The first thought that came to my mind as I was reading Parable of the Sower, was how did this
world become so disastrous? What occurred in the future to cause rape, nudity,
fear for life, and poverty? I imagined the future to be prosperous and
successful not spiraling into an abyss. The author, Octavia E. Butler, pictured
2025 to be ruined and completely opposite of the picture I have created.
Lauren seems to be the
clever person understanding that the world is no longer safe and something must
finally be done. She realizes that the world is crazy and their community is
being taken down person by person. Lauren takes it upon herself to take control
and research survival skills. She believes that the God her father believes in isn’t
the true God and creates her own religion to follow. Since Lauren feels
everything due to her hyperempathy, she understands how others feel when they
go through pain. Is hyperempathy a real thing? Can people actually feel the
pain of others?
I believe if the
community listened to Lauren’s ideas and took them into consideration, the
community would have a better chance of surviving. It’s sickening to think
people could resort to rape, nudity, and robbery. Lauren and her community are
lucky that they have some money and food to never feel starvation and failure.
Those that aren’t as lucky and do not have the money to live are left outside
of the gate to die. It’s horrible that according to Parable of the Sower, only the wealthy are guarded and the poor are
left to fend for themselves.
I really like the question you started with because as I was reading the first section I proposed the same question in my head. How could the world go from nearly perfect the way it is today, to a modern "hell"? I also agree with you that the fact that Lauren is very clever and completely understand what could happen if things in the community do not change.
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