Introduction
“Parable of the Sower” is a book written by Octavia Butler. The genre of this work is science fiction, more specifically a dystopia, or a depiction of a society that encompasses undesirable or frightening characteristics, for example, scarcity of resources, inequality, and discrimination. In the book “Parable of the Sower,” the author aims to depict the problems of contemporary society by showing how they would evolve in the future.
Main body
Among the main themes described in the “Parable of the Sower,” there is the collapse that the society experiences because issues such as climate change or inequality were not addressed appropriately. Lauren Olamina, the main character of the novel, is described as a person with empathy as she feels the pain of others. Lauren lives with her family in a closed community until their home is under an attack, and her parents are killed, forcing her to run away with other survivors. Through this character, the author depicts the sufferings of people and the disparities of the world. For example, her hometown is burned by drug addicts, a severe issue of society.
Conclusion
The idea of Earthseed introduced in the book is a new system of beliefs developed by the main character that can be used to address societal problems. Throughout the novel, Lauren points out the issues in society that need to be addressed. However, people ignore her. Lauren is able to establish her community in southern California, where she can be the leader of change. Overall, the novel “Parable of the Sower” by Octavia Butler described the main issues of society. By depicting the world in the year 2020, the author highlights the path that arises as a result of ignoring significant issues.
Work Cited
Butler, Octavia. Parable of the Sower. Warner Books, 1995.