Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Parable of the Sower Reader Response (pages 1-85)

                Octavia E. Butler pushes the reader into a dark, dangerous dystopia in Parable of the Sower. Butler describes a world where most people still hold onto their senses and if they don’t it could cost their life. Parable of the Sower slowly unravels details about the grim world of Lauren Olamina that keeps the reader intrigued and curious. Motifs of faith appear on several pages as the reader is pulled deeper into the world of Lauren. The protagonist’s mental state is engaging and entertaining as she feels the emotions of others in her mind. It is not clear whether she has some kind of supernatural ability or if she is simply unstable, but either way it makes a fascinating and interesting character. Threats and danger seem to lurk behind every dark corner in Lauren’s dystopian world. If a character is not careful, it could be easy to get killed by anything from a hungry dog to a deranged drug addict or even a stray bullet. Parable of the Sower warns us of the dangers of our bad habits and ubiquitous pollution, which could ultimately put the world in harm’s way. 

1 comment:

  1. In regards to your mention of "Motifs of faith," I would like to see how Butler uses religious undertones throughout the rest of this work. I look forward to seeing the character development of Lauren and seeing where her hyperempathy takes her

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