Topic > Analysis of the “Parable of the Sower” through Characteristics of Dystopian Literature

The Parable of the Sower, by Octavia E. Butler, conveys many similar themes from the story, such as slavery, lack of equal rights, and diminishing civilization , which makes it difficult to place the book under a single genre classification. Regardless, Butler is able to weave dystopia literature into his book. Throughout the book we see many different criteria and characteristics of dystopian literature, such as a collapsing civilization, lack of justice, and the limitation of freedom and information. Besides that, the author is able to make the opinion of the book clear to lead the reader to understand what the future of the real world will be like. Utopia is an imaginary place where everything is known to be perfect. The problems that occur in a utopian world are war, disease, poverty, oppression, discrimination, and inequality. The opposite of utopia is dystopia, perfectly represented in the book. A dystopia is defined as an imagined place that is not perfect and consists of everything unpleasant or bad. In the Parable of the Sower Butler discusses different types of social issues and trends in the United States, from the 1980s and 1990s, and pushes them forward thirty or forty years. The problems that are occurring have no solution and are getting worse every day. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Lauran is one of the main characters who writes everything that happens in a journal entry. She has a condition where she is able to feel the pain of those around her. His family lives in a community called Robeldo, closed by a gate. People in the community build a wall so they can protect themselves from crimes that happen outside their community. Those who live in the community think they are safe from dangers that happen in the real world. The idea of ​​this is not very true because in the book the community is attacked more than once until one day, in chapter 14, the entire community is burned down. One of the problems of the century they are in is that many people have started to create more gates to protect their community. People in communities have no access to the outside world, which limits their freedom and leaves them with the sole task of interpreting what happens in their community. The environmental disasters happening in their community have caused a shortage of natural resources. It hasn't rained in their community for years and people will do anything to have water. Those who are rich are the only ones who can afford to bathe and wash their clothes. The police and firefighters who are known to provide help for free are corrupt and must be paid for their services. People living in communities have no idea what different animals exist. In chapter four, parents from the Robledo community take their children outside to practice shooting. While the children are shooting they are attacked by the dogs leaving the children very confused because they were never introduced to what they were. Lauren asks Aura, "You've never seen one before, have you?" She shook her head." Lauren knows what dogs were, but Aura has never even heard of such an animal. Lauren explains to her how she knew what they were: "I've read books about them as intelligent, loyal pets, but that's all in the past. Dogs are now wild animals who will eat a child if they can." Lauren explains this after two characters are attacked. If people in the community were informed about what was happening in the outside world, they would learn about other animals. The discovery of the normal traits of.