Annotated Bibliography 

                Melson, A. (2023). Adapting the White Man’s Religion: The Creation and Evolution of Religion in Octavia’s Butler’s Parable of the Sower and Alice Walker’s The Color Purple. The Midwest Quarterly (Pittsburg), 64(2), 209–136.

Earthseed sets the prime example of life and determination. Traditional christianity differs from earthseed because the main focus is rewarding or punishing people based on their sins. Meanwhile earthseed focuses on being a judgement free zone, “while earthseed god is present bur can be changed and is not there to judge all of humanity.” Octavia Butler highlights that god shouldn’t be a white, male figure which is why she portrays god as a shapeless form and encourages the audience to perceive god in their own, unique way. 

   Rezaei, Zahra, et al. “Freedom, Choice and Achieving Self-Realisation in the Dystopian World of Parable of the Talents by Octavia Butler.” International Journal of Applied Linguistics & English Literature, vol. 11, no. 1, 2022, pp. 47–53, https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijalel.v.11n.1p.47.

Earthseed is the focus of a new, transitioning religion which highlights discrimination and independence. “Human freedom and self realization” which is very much self explanatory, application of a new religion which practices freedom and self reflection is what builds Laurens character. She is very determined to change and prepare society with her religion, earthseed. Butler motivates her audience to focus on doing long term, beneficial acts to avoid an unhappy and unhealthy future. Throughout her novel she attempts to educate others that as society grows, generations, beliefs and ideas will also grow which will involve adequate change. 

                Jos, Philip H. “Fear and the Spiritual Realism of Octavia Butler’s Earthseed.” Utopian Studies, vol. 23, no. 2, 2012, pp. 408–29, https://doi.org/10.5325/utopianstudies.23.2.0408.

The beginning states that Parable of The Sower, earthseed is not a tool but a “non dogmatic belief system” which is being open to new ideas and basically taking accountability for what is going on and “not claiming that you are always right” which is stated in this cite. It is also mentioned that Octavia Butler stated in an interview “religion is everywhere. There is no human societies without it, whether they acknowledge it or not.” Religion is complex that’s why the earthseed sometimes found to be “obscure, indecipherable, incoherent, and implausible.” The purpose is to go against and critique traditional christianity. 

                Achachelooei, Elham Mohammadi, and Carol Elizabeth Leon. “The Past and ‘Discontinuity in Religion’ in Octavia Butler’s Parables: A Feminist Theological Perspective.” Journal of Language, Literature and Culture (Australasian Universities Language and Literature Association), vol. 68, no. 2, 2021, pp. 120–37, https://doi.org/10.1080/20512856.2021.1935492.

It is clearly stated that Lauren didn’t believe in her fathers traditional Christianity, she felt as if it didn’t prepare the community and world for the “what if’s”, it doesn’t involve creativity or change. She is a self educated female who believes in the earthseed and that it bring protection and possibility, “spiritual development.” This focuses on Lauren, her religious belief and the scientific idea behind it, the way the world and generations evolve within different perspectives. 

Nesha Mooteram

Research Question:

How does the idea of the Earthseed highlight the central issue within Parable of The Sower? How might it critique or diverge from Christianity? What is Octavia Butler’s relationship with traditional Christianity and was there a conscious attempt to critique religion? 

Throughout Parable of The Sower I questioned why did Octavia Butler tackle the idea of religion, Christianity and the term “earthseed”. When searching to sources that will help me expand on my question, I came across five readings that speak upon Octavia Butlers motive and idea when involving christianity. All five of my cites are from the Hunter Database, one search. I used “Octavia Butler, earthseed, religion and christianity” as key words to find articles and reviews that will further my idea. I noticed that when copy and pasting these links onto google search they do not work, you must copy and paste it in the Hunter One Search database. I believe I will find out Butler’s big yet hidden focus about Christianity, what triggered or triggers her to tackle this topic and how does it affect the audience’s perspective as a whole.

                                                                  SOURCES:

               Melson, A. (2023). Adapting the White Man’s Religion: The Creation and Evolution of Religion in Octavia’s Butler’s Parable of the Sower and Alice Walker’s The Color Purple. The Midwest Quarterly (Pittsburg), 64(2), 209–136.

               Rezaei, Zahra, et al. “Freedom, Choice and Achieving Self-Realisation in the Dystopian World of Parable of the Talents by Octavia Butler.” International Journal of Applied Linguistics & English Literature, vol. 11, no. 1, 2022, pp. 47–53, https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijalel.v.11n.1p.47.

