to seeing the indigence of slavery on a day to day bases. The difference between these two men was that Kevin uses his position of being both white and male to try to better the times. Rufus, on the other hand, has no problem with the times and does nothing to help.
Despite the connections between...