Introduction
“Parable of the Sower” by Octavia Butler is a science fiction novel that paints a bleak picture of a dystopian America in the near future. Butler’s story is about Lauren Olamina, a young woman who feels the pain of others and empathizes with them. She navigates a dangerous world in which society has collapsed due to corporate greed and government corruption.
Through the lens of Lauren’s experiences and her philosophy of Earthseed, Butler explores themes such as resilience, community, adaptability, and the importance of embracing change to survive. Octavia Butler’s “Parable of the Sower” depicts the harsh realities of survival in a dystopian world where community and individual resilience are the only means of surviving the collapse of society. Through the protagonist’s journey of self-discovery and the formation of her religion, Butler emphasizes the importance of adaptability, resilience, and empathy in navigating the complexities of survival.
Setting
The setting of Octavia Butler’s novel “Parable of the Sower” is a near-future dystopian America where society has collapsed due to various factors, including climate change, government corruption, and corporate greed. The novel is set in the 2020s, but its world vastly differs from the current one (Dunning 186).
This story takes place in California, a lawless and dangerous state. The city is divided into walled communities where the wealthy can live safely while the rest live in poverty and violence. Water is scarce and expensive, and people must take extreme measures to obtain it (Dunning 180). The effects of climate change are seen throughout the novel, with wildfires, floods, and droughts ravaging the land.
As Lauren Olamina and her followers travel north, they encounter various settings. They pass through small towns where law and order have broken down and encounter violent gangs and dangerous scavengers. They eventually reach a rural area where they settle and begin to build a new community based on Earthseed. The setting of “Parable of the Sower” portrays a world in which society has collapsed, and people are forced to fight for survival (Dunning 183). Butler’s vivid descriptions of the environment and the challenges the characters face highlight the urgency of the novel’s themes and the need for change in our current world.
Protagonist
Lauren Olamina, the protagonist of “Parable of the Sower,” is a complex character who catalyzes change in a world on the brink of collapse. Throughout the novel, she shows a deep understanding of the challenges facing her society and a commitment to creating a new community based on her new philosophy of Earthseed (Butler 92). Through Lauren’s experiences, Octavia Butler teaches valuable lessons on the importance of survival and how to unite and reconstruct a collapsing world.
Lessons from Lauren
One lesson that Lauren teaches is the importance of building community. Lauren understands that survival in a dangerous world requires a sense of solidarity and mutual support. She tells her followers, “We’re all we’ve got. We can help each other. We can create something new, better” (Butler 92). This quote illustrates Lauren’s belief in the power of community and the need for people to come together to create a better future. By working together, Lauren believes that her group can overcome its challenges and build a new society based on Earthseed.
Another lesson Lauren teaches is the importance of adaptability in the face of change. As her group travels north, they encounter various challenges, including violent gangs and dangerous scavengers. However, Lauren remains flexible and willing to change her plans and adapt to new situations.
She tells her followers, “The only lasting truth is change” (Butler 140). This quote highlights Lauren’s belief in the need for flexibility and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. She understands that the world is constantly in flux and that adapting and changing are the keys to survival.
Finally, Lauren teaches the importance of having a shared vision for the future. She believes that to create a new society, her followers must share her vision of Earthseed. She tells them, “God is Change. Shape God. The shape of God is what you make it” (Butler 73). This quote demonstrates Lauren’s belief that the future is not predetermined but is somewhat shaped by individuals’ actions. By sharing a common vision for the future, Lauren believes her followers can work together to create a new society based on their shared values.
Supporting Characters and Their Roles
Another character who plays a vital role in supporting the novel’s themes is Bankole. As an older man who has experienced both the pre-and post-collapse worlds, Bankole can offer a historical perspective on the events that led to society’s collapse. He tells Lauren, “People have always been good at imagining the end of the world, which is much easier to picture than the strange sidelong paths of change in a world without end” (Butler 75). This quote demonstrates Bankole’s belief that change is a constant in human history and that the key to survival is adapting to these changes.
Another character who supports the novel’s themes is Harry Balter. Harry is a member of Lauren’s group who is initially reluctant to embrace Earthseed. However, throughout the novel, Harry begins to see the value in Lauren’s philosophy. He tells her, “I’m learning that change is change, no matter how small” (Butler 287). This quote demonstrates Harry’s newfound appreciation for the importance of small changes in creating a better future. Through Harry’s experiences, Butler shows that even those initially resistant to change can be persuaded to embrace new ideas and ways of thinking.
