Butler’s book is deemed to hold exceptional attributes in different facets, particularly structure and presentation of data and sentiments. Irrespective of being fictitious, the story is laid out in a way that appears real. Butler, the writer, develops the concern of corrupt governance portrayed by injustice and inequitable dealings (14). The Parable of the Sower is presented around a youthful woman referred to as Olamina Lauren.
It is set at the time when the United States has undergone social development. Civilization causes numerous positive and negative occurrences with depressing instances being recognized from the agony and pain experienced by individuals in the society, particularly the underprivileged. The Parable of the Sower is an exciting novel that has attracted interest and analysis from individuals who encompass readers and other authors.
The struggle of people against their fellow human beings is evident throughout the story. Although at the beginning Lauren lives behind a huge defensive wall surrounding her community, some people jump over and steal their property. Additionally, as Lauren and her group journey to Canada, they face many problems along the way. For example, as assailants attempted to kill them, a group of attackers grabbed two of the members although they were able to fight them off. Apart from attackers, other factors that present pain and anguish encompass the inadequacy of food and water and very high temperatures (Butler 145).
Lauren’s confidence in her power and ability could have been reinforced by the problems that she faces and her actions help her to survive and create a new life away from her community of origin. This motivates readers who could be experiencing different problems as it makes them realize that their efforts can help in ending their trouble.
As portrayed in The Parable of the Sower, Lauren is a poor woman who recognizes the happiness, experiences, pain, and anguish of others. Lauren lives in pain following the murder of her family members and the destruction of their house, which leaves her destitute (Butler 154). Nevertheless, she gains the courage to move on and go far looking for a place in which religion, Earthseed, would develop and thrive.
The perspective in which the novel is presented is critical because it assists in the connection of ideas, in addition to views and criticism. In the story, Octavia Butler traces the movement of Lauren from the United States to Canada as well as the friendships that she makes along the way (Akers 107). Her new friends particularly include people with whom she shares comparable problems and concerns, for example, poverty and insecurity, over and above looking for employment.
Different authors have written regarding factors that arise in Butler’s Parable of the Sower, and reading their views and critiques offers suitable deductions and conclusions. On the positive side of the novel, Akers asserts that Butler has been engaged in realistic character presentation, a factor that makes readers feel fascinated by its practical nature (108). The fast unfolding activities in the novel are also positive aspects that have resulted in its popularity. However, on the negative side, Akers has condemned the climax to be unanticipated and affirms that the author failed to diversify religious depictions, which made them appear monotonous (112).
Religion is a fundamental factor in The Parable of the Sower as it appears to cushion Lauren’s problems; it is reinforced by Lauren’s foundation of a religious group, Earthseed (Hinton 446). Lauren’s gathering of survivors from her community that was destroyed and encouragement of numerous measures for them to move on in an effort of improving their livelihoods is a splendid means of ensuring that religion has a positive impact on people’s lives. The downside in the presentation of Earthseed is that there is a lack of convincing details. Such an argument could be anchored in the fact that statements therein hold a combination of other beliefs such as Buddhism and deism.
The Parable of the Sower portrays an exceedingly exceptional and strong genre that merges science-associated facets with fiction. Such factors are tactically interlinked around human situations hence making the novel sound real. In contrast to what many readers would probably think, Butler does not focus on black literature in the book. The author does not address racism as a major theme like the way other comparable authors do (Akers 109).
On the contrary, she develops a remarkable fiction where a few of the characters are disclosed to be black. The Parable of the Sower has attracted the attention of many readers and authors across the globe with most of them praising it and others condemning it. It is evident that Butler’s Parable of the Sower has presented different concepts vividly through highlighting scientific ideas and fiction. This shows the creativity of the author in her writing and presentation of ideas.
Civilization comes with both positive and negative happenings with the poor suffering greatly. In The Parable of the Sower, Butler presents a detailed background and experiences of Lauren, members of her family, and her community. Excellent depiction in the story makes the reader follow through it easily and smoothly attributable to the good flow of concepts. The novel makes its readers remain glued to the story since they are capable of understanding the characters and sharing their sentiments.
Works Cited
Akers, Allison. “Divinity and its Imitation in the Utopian Visions of Death Note and Parable of the Sower.” Digital Literature Review, vol. 6, no. 1, 2019, pp. 105-118.
Butler, Octavia. Parable of the Sower. Warner Books, 2000.
Hinton, Anna. “Making Do with What You Don’t Have: Disabled Black Motherhood in Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents.” Journal of Literary & Cultural Disability Studies, vol. 12, no. 4, 2018, pp. 441-457.