Parable of the Sower

The Parable of the Sower is a unique book written in journal format. The future world which they live in is not what anyone would expect. When we think of the future we think of more prosperity, technological advances, and an all around better life. However, this is not what occurs.
All of the basic necessities and comforts which we live with now and would never expect to be gone are a thing of the past. They speak of water like it is our modern day oil; they are overjoyed by the rain because it is "free water". Mans best friend becomes a feared wild animal that will kill and eat humans. They cannot go out into the street safety because they might be murdered or raped. In addition they have no police or fire department unless they call and pay a fee. Some aspects of this new way of life reflect the past. The richest people have all of the resources and the poor have absolutely nothing. In addition, the narrator mentions that some rich people have multiple wives.
I think that the narrators ability to feel other peoples pain is a significant detail to the story. She developed this illness as a result of her mothers drug addiction. It was mentioned that much of the population has had problems with drug addictions which contributed to the horrible state that the country is in currently. Ironically, the illness that she has as a result of one the societies greatest problems is the thing that keeps her from adapting into a savage like much of the population. While most of the country is selfish, and violent through a survival of the fittest type of system, her illness forces her to be the opposite; compassionate and caring.
Another important aspect is the way the narrator manipulates religion to a more realistic sense. She doesn't believe in a literal God, but she defines God as a part of the way society changes. She believes that she can go to heaven, which would be a tangible location which is safe from all of the dangers and hardships that she lives with. As the book goes on, she continues to make linear connections between religion and society.
The Parable of the Sower is interesting in that the narrator has lived in this horrible society for her entire life, but is the only one who believes that things can change. I am eager to see how she copes with being alone in thinking this way, and how she will change the minds of her family and neighbors.