PoaS Analysis by Diana Jones

       Analysis of the ending and over all thoughts of The Parable of a Sower by Octavia Butler

          Throughout the ending of Parable of a Sower, it becomes obvious that what Butler is trying to push with this book is the idea that Change can and will occur. Whether we like it or not, we need to be prepared for change as much as we can and we cannot stick to our rigid way of thinking because it just leaves us with heartbreak in the end. We've talked in class before about how Butler may have used this book as a warning to the reader about their own life and the society around us. We've observed in the past that history repeats itself in many different ways and Butler uses many examples of history repeating itself in her book PoaS. I think that the obvious reason Butler wrote this book was a warning for where we were heading as a society in America in the 1990s when it was written and even now. There were many intricate lessons woven through the book as well such as racism, sexual and religious oppression, dealing with death and tragedy and so on. For me, the book was written with all of the lessons to prepare people cognitively of what could be if we don't conform to the nonconforming thought of change. We as a society need to open our minds and realize that everyone has a purpose and as long as they direct it in a positive way like Lauren, you may not always get a fairytale happy ending but you should be able to come out alright.

         I was actually disappointed with the ending when it became apparent that it wasn't the haven that the group had hoped to find, but since over the course of this book I've gotten to know Lauren and the others pretty well, I would say that they will end up content and not settle for unhappiness now when they've gone through so much already.