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Reflecting on Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower
Speculative narrative looks at the problems of today and “speculates” what the world will be like if those problems were resolved or if they persist. So these speculative narratives create a future that could potentially exist in order to analyze social problems such as greed, homelessness, corruption, and political and military power struggles. Some examples of dystopia are The Handmaid’s Tale and The Hunger Games. One of the examples of utopian fiction in the 20th century is The Original Star Trek from the 1970s.
Utopian fiction is set in a perfect world, an improved version of the real world where the author has established the political and social structures that align with their own views of what makes a perfect world. The main character is dropped into this world but still faces conflicts and often comes to realize that even a “perfect” world is imperfect. Much like utopian novels, dystopian novels look at social problems. The difference is that the characters exist in a world that is obviously corrupt and restrictive. Here, the main character must overcome or leave that corruption to achieve freedom and happiness.
Both utopianism and dystopianism blur the boundary between fiction, philosophy, and political science. For instance, much of George Orwell’s writing is steeped in all three, whether describing a modern utopia, imagining the last golden age, or a future ecological utopia set on a verdant space station. H.G. Wells wrote dystopian and utopian novels, looking at the world's problems from both perspectives. He is well known for his utopian novels, but at the same time, he wrote War of the Worlds, which is a dystopian. Aldous Huxley, who wrote Brave New World, also wrote Island, a utopian novel.
Illustration by John Jennings in Parable of the Sower: A Graphic Novel Adaptation
Illustration by John Jennings in Parable of the Sower: A Graphic Novel Adaptation
The Parable of the Sower in modern Southern California
The Parable of the Sower in modern Southern California
With speculative narrative, the book’s setting is often a real place where the author’s views have transformed. So, in The Parable of the Sower, Lauren moves to Los Angeles and then travels north in search of a safer home. As a person from Orange County, I can see similarities between Lauren’s reality and my own. Throughout the novel, Butler discusses the issue of mass homelessness. This is very much real and present in Orange County today. Multiple times in the last ten years, the Orange County police have gone through and expelled unhoused people from their encampments. One of the largest camps is in the Santa Ana river bed surrounding Angel Stadium, which has held a “permanent” tent city for years. The police have gone through and swept those people up, throwing all of their belongings in the garbage because the encampment is illegal. This means what little the unhoused population owned and could afford was taken from them. So, the problem in The Parable of the Sower is relevant to the world I live in now. While I don’t live in fear of mass violence from the unhoused population, Orange County has begun to construct its walled cities. The county’s most expensive and elite neighborhoods are all gated and designed to keep “unsavory” people out and the residents safe. Just like the novel, the issues that Octavia Butler was talking about during the period when she wrote the book are very much still present today in Southern California.
Veterans Experiencing Homelessness In Orange County Has Increased
In a society that creates economic hierarchies, the homeless are desperate and thus dangerous. Octavia Butler highlights this in the novel through their drug use and arson. Butler’s point is not that homeless people are terrible but that a society that creates such a gap between the wealthy and the poor is creating dangers and is creating its problems. If you are broke and have to live in a tent next to Angel Stadium, breaking the law to get food and taking drugs to feel better about life is merely a means of survival. If you do not steal food, you will starve, which is why people become desperate. That desperation leads to dangerous decisions. Octavia points this out with the use of the Pyro. They are all willing to take the drug even if they know they are going to burn everything down because they have nothing to lose. They do not have homes that will be burnt down, so it will not affect them. It is not about homeless people being inherently dangerous; it is about creating a system where folks are so incredibly repressed that they have nothing to lose and thus are willing to make dangerous choices that put themselves and others in harm’s way. To some extent, the world that Octavia Butler predicted has come about.
Music video by Taylor Swift feat. The Civil Wars performing Safe & Sound. Video credit: Taylor Swift and Youtube
Music video by Taylor Swift feat. The Civil Wars performing Safe & Sound. Video credit: Taylor Swift and Youtube
Popular Culture as a By-Product of Speculative Narrative
Popular Culture as a By-Product of Speculative Narrative
Pop culture is fascinated with dystopian novels. Their popularity has led to film and television adaptations, making dystopian realities more visceral. The Hunger Games is an excellent example of this. “Songs from District 12 and Beyond” conveys the emotional depth of the narrative through its musical composition. The heavy tones in the music reflect the oppressive atmosphere of District 12, where residents face the constant threat of poverty and oppression. Haunting melodies and melancholy arrangements capture the bleakness of their lives, creating an immersive experience for the listener.
The album also features songs inspired by the world of The Hunger Games. For example, Taylor Swift’s “Safe & Sound” is a song that encapsulates the unforgettable atmosphere of the story. Delicate vocals, accompanied by melancholic melodies and subtle instrumentation, convey a sense of resilience in the face of hardship. The album transcends the boundaries of fictional worlds, bridging the gap between dystopian narratives and the real world. The emotional intensity of the music resonates with listeners, allowing them to relate to the struggles depicted in The Hunger Games. This contributes to the broader cultural phenomenon surrounding the series, cementing its place in pop culture.
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