                Jos, Philip H. “Fear and the Spiritual Realism of Octavia Butler’s Earthseed.” Utopian Studies, vol. 23, no. 2, 2012, pp. 408–29, https://doi.org/10.5325/utopianstudies.23.2.0408.

                Achachelooei, Elham Mohammadi, and Carol Elizabeth Leon. “The Past and ‘Discontinuity in Religion’ in Octavia Butler’s Parables: A Feminist Theological Perspective.” Journal of Language, Literature and Culture (Australasian Universities Language and Literature Association), vol. 68, no. 2, 2021, pp. 120–37, https://doi.org/10.1080/20512856.2021.1935492.

                Purifoy, Danielle M. “To Live and Thrive on New Earths: The Earthseed Land Collective and Black Freedom.” Southern Cultures, vol. 26, no. 4, 2020, pp. 78–89, https://doi.org/10.1353/scu.2020.0056.

When beginning to read this book i found myself very confused because of the sudden change in time. I feel as if the time change is too abrupt and makes me question what’s going on and when. The lack of a name really does trigger my questions also, is he suppose to be anonymous and if so then why? I love that the places he mention are local and easy to picture. Throughout the novel he uses dialogue that helps us imagine and feel the anxiousness he is feeling. Unfortunately I don’t understand the concept of time, I do believe this novel is a bit complicated and more difficult to read.

His fatal heart condition somewhat justifies his rant for me. “Rant” in the sense that he is venting about his life as he comes to understand and worry about his heart condition. His lack of motivation to write relates to his energy towards writing and life in general, or at least that is how i see it. On page 62 “I wanted to wave to you when you came in but I had this coffee in my hands and I was afraid I’d spill it and then I was afraid that by failing to wave I appeared unpleasant and then…” This specific piece stood out to me because I do view the narrator, character as this male figure who gets overwhelmed and worried easily and go on venting. He does have a lot going on, two things that hold a lot of weight. His friend is seeking help from him to have a baby and he is also facing these heart issues. I can only imagine how intimidating it must be when thinking about your health condition and basically having a kid. I think the novel is indeed complex but maybe because out world, time and individuals are also complex.

When it was mentioned that this novel focuses on time I thought it would be the character, narrator going into the future or past. I honestly thought this and look forwarded to it because I thought it was going to relate to Kindred, a novel that goes back into time (slavery) and the main character shares her experiences and obstacles with us. Maybe the focus time in 10:04 is focusing on how life and the world grows, develops overtime. I tried my best to understand the plot here on but I am genuinely concerned on where this plot will lead to.

How does the idea of the earth seed highlight the central issue within Parable of The Sower? How does it critique and diverge from christianity?

                    The theme “Language” is heavily focused on throughout The Hungry Tide. Piya, Kanai, and Fokir all share their own unique language that helps them communicate. The only character who completely understands is Kanai and he uses that to his advantage. Throughout the beginning we see Piya speaking no Bengali due to her trauma but in part two: Intermediaries, Piya verbally expresses her emotions and trauma too Nilima. I feel that this show enormous growth and trust that Piya is building and this is also a form of language. As we continue to read and get into part two: Words we see Monya budding into Fokir and Piya’s connection by ordering Kanai keep an eye on them. I do understand that Fokir is her husband, but we all, the audience is able to observe the genuine bond they share. Although Piya and Fokir face the disadvantage of not completely understanding each other due to their spoken language they still communicate through body and emotional language. It is impressive that Kanai has the advantage of understanding them both but yet can’t seem to get in the middle of them.  

                   The section titled Leaving Lusibari eye contact is the form of language that is the highlight. The scene on pages 218 where Monya is furious and dashing through the crowd because Fokir didn’t take Tulu to school was very shocking because on the beginning of the pages 219 it states that Monya and Kanai made eye contact and then Fokir’s eyes met with his. This specific scene speaks a lot upon the relationship of these four people share, it is something like a love square and is very much complicated because of all the different languages spoken. I was very invested in this scene because I know strong eye contact has a deeper mean. I was invested because if Fokir feels this romantic bond with Piya and then sees Kanai and Monya somewhat sharing a connection then why are you giving Kanai the hard stare. 

                  Part two: Interrogations made me a bit sad because I understood that the tiger killing was the first disadvantage that Fokir and Piya faced. Piya was shocked that Fokir took part of the tiger killing, she went ahead and dismissed her feelings towards him due to his involvement. Piya was genuinely hurt about the tiger killing, she understood that they had no choice but to kill the tiger for their safety but yet it hurt her and lead her to understand that Fokir and her do live completely different lives. She opened up to Kanai and expressed herself. Their different language equaled a different lifestyle, which was their disadvantage. Although they share a romantic connection, it will be hair to maintain without Kanai.