Analysis of Kindred by Octavia Butler using the theory of intergenerational trauma

Analysis of Kindred by Octavia Butler using the theory of intergenerational trauma

Introduction

Kindred is a magnificent novel created by Octavia Butler, who was a renowned African-American writer of contemporary times. The novel elucidates on the most burning issues and problems that were faced by the African –American population during the times of the black slavery (Graff, 248). In the novel, Octavia throws light on the tyrannical and pathetic conditions that the blacks were subjected to in Latin America during the times of slavery and slave trade. The author is not crusading for any form of reparations to those African -Americans who suffered under the mercies of the white colonialists but is rather sympathetic with the victims (Gump, 44).  Butler thus vehemently condemns the severe domestic violence and slavery that was inflicted and imposed on the black strata of the American society. Apart from slavery and domestic violence, the novel is also a replete of the different forms of atrocities and hatred that were exercised upon the black population, based on racial and ethnic discrimination in the society.

The misery of the blacks was not as a result slavery or any form of discrimination but also emanated from the gaps that existed between spouses and which rendered communication ineffective (Graff, 250). Butler passes her message of the plight of the black population in the American land by using Dana as the protagonist, who makes the whole novel flow in an aesthetical manner, creating a mixed feeling of fiction and an elaborate understanding (Wilkerson, 28). “Dana finds herself in a perplexing situation and in a very difficult situation in life where she cannot claim any right of her body protection because she is forced to assimilate to the slave culture” (Butler, 17). The purpose of this essay is to analyze the Octavia Butler’s novel, the Kindred using the theory of the intergenerational trauma.

The intergenerational theory is a phenomenon and is considered as a secondary form of trauma that can be passed down from one generation to the next in a subsequent form (Felsen, 33). This takes place through the means of psychological transference that is reviewed by the application of the attachment theory.  On the same, the attachment theory refers to the set of concepts that serves the purpose of explaining the emergence of an emotional bond between two people that have a very close relationship (Gump, 47). From the novel, there exists a very close relationship between Dina and Alice and both led life journeys that were full of misery and suffering. “There exists a solid relationship between the same Alice and Rufus Weylin and their relationship was peculiar to Dana” (Butler, 25). According to Butler, the ties that exist between Alice and Dana gives birth to the themes of collective trauma and double consciousness. On the other hand, the ties between Dana and Rufus are a clear demonstration of the themes of power relationships as well as that of the diaspora.

The theory of intergenerational trauma as written by Gilda Graff reviews the dark history of the African Americans, which includes the middle passage where the slaves were being moved from Africa to America (Wilkerson, 213).   The intergenerational theory of trauma also elucidates on the meaning of slavery in the psychological perspective and the manner in which the slavery expanded from the narrow tobacco plantations in Maryland and Virginia to the west and south, a series of events that took place during the period between 1790 and 1860’s (Taylor, 132). The most common form of torture during this time was the labor control practices that had been imposed on the African American slaves in the plantations with serious punishment to those who failed to meet the needed quota. All these encounters of the slaves in the American soils is well presented by the manner in which Dana suffers under the traumatizing conditions which she had been subjected to by her master. This situation was not however permanent because later after she assimilates to the culture of slavery, her body is finally treated as a human instead of being treated as an object, a change that occurred during the twentieth century (Felsen, 37).

Butler writes to reveal the physical trauma that befell the African-Americans. The author uses the demeanor of Dana to reveal the physical pain that the black body was subjected to, though no one was in a position to raise his voice in the quest for freedom. “Dana was forced to assimilate into the slave culture where she has no voice even with regard to the integrity of her body” (Butler, 54). As discussed in several scenes in the novel, Dana was forced to endure a physical beating from her master and no any preventive mechanism could be brought forth by her. Many are the times when she ran away for her own safety though she did not find any much solace in most of the places which she visited. Later, the severity of the slavery made her lose her arm (Taylor, 73).  This missing arm symbolizes the much she struggled so as to fully disconnect from all the trauma that she underwent during the nineteenth century.

