Reader’s Guide:
1. Other than the birth of Hagar, why else might Dana have been pulled into the past? Was the “reason” necessary and what were the implications?
2. How does race affect the conflicts within the novel- in both past and modern times? (If Dana were white?, If Kevin was Black?, If Kevin went back in time instead of Dana)?
3. What is the significance of Butler choosing a white man as Dana’s ancestor instead of a black slave who finds himself in danger?
4. In what ways can Rufus be compared to Kevin ? Are they foil characters? What ways do they develop differently throughout the novel?
5. In Kindred slaves marry and have children to be bound more to the land. Rufus lets love control his actions with Alice and Dana. Dana and Kevin go back in time to ensure the other’s safety. Is Butler trying to signify that love is a weakness?
Alright, so first I want to respond to my question (#5). I personally find the topic of love very interesting, and when I noticed so many relationships popping up and how much trouble it got everyone into, it started making me question whether or not Butler was trying to assert that love was more of a burden than anything. Of course, the eventual theme would be assumed that love is what gets us through the hardest situations and that we need it as human beings, but it is interesting to entertain the notion for a minute. Janelle is always asking us to question why we do things. Why do we love when it may result in hurt? (and in this book, physical hurt). I suppose it is just a human need to be loved and to have someone there through the struggles, because there will be struggles no matter if you are single or in a relationship.
ReplyDeleteButler must be showing that love is the ultimate bond through everything, especially familial love.
#3. It is important that her ancestor is white because that is the whole point of the novel--that Dana and Kevin must overcome their preconceptions. Their built-in response to situations that has been created by their past. Going back and facing the past is what helps them overcome. If her ancestor was black, it would probably give more of an opressed feeling toward blacks than anything. I guess I mean that it would be one sided, because the black ancestor would probably be a slave, and it would only build more resentment toward the white 'masters'. and the point is to see both sides, which dana does by knowing Rufus (and Rufus liking her) and going out the cookhouse to know the blacks. Kevin does the same, and this way they experience everything that they need to in order to overcome their differences.
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