A third character who supports the novel’s themes is Zahra. Zahra is a young woman who joins Lauren’s group after her community is destroyed by fire. She represents the next generation of survivors and serves as a symbol of hope for the future. She tells Lauren, “I want to be part of something. I want to help build something” (Butler 233). This quote illustrates Zahra’s desire to contribute to a better future and her belief that change is possible.
The Theme of Survival
Survival is a central theme in Octavia Butler’s “Parable of the Sower.” The novel takes place in a world where society has collapsed, and survival has become the primary concern for most people. Throughout the story, Butler explores the various strategies individuals and communities use to survive in this harsh environment and shows the consequences of different approaches (Dunning 183).
One of the most critical ways that survival is shown in the novel is through the character of Lauren Olamina. Lauren is a survivor, both physically and mentally. She has a condition called hyper empathy that allows her to feel the pain of others, which has made her more attuned to the dangers of the world around her (Butler 98). She has also developed a philosophy called Earthseed, which focuses on adaptability and change as the keys to survival. Through Lauren’s experiences, Butler shows that survival is not just about physical strength or resources but also about mindset and resilience.
Lauren and the people around her are also displaced due to many factors, like climate refugees in the reading “Climate Refugees in a Greenhouse World.” Displacement is depicted as follows: “Climate refugees are people who are displaced from their homes due to climate change, environmental degradation, or other related issues (Streeby 8).” The author recognizes climate change as a legitimate issue, and she addresses it in the novel.
Another way that survival is shown in the novel is through the different communities that Lauren encounters. Some communities, such as the walled neighborhood of Robledo, prioritize safety and isolation above all else (Butler 12). Others, such as the traveling caravan led by Bankole, emphasize mobility and flexibility as a means of survival. Butler illustrates the trade-offs that must be made to survive in a collapsing world through these different communities (Butler 23). Some strategies may offer more safety but at the cost of freedom and community. Others may offer more flexibility but at the expense of stability and security.
Finally, the novel shows the importance of survival through the characters who do not survive. Many characters in the novel die due to violence, disease, or starvation (Butler 28). These deaths are often sudden and senseless, highlighting the fragility of life in this world. Through these deaths, Butler emphasizes the high stakes of survival and the need for individuals and communities to adapt and innovate to survive constantly.
Climate Change as a Social and Political Issue
The novel addresses the connection between issues like climate change and the political and social state. “Climate change is not just an environmental issue, but a social and political one that intersects with issues such as race, class, and gender” (Streeby 14). This quote relates to the novel because Octavia also explores how climate change intersects with issues of race, class, and gender. The character of Lauren Olamina, a black woman with a disability, faces unique challenges in a world that is becoming increasingly hostile to people like her (Butler 44). The novel underscores the importance of considering these intersectional issues when addressing the challenges of climate change.
Octavia Butler’s Achievements and Impact
Octavia Butler was successful in achieving her purpose. The “Parable of the Sower” is widely regarded as a groundbreaking work of science fiction that explores themes of change, survival, and community in the face of societal collapse (Butler 86). The novel has been praised for its vivid and realistic portrayal of a world ravaged by climate change, economic inequality, and political instability. The novel supports climate change as depicted in “Climate Refugees in A Greenhouse World” when she says, “Climate change our social and economic systems and to create new forms of community and solidarity” (Streeby 7).
Butler’s use of a black female protagonist, Lauren Olamina, was also a significant achievement, as it challenged traditional narratives of science fiction and expanded the representation of underrepresented voices in the genre (Dunning 179). Through Lauren’s experiences, Butler explores issues such as race, gender, and disability and shows how these factors intersect with the challenges of survival in a collapsing world.
Conclusion
Octavia Butler’s “Parable of the Sower” explores change, survival, and community in a collapsing world. Through the character of Lauren Olamina and the different communities she encounters, Butler challenges readers to consider what it means to survive in a world where societal norms and structures have broken down. The novel underscores the importance of adaptability, resilience, and innovation in facing danger and uncertainty (Butler 39).
Furthermore, by featuring a Black female protagonist, Butler broadens the inclusion of marginalized perspectives in science fiction and challenges traditional narratives of the genre. “Parable of the Sower” inspires readers to think critically about contemporary issues and consider how we can build more resilient and just communities.
Works Cited
Butler, Octavia E. Parable of the Sower. Open Road Media, 2012.
Dunning, Stefanie K. ““Learn or Die”: Survivalism and Anarchy in Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Sower.” Human Contradictions in Octavia E. Butler’s Work, 2020, pp. 179-194. Web
Streeby, Shelley. Imagining the Future of Climate Change: World-Making Through Science Fiction and Activism. University of California Press, 2018.