Kindred, so far, has been an easy read. The unpredictable plot, complex characters, and untraditional approach to juxtaposing racial encounters (between the antebellum south and the late 1960s) captivate the reader, and simultaneously bring the issues of racism and slavery to the reader’s attention. The concept of time travel plays a major role in both the plot and the book’s overall effect on the reader. I find it interesting that even though days, weeks, months, and (in Kevin’s case) years go by during their journeys into the past, they find that once they return home, it has merely been from several seconds to a few minutes. I would have never guessed that Dana would be able to bring something (or someone) along with her during her transitions between the two time periods. I was even more surprised by the fact that she left Kevin behind while traveling back home. As a result, when they were finally together again, he had aged nearly five years.
Octavia Butler has done a great job making the reader feel as though they are a part of the story. I understood Dana’s anger towards Rufus for lying to her, making Alice a slave, and acting irrationally for selfish reasons; but I also empathized with Rufus when he saw she was just going to leave without a word. As a result, he felt the need to use violence in order to ensure that things went his way. I am also intrigued by the complexity of the characters, namely Rufus and his father. Initially, I thought I would like Rufus, but, throughout the book, I have felt both anger and an admiration (and unconditional love) towards him. Contrastingly, I was initially repulsed by Rufus’s father; the fact that he honored his word to any man (or woman in this case; black or white) was a surprising character trait to give a slave owner.
I had no idea that Dana’s journeys into the past would lengthen and become more dangerous, to the point that she has no idea whether she will return home or not. Not only does Dana’s life become more dangerous, but Rufus is getting into more trouble and danger. Although he does summon Dana to help him whenever he is in trouble, it reaches a point where Dana isn’t sure she can help him anymore (which could end his life, and consequently, her own life).
Both Kevin and Dana has adapted very well to the time period, which is, in a sense, both good and bad. They seem to be able to accept the way things are which could cause trouble for them when they return home. I am wondering if Kevin was able to return home with Dana right before the gun was fired…
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2 comments:
Alexa,
I was wondering why you thought Butler had Rufus change over time. Do you like him more or less as the novel progresses? I think you're right. She could have made him relatively static and chose not to. So I was just curious about how you understood the changes in his character.
I believe that Rufus was a product of his environment. I also believe that Dana played a significant role in his development as such a complex character. If Dana had not become a part of Rufus's life, I do not believe I would be torn between my hatred and admiration towards him as a reader. Ultimately, I believe that his environment began to impact his decisions and life more than Dana (more than likely due to the amount of time his spent in/with each). Towards the end of the novel, I felt more hatred towards Rufus than admiration, along with pity and sympathy.
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