The Parable of the Sower
Although Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Sower was written two decades ago, the story therein is poignantly prophetic of today’s important social, cultural, economic, and political issues. Unlike other post-apocalyptic novels, the Parable brings to the forefront real issues that today, pervade the modern American society and many other societies globally. Just like the dystopian world in the novel, modern societies face the growing threat of the rich-poor divide, dwindling water resources, high prices of fuel and food, and the overarching power of corporations. Are these grave issues as a result of a personal god? Are they a natural adaptation to nature as social Darwinists might argue? Are they as a result of a selfish,…show more content… In writing the Parables, Butler once admitted that the stories therein are a cautionary tale that warns the readers about people’s lifestyles and how they negatively impact on the environment. Butler saw that the resultant dystopian world espoused in the novel is something that could potentially happen in the real world where consumerism has largely contributed to environmental issues such as degradation, water scarcity, global warming and animal extinction. Lauren, who was brought up in the privileged class, has seen firsthand the consequences of excessive materialism and consumerism. The decline of the old world came as a result of a large gap between the have and the have-nots, with the few rich people hoarding so much, leaving the poor with little to share amongst themselves. Her Earthseed religion is therefore an endeavor to create an alternative utopian world in which humans play an integral part in shaping their environment, through the creation of a community that is charitable and just. She and her newfound religion represent the idea that against a backdrop of excessive materialism that is hurting the environment, people are supreme creators; they have the power to create a better