The intergenerational theory of trauma exists between both friends and family members. Well supported, Alice and Dana are in a close relationship, the one that is considered sisterly, with Sarah being no an exception, as explained in the novel. “In very many occasions, they fought like sisters through their unity could not save them from their situation that was full of negative atrocities” (Butler, 89). Their bond was first revealed by Rufus when he put out that both people were one and the same thing. However, Butler brings out the negative consequence that originated from such relationships when men started using the women for their material gains (Lang et al, 165). An example of this is when the author tells us that Rufus who’s on interested in lovemaking relationship with Alice when she was alive. On top of the slavery which all these people were subjected to, Alice explains to Dana about the mental and physical abuse that she received from Rufus. Alice thus lacks that much freedom as compared to Dana, who had a lot of freedom even in comparison with the other salves, as claimed by Felsen, (59).

Butler brings out the theory of trauma as a product of slavery, which is presented in a very complex way. She makes a lot of social commentary about the events that took place in both the nineteenth century and twentieth century. In the novel, Dana, who is presented as the protagonist in the novel is seen struggling with slavery as a modern woman. “She even realizes how sinister it was but there was no any single way in which she could escape herself from this trap of torture” (Butler, 165). Butler makes it clear in Dana that when one has no rights to protect him or her, any form of mistreatment feels like a blessing. This continues until one develops a feeling of affection towards someone who starts treating you as a human being (Graff, 252). This is the kind of feeling that Dana has towards her master who used to whip her continuously. As a result of this, it is worth speaking that too many, the trap of slavery when still a fascinating one due to the need to maintain good relationships.

There exists a relationship gap and this makes the conditions of slaves more pathetic. From the novel, Tom Weylin sexually assaults his female Tess (Gump, 447). It did not stop there since Tom goes on and sells off her children to the whites, leaving her hopeless. This clearly reflects the miseries that befell the helpless blacks in the hands of the white population. However, even though Tess has lost her children, she still feels its okay to comply with the orders and the wishes of this white master. “The massive whipping that Dana, Tess, and Alice received from Tom is a clear picture of the existence of domestic violence and butchery that the black Americans received from their white masters” (Butler, 150). The stripping of the black women by the whites as well as the brutal beating that was given to them still remains as a mar on the face of the white community. The regeneration theory of trauma indicates that this is a replete of the butcheries that were inflicted on black slaves in northern and central Europe, USA, Turkey, and Russia, where stripping, whipping, torture and sexual abuse were the orders of the day (Wilkerson, 38).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the novel, Kindred by Octave Butler together with the intergenerational theory of trauma is a clear replete of the effects of the slave trade which the African Americans were subjected to in America, and its impacts are still felt in the modern society. Many incidences have taken place since that period between 1790 and 1860’s. There was a period of reconstruction that led to the emergence of civil war was the main achievement was the end of slavery. The civil movement made the black Americans acquire both economic, political and full equality in America. This was followed by the great migration when there was a lot of suffering from a labor shortage, an event that made many black southerners to escape this horror by moving to the north. The emergence of civil rights movement was one of the best ways of fighting against the plight of the black population. Since then, there has been a debate on whether or not the black Americans should receive reparations from the US government. Kindred is thus an exploration of the slavery in America as well as its painful legacy in the eyes of Dana, who was a contemporary black woman.

works cited

Butler, Octavia. Kindred. S.I.: Beacon Press, 2004. Internet resource.

Felsen, Irit. “Adult-onset trauma and intergenerational transmission: Integrating empirical data and psychoanalytic theory.” Psychoanalysis,

Graff, G, (2016). “Post-Civil War African American History: Brief Periods of Triumph, and Then Despair,” The Journal o f Psychohistory. 43 (4): 247-261.

Gump, J.P. (2010). “Reality Matters: The Shadow of Trauma on African American Subjectivity, ” Psychoanalytic Psychology. 27 (1): 42-54.

Lang, Ariel J., and Maria A. Gartstein. “Intergenerational transmission of traumatization: Theoretical framework and implications for prevention.” Journal of Trauma & Dissociation19.2 (2018): 162-175.

Taylor, Ileana. “Family Separation, Reunification, and Intergenerational Trauma in the Aftermath of Human Trafficking in the United States.” Anti-Trafficking Review 10 (2018): 123-138.

Wilkerson, I. (2010). The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story o f America’s Great Migration. New York: Vintage